10 Texas Drive-In Movie Theaters That Are More than Just Nostalgic

Somehow, no streaming service has been able to capture the magic of a drive-in movie theater.

Maybe it’s the crackling speaker hanging onto the window. Maybe it’s watching a story so big it fills up the whole sky. Or the kids in their pajamas piled in the back seat, still buzzing from the snack bar, not quite asleep.

Texas once had nearly 400 drive-ins. Today, only a handful are still lighting up the night sky. The tech has changed but the magic is still there. So pack the car, grab a cooler, and tune your radio. Here are the top ten worth the drive.

1. Graham Drive-In Theatre

Recognized as the longest-running drive-in theater in Texas, people have been pulling into the Graham Drive-In since 1948. The little town of Graham is about 120 miles northwest of Fort Worth. 

Not even a global pandemic could kill it. Now that’s a track record. Up to three hundred cars still gather on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights under the North Texas sky.

New owners Chip and Brandi McFerrin took over in 2024, right on the heels of the theater’s 75th anniversary. They brought fresh energy without touching the soul of the place. Well, there might be some updates to the concession stand. You could even grab the makings of a full dinner there now.

Don’t worry, those boxes of candy are still available. During the holidays, the McFerrins run Toys for Tots drives in the parking lot, giving back to the community that helps the real story keep going.

2. Last Drive-In Picture Show

The Last Drive-In Picture Show prides itself on offering real, old-fashioned bang-for-the-buck value.

It offers a double feature, one playing in an indoor cinema, and the other running on a vintage-style gravel lot drive-in. Just like you remember.

Open every day except Christmas. No R-rated films, ever.

Grandfather Gene Palmer started here as a teenager, saved up, and bought the place. His family has owned it since 1965. His grandson Dana runs things now.

Families who first drove in here 30 years ago are now bringing their grandchildren.

Here, they can enjoy a dollar game of mini-golf before the show or shows. There are the occasional dusk-to-dawn marathons on weekends, five movies deep. Families have been known to bring sleeping bags!

And it is just $10 a carload no matter if you are watching one or five movies. No wonder why so many families make a beeline to this gem, right in Gatesville, 30 miles outside Waco.

3. Wes-Mer Drive-In

Opening with the screwball comedy, “Everybody Does It,“ the Mercedes-based Wes-Mer has been bringing smiles to the faces of the Rio Grande Valley for 75 years.

The owner Lydia runs the Wes-Mer the way she believes drive-ins should be run: “very basic and old school.” Except of course, now, audiences can vote on movies via social media.

You can watch the movie inside your car per tradition, or outside on a lawn chair or blanket. You can even come early to picnic on one of their picnic benches.

The nice folks at the Wes-Mer just want you and your family to relax and enjoy yourselves. It’s just $10 per car for up to six people. Tuesdays are a real steal at $5.

Fun, Friendly, Family Environment. That’s the Wes-Mer motto. And after 75 years, they’ve earned every word of it.

4. Brazos Drive-In

When the Brazos Drive-In came up for sale in 2024, Jarred Hopson didn’t call an investment advisor. He just said yes.

Jarred grew up going to the Brazos as a kid. He bought it because he could not stand the thought of it going dark.

Running since 1952 — about a mile from Granbury’s beautiful historic downtown square — the Brazos is a Preservation Texas landmark and sits on the official Texas Drive-Ins Film Trail.

There’s even an on-site museum of vintage projection equipment that is genuinely worth the trip on its own.

Today, patrons benefit from bright high definition screens. And for those of us spoiled by Uber eats, the concession stand will deliver right to your vehicle. That includes the popular Frito pies.

And not too many places welcome your furry friends, but at the Brazos, they are greeted with open arms.

And if you want to do something really different, for a special occasion, you can rent out the whole theater for you and your friends to enjoy a truly nostalgic evening. Maybe they will even put a birthday candle in that Frito pie!

5. Sandell Drive-In

Down in the panhandle of Clarendon, 60 miles east of Amarillo, the Sandell is a classic throwback to the golden age.

In 2025, the Sandell celebrated its 70th anniversary with a showing of Shane, oldies on the speakers, and a parking lot full of people who drove in for exactly this feeling.

Named after the original owner’s two daughters, Sandra and Adele, The Sandell will tug on your nostalgic heartstrings. Even their motto “Movies in Your Cars, Under the Stars,” has a sweet old-fashioned ring to it.

And it is famous locally for its ink-and-black 1950s aesthetic and pre-movie games. Just the way it was, but better.

But there is a surprising bonus. The food is genuinely great. The star of the show (forgive me!) is the hand-pressed Savage Burger. A potent combo of bacon and brisket posing as a cheeseburger. But don’t worry, there are plenty of sweet treats and chili dogs too.

6. Stars & Stripes Drive-In

Ryan Smith’s grandfather once ran a drive-in in Lamesa called the Sky-Vue — where, back in 1948, a then-unknown Buddy Holly once played atop the projection room.

Ryan grew up hearing that and other romantic stories of a day gone by. And though the Sky-Vu is long gone, Ryan kept the dreams of the past and brought them to life in a contemporary new way with Stars & Stripes.

Stars & Stripes now runs two locations. The original is just outside Lubbock in West Texas. The second is in New Braunfels, right in the heart of the Hill Country, about 30 minutes north of San Antonio and 45 minutes south of Austin. This location has two of Texas’ largest screens, earning it a place on the USA Today’s Readers’ Choice top-ten best drive-ins in the nation.

Not just in Texas, in the whole country! One thing from the old Sky-Vu can still be found at Stars & Stripes.

It’s iconic Chihuahua sandwich; chili meat, pimento cheese, shredded cabbage, diced onions, two tostada shells, jalapeño on the side. And Ryan still pays a royalty on every one sold! 

7. Galaxy Drive-In Theatre

If you have ever tried to explain to a child what a drive-in movie theater is, just bring them here.

The Galaxy, about 30 miles south of Dallas off I-45, is the largest drive-in in Texas. It has seven screens, two snack bars, and a miniature golf course you can play before the sun goes down and the movies start. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for the kiddos for two features.

But here’s the “something-special.” The Galaxy is one of the last drive-ins in America that still has the old metal speaker boxes. You remember.

You can hang one right on your car window, just like the old days for an authentic drive-in audio experience. This is definitely not Bluetooth!

Owner Martin Murray moved his whole family from North Carolina to Ennis in 2001 to build this place from the ground up. He had been collecting projector equipment since 1986. His wife Marsha said: “I’d ask why and complain that he needed to do something with the mess.”

He did something with the mess. On weekends, cars back up at the Garrett exit on I-45 waiting to get in.

8. Coyote Drive-In

Imagine watching a movie with the Fort Worth skyline filling the space behind the screen. That is just what happens when you go to the Coyote.

Co-founder Brady Wood spent years running the legendary Trees and Gypsy Tea Room music venues in Dallas, and that energy shows here at the Coyote. This place is an event. Four screens. An enclosed playground. A full bar with delivery straight to your car. Yes, a frozen margarita can be yours here.

The concession-style food options have been seriously leveled-up. We are talking Wagyu sliders and BBQ sandwiches. And on weekends, there are food trucks with other offerings and live music too before the shows.

Coyote makes sure that you can easily see the movie too! Using a cutting-edge laser projection system that delivers a sharp image and a great experience. With those sunset views, big screens and entertainment, you might just forget you are in Fort Worth.

9. Doc’s Drive-In Theatre

Doc’s is what you call “a whole vibe.” Have you ever heard of a drive-in built from shipping containers?

With movie-themed tiny homes for overnight stays inspired by Star-Wars and Harry Potter. And who are the masterminds behind this? Meet Chris and Sarah Denny.

The Dennys started with the tiny home rentals on their Buda property, about 15 minutes south of Austin on I-35. Then they built the drive-in with two screens and a lot that fits eighty-six cars. But they didn’t stop there.

Underneath the theater is Mama Merlot’s, a prohibition-themed underground bar, reached through a mini-maze and a hidden, secret door.

It hosts everything from burlesque nights to murder mystery dinners. Drive in, see a movie, hang out, and stay the night. That’s how Doc’s puts it. And that’s an offer you won’t get in any other place on this list.

10. Moonstruck Drive-In

It opened during a pandemic. It survived a tornado. And it moved to a brand new home in April 2025 at 45 Delano in Houston. That is the fast-moving origin story of Moonstruck Drive-in.

Co-founders Alicia Tashiro and Andrew Thomas launched Moonstruck in East Downtown Houston when the world had temporarily run out of other options for a night out.

With its 60-foot screen and dog-friendly policy, its popularity has continued to grow, not just as a great place to watch movies, but as a community connection.

The drive-in has hosted community events including a pop-up market affectionately known as La Puglita, or “Little Flea” which featured local vendors. And local food trucks offer some great food choices for viewers on the weekends and during special events. Moonstruck is making drive-ins make sense for urban communities and the small businesses that sustain them.