South Drive-in Theater
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
South Drive-in Theater offers a highly affordable and nostalgic family entertainment experience, allowing families to enjoy two movies for the price of one in a relaxed, car-centric setting. It prioritizes safety and cleanliness, operates year-round, and uniquely permits guests to bring their own food, coolers, and even grills (for a small fee), providing a stress-free alternative to traditional theaters.
Key Highlights
- ✓Affordable admission to two movies for one ticket ($12 per adult).
- ✓Option to listen to movie audio through car radio or provided speakers.
- ✓Ability to bring your own food and drinks, including coolers.
- ✓Option to bring your own grill for a small additional fee.
- ✓Clean restrooms, which is noted as exceptional for an outdoor venue.
- ✓Well-stocked snack bar offering hot food like pizza and sandwiches.
- ✓Operates year-round, including special screenings in winter (e.g., Christmas movies).
- ✓High priority on safety, with no reported speeding cars or fights.
- ✓Two screens offering choice and convenience.
- ✓Hosts a weekend morning flea market during warmer months.
Standout Features
- ⭐Value of two movies for a single ticket purchase.
- ⭐Flexibility to bring outside food, drinks, and even a grill.
- ⭐Year-round operation, including unique cold-weather screenings.
- ⭐Clean and comfortable restrooms, despite being an outdoor venue.
- ⭐Well-stocked snack bar with hot food options.
- ⭐Clear signage for easy entry and exit.
- ⭐Stress-free movie experience where kids can be themselves within the car.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Arrive at least 45 minutes prior to showtime on weekends to avoid long lines for entry and concessions.
- →Bring a cooler with your own snacks, drinks, or a full meal to save money and avoid concession lines.
- →Consider stopping at a fast-food restaurant on the way for dinner.
- →Dress warmly with blankets and leg warmers if attending during colder months, as they operate year-round.
- →Bring lawn chairs to sit outside your vehicle or use a truck bed for elevated viewing.
- →Park strategically to avoid being behind very tall trucks or SUVs that might block your view.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Lines for entry can get very long on weekends, requiring early arrival (45+ minutes prior).
- ⚠Concession lines can also be long, potentially causing missed movie start times.
- ⚠Bathrooms, while clean, are described as dated and 'dingy' in appearance by one reviewer.
- ⚠Potential for blurry picture or buzzing speakers (one specific negative review reported this, suggesting occasional technical issues).
- ⚠Some tall vehicles (SUVs/trucks) might obstruct views if parked in front.
- ⚠On-site 'theatre grub' is described as 'okay' and not exceptional by one reviewer.
Price & Value
Excellent value at $12 per adult, which includes admission to two movies, often described as 'half the price of a traditional theater.' There is a small additional fee if you wish to bring and use your own grill. The ability to bring your own food and drinks further enhances the overall value and helps control costs.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific ADA accommodations are mentioned, but the drive-in format inherently allows individuals to remain in their personal vehicles, which can be beneficial for various mobility needs.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Outside food and drinks are explicitly allowed, and bringing coolers is encouraged.
- •Guests have the option to bring their own grill for a small additional fee.
- •An on-site snack bar is available, offering a full range of items including hot food like pizza and sandwiches, though the quality is noted as 'okay' by one reviewer.
🚗Parking Info
- •Ample parking within the drive-in theater lot.
- •Entry and exit are clearly signposted and generally easy.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Weekends are busy, resulting in long lines to enter the venue and for concessions.
- •It is recommended to arrive significantly early (at least 45 minutes) on weekends to secure a good spot and avoid queues.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Safety is a stated priority, with observations of no speeding cars and a respectful crowd.
- •The environment fosters a feeling of security and order.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Arriving right at movie start time on weekends due to guaranteed long entry and concession lines.
- • Expecting pristine, modern restroom facilities (they are clean but dated).
- • If projection quality and perfect sound are your absolute highest priorities and you are sensitive to potential, albeit rare, technical glitches (as reported by one reviewer).
- • Parking directly behind oversized vehicles if you prefer an unobstructed view.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Taylor Swift / The Official Release Party of a Sho
Friday, October 3, 2025; Saturday, October 4, 2025; Sunday, October 5, 2025
Standard ticket prices apply (see general pricing)
Show starts at 7:40 PM each night. Played on Screen 2 with audio available on 96.7 FM.
🍎Food Policy
- • Outside food & beverage is currently allowed but discouraged; the theater encourages supporting their snack bar. A charge for outside food & beverage may be implemented in the future.
📅Booking Policy
- • Ticket payment accepted: Visa, Mastercard, and debit cards.
- • E-Gift cards are available for Theater Box Office (Tickets & Admissions Only) and Concessions.
- • No crossovers permitted: To change screens, you must exit and pay again at the box office.
What People Say
What's Great
- Safe environment for children (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Skye Mohrhaus
3 weeks agoThe south drive in is our home on the weekends! We're movie buffs, with littles, and this is a sweet spot. Conveniently located on the edge of town next to all of your favorite food places. Safety is a priority and it shows. Never any speeding cars, no fights, everyone is respectful and can we talk about CLEAN restrooms? For being an outdoor theater they take pride in keeping facilities clean and comfortable! Snack bar is always fully loaded and kitchen staff is ready to rock your orders of pizza, sammiches and more! What I also love is they intend on being open as many days of the year as possible! So throw them leg warmers on in the winter an go watch a Christmas movie! I'm not joking. The south knows how to keep the good times rolling. Affordable tickets and options to bring out your grill for a small fee and live like kings. Go check em out! You won't regret it!
Amy Rawlins
9 months agoIf you want to experience nostalgia, treat the kids to a stress free movie experience, or see a couple of movies for half the price of a theater, this would be the place. Price $12 per adult. There are 2 screens so the choice is convenient. If you are going on the weekend, I would suggest going around 45 minutes prior to the start of the movie. The line to get in can get backed up pretty far. You can pay through the website or at the gate (cash or card). You can listen with speakers or through your radio tuned to the appropriate station. We tried to go to the concession, but the line was pretty long and didn't have time before the movie started. There are bathrooms available, they are dated and look dinghy but work if you have to go. You could always bring a cooler with your own snacks or food. Or stop at fast food on the way there. A great part of the experience. There were a lot of suv's (which you could see around). A few of the larger trucks seemed a little tall to see around. Some people were using lawn chairs and sat on the ground, and some had the chairs in the flatbed of the truck. Getting in and out is pretty easy, sign tell you which to.enter and exit.. We had a great time. Something nostalgic at a reasonable price. It was fun and would probably do it again.
DrkyOne1
in the last weekWent to see #Sinners . It was to blurry to see and the speakers were buzzing. Looked like a bootleg to me. Hate that we wasted money there!
H
7 months agoBeen going here for many years and I hope it never goes away. It's a piece of history and our community loves it. It's your classic drive in experience - drive up, get your ticket for 1 of 2 screens, get a spot, turn off your lights, pick up some theatre grub (it's ookay, I bring my own) and have a great time you'll remember fondly in less fortunate times. I love the scary movies they show in autumn. This also hosts a weekend morning flea market in warmer months.
Ethan Vose
a month agoTickets are fairly priced. You get 2 movies for one purchase. They have special screenings and current movies