21 Of The Best Drive-In Restaurants Still Open In The United States

Drive-ins were popular restaurants in the '50s and '60s, and now the nostalgic love of these drive-ins remains. While many have since been closed, there are still plenty in the United States! You probably know about Sonic, the chain of drive-ins, but there are lots of others to explore. Not only just a place to get some delicious food and drinks, drive-ins really serve up that nostalgia of the good old days. Here are some drive-ins that you can still visit around the country. This sounds like a really amazing road trip, who's in? 1. Mugs Up Root Beer in Independence, Missouri This drive-in opened in 1956 and remains open, serving their trademark root beer and Zip Burgers! Their prices are low too with burgers only $2.15 and onion rings $1.75. Their root beer is homemade and served in those old-fashioned frosted mugs. 2. Red Rabbit Drive-in in Duncannon, Pennslyvania This drive-in was opened in 1964 and still looks basically the same! They offer delicious milkshakes (order one extra thick!), fries seasoned with "Bunny Dust", fried chicken, pizza, ice cream, and more. You can eat in your vehicle or at the picnic tables. 3. The Varsity in Atlanta, Georgia This drive-in has actually been around since 1928! They were originally a small hot dog stand, but have kept renovating to add more and more. The carhops still wear those vintage paper caps. They are known for their chili dogs, slaw dogs, and Frosted Orange milkshakes. 4. Cameron's Lobster House in Brunswick, Maine If you're looking for the nostalgia of a drive-in mixed with incredible seafood, check out this spot in Maine. You can even get crabmeat or lobster for breakfast here! One of their signature meals is the lobster BLT. 5. Ardy & Ed's Drive-In in Oshkosh, Wisconsin Ardy & Ed's has been open every summer since 1948. It was originally named Southside A & W Drive-In but changed when new owners bought the drive-in. Those sundaes look so yummy! 6. The Drive-In in Taylors Falls, Minnesota Simply called The Drive-In, you really feel like you are back in the '50s when you visit this place. The carhops wear poodle skirts and they offer homemade root beer, bison burgers, fries, and more. They also offer an indoor dining room that looks straight out of the '50s too. Read on to the NEXT page to find out what the next drive-in looks like... 7. Fence Drive-In in Milton, Pennsylvania This is a roadside drive-in down Route 405 that has a nice river view. Their signature menu item is the fish sandwich, but they offer lots of delicious and homemade items. They use the same recipes that the founders started using in 1951. 8. Sumburger Restaurant in Chillicothe, Ohio This cool place started in 1953 in a trailer! Customers often called their burgers "some burger" so they changed their name in 1974. In addition to burgers, they also have bourbon-fried chicken, strawberry pie, and more. 9. The Chatterbox in Augusta, New Jersey The Chatterbox offers plenty of traditional drive-in food, but they have also expanded to offer wraps and seafood. People often come in with their classic cars for the ultimate nostalgic drive-in experience. 10. Superdawg Drive-In in Chicago, Illinois One of the best places to visit in the big city of Chicago, Superdawg has been around for about 70 years. They have all-beef hot dogs and even a gift shop with cute stuff. 11. Ed Walker's Drive-In in Fort Smith, Arkansas Ed Walker's is known for their French dipped sandwiches and giant cheeseburgers! Apparently, the cheeseburger is five pounds and comes with a pie server. You can also get a beer delivered to your car. 12. Bar-B-Q King Drive-In in Charlotte, North Carolina This is a drive-in that was visited by Food Network's Guy Fieri. Guy loved their barbecue fried chicken. They are also well known for their onion rings and their SunDrop drinks. Read on to the NEXT page to find out which restaurant offers a classic car night! 13. Sycamore Drive-In in Bethel, Connecticut Sycamore Drive-In offers Sunday cruise nights for those with classic cars. Many people get out their vintage clothing from the '50s and indulge in a homemade root beer float! 14. Frisco's Carhops in City of Industry, California The carhops at Frisco's wear roller skates and the girls wear pink skirts, very reminiscent of the '50s. They also deliver your food with a song and dance! How fun does that sound? They are known for using parmesan sourdough bread instead of buns for their burgers, too. 15. Mac's Drive-In in Waterloo, New York Mac's Drive-In has been open every summer since 1961. One of their fan favorites is their fresh cut French fries and Richardson's beer which they pour from a mini-keg on the front counter. 16. Dog House Drive-In in Albuquerque, New Mexico This New Mexico staple is known for its spicy chili dogs and Frito Pie. They are along Route 66, making it a great road trip spot. 17. Peppermint Twist in Delano, Minnesota There is a twist at the Peppermint Twist and it includes a teddy bear-themed playground! The location is also painted hot pink because they wanted to stand out against Hardee's. The food continues to win awards in Minnesota. Read on to the LAST page to find out where to get a great hot dog in Michigan! 18. Bill's Hot Dog Stand in Ypsilanti, Michigan Bill's is known for its chili dogs and their old fashioned way of taking orders. Carhops go to your car to take your order and tell the cook your order with hand signals. Sounds pretty unique, right? 19. Corral Drive-In in Guymon, Oklahoma This place is actually a movie theater and restaurant! They have pizza, calzones, Philly cheesesteaks, hot dogs, nachos, chili cheese fries and more! We wish there were more drive-in movie theaters still around. 20. Bobo's Drive-In in Topeka, Kansas Bobo's is known for their giant neon signs, but also their burgers with Spanish sauce, onion rings, and apple pie. 21. Charlie's Drive-In in Hortonville, Wisconsin If you love Elvis, you will want to check out this drive-in. Workers dress up like the King and serve you incredible burgers. They also have a classic car night. If you drive up in a classic Chevy or Caddy you will get a free mug of root beer and a sandwich! Have you ever been to any of these drive-ins? If you enjoyed this article, please SHARE with your friends and family and plan your drive-in road trip across America! Check out this clip from Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: