Top 9+ Michigan drive-ins are keeping a nostalgic tradition alive: See the locations
In 1950s and '60s, drive-in theaters were a staple of Michigan summers. At their peak, over 100 dotted the state — it wasn’t hard to find a place to pull in, roll down the windows and watch a movie under the stars.
Decades later, only nine of those traditional drive-ins remain. Sunset Drive-In in Hartford and 5 Mile Drive-In in Dowagiac closed last year.
But instead of mourning what’s gone, celebrate what’s left. These surviving theaters still offer a mix of popular films, buckets of buttery popcorn and a heavy dose of nostalgia.
Ford-Wyoming Drive-In, Dearborn
Opened in 1950, the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In has five screens showing different films. One ticket covers each vehicle, which can be purchased in person or online. A portable radio can be borrowed at the box office or concession stand with a refundable deposit. Audio is also available via the Listen Everywhere app.
Ford-Wyoming Drive-In always has double features in Dearborn.
- Address: 10400 Ford Rd., Dearborn
- Schedule: The drive-in is open nightly from spring through late fall, and on weekends only from late fall through early spring. It opens at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 8:15 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Summer Drive-In at USA Hockey Arena, Plymouth
Summer Drive-In shows various double features on three screens in the parking lot of USA Hockey Arena. Tickets must be purchased online. CJ’s Brewing Co., located inside the arena, offers dine-in, carryout and delivery to vehicles. On select Fridays, Family Fun Fridays at the drive-in feature movies along with free activities such as face painting, games and giveaways.
An aerial view of the Summer Drive-In at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth.
- Address: 14900 Beck Rd., Plymouth
- Schedule: The drive-in will officially open for the 2025 season from Friday, June 6, through Sunday, Aug. 31, operating Wednesdays through Sundays. However, “Sneak Peek Weekends” are scheduled for May 16–17 and May 23–25. Gates open at 7:30 p.m.
Memory Lane Drive-In, Monroe
Only weeks after Memory Lane Drive-In in Monroe announced its closure on Friday, April 18, a local couple decided to bring it back starting Memorial Day weekend, according to the drive-in theater's Facebook page.
The Memory Lane Drive-In Theater in Monroe.
- Address: 6501 N. Monroe, Monroe
- Schedule: Opening weekend is May 23-25. Gates open an hour before showtime. Dates for the rest of the season have not yet been announced.
US 23 Drive-In, Flint
US 23 Drive-In, opened in 1951, features three large screens. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, with no sales in advance. All tickets are double features. Portable radios are available for rent at the concession stand.
- Address: 5200 Fenton Rd., Flint
- Schedule: Before Memorial Day, the drive-in is open Fridays and Saturdays; after Memorial Day, it operates seven nights a week. Gates open at 7:30 p.m.
Hi-Way Drive-In, Carsonville
The Hi-Way Drive-In, which dates to 1948, is one of Michigan’s oldest operating outdoor movie theaters. It features an all-grass lot and frequently hosts movie-themed cosplay events.
- Address: 2778 E. Sanilac Rd., Carsonville
- Schedule: The schedule for the 2025 season is yet to be posted.
Getty Drive-In, Muskegon
Getty Drive-In opened in 1944 in West Michigan. It features four screens and an on-site playground. Portable radios are available to rent at the projection booth. Tickets can be purchased online or in person, and food can be ordered and delivered directly to your vehicle.
An aerial view of Getty Drive-In in Muskegon.
- Address: 920 E. Summit Ave., Muskegon
- Schedule: Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in the spring. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. The theater typically switches to seven days a week by June.
Capri Drive-In, Coldwater
Capri Drive-In opened in 1964, with a second screen added in 1986. Tickets can be purchased online or in person. The outdoor theater offers double features; portable radios and lawn chairs are available to rent on-site. Dates for Capri camp-overs —where attendees watch all four movies back-to-back from dusk to dawn— will be announced by the drive-in soon, according to its manager.
Fireworks are seen in the background with the marquee sign lit at night at Capri Drive-In Theater in Coldwater.
- Address: 119 W. Chicago Rd., Coldwater
- Schedule: The drive-in is open Friday through Sunday from March until Memorial Day, and from late August through late fall. It operates nightly from Memorial Day through the week before Labor Day. Halloween and Christmas movies are shown on weekends in the fall and winter. The box office typically opens around 7 or 8 p.m., depending on sunset. It currently opens at 8 p.m.
Cherry Bowl Drive-In, Honor
Opened in 1953, the Cherry Bowl Drive-In is Northern Michigan's only outdoor theater. It features a diner, playground and mini golf. Past events have included pony rides, clowns and classic car cruises, according to the drive-in's website. Audio is available through FM radio or the original vacuum tube amplifiers that still power the classic speaker posts. Tickets are for double features and must be purchased at the box office.
Cherry Bowl Drive-In in Honor. It is Northern Michigan's only outdoor theater.
- Address: 9812 Honor Hwy., Honor
- Schedule: Opening weekend is May 16–17. The drive-in will then be open Thursdays through Sundays, switching to Fridays and Saturdays only after Labor Day. Box office opens at 7:30 p.m. Special events include a Memorial Day weekend luau, Pickle Fest (July 18–20) and more. The season ends with a trunk-or-treat on Oct. 11.
Highway 2 Community Drive-In, Manistique
Highway 2 Community Drive-In, the only outdoor theater currently operating in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, opened in 1953 and closed in 2001. However, it was revived by the Upper Peninsula Film Union, which began hosting movie nights in 2016 and acquired the property in 2018. Admission is free but donations are welcome. Nonprofits operate the concession stand.
An aerial view of the Highway Community 2 Drive-In screen and field in Manistique.
- Address: 5885 W. US Highway 2, Manistique
- Schedule: Six free movie nights have been announced for the 2025 season, between May 24 and Nov. 8.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with new information.
Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.
