Drive-In Movies Fun and Frugal!!! #ohio

We frequently take the  kids to the drive-ins in the summer.    Luckily the town , I work in has 2!  One has 2 screens, while the other has just one screen.  I remember going to drive-ins as a child in Michigan and love sharing these memories with my children! 

When my daughter was an infant, we went to the drive in and folded down the back seats of the van and placed a pack and play back there, this way she could sleep comfortably while we were watching the movie!  Now the kids are older, we just fold down the seats of the SUV or Van  and they watch the first movie, then we  put sleeping bags in the back end and they sleep during the 2nd.  It is quiet comfortable!  The kids have a blast!  They ended up sleeping until it was time to leave!  Plus mommy and daddy get to see some movies they have been wanting too!

I did some searching to help the rest of you find a drive-in! Going rates are $5-$7 an adult for 2 movies.  Kid rates seemed to be $1 for ages 6-12!  Instead of going out to dinner and then dropping $10 a ticket at a regular theater to see one move, we had a fun cheap night.  Here are some ways to make it fun and frugal:

• Take a cooler with your sodas and water bottles
• Pick up a $5 Little Caesars pizza  or head to CiCi's pizza and get 3 carry-out pizzas for $9.99!
• Pick up some Dollar Store candy!
• Pop your own popcorn and place it in a brown paper bag and bring with you

We normally pick  up 3 CiCi pizzas for $9.99 and then stop at Speedway gas station and got 2 fountain drinks for $.99 each and the kids got frozen slushes for $.99 each! We picked up 2 boxes of candy at the store for $1 each and then brought in popcorn.  (please note some drive-ins have policies on bringing outside food and may charge you $4-5 for a food permit)

Break down of cost for dinner and a movie for 4:
   $16 for pizza, drink and candy
   $12 for 2 movies for 4 of us
Final price= $28 for a family for 4 for dinner and 2 movies!!!

Totally frugal and memory lasting!!!


Here are some links to find drive ins close to you!
Great Eastern Drive-Ins  (Ohio)
Sunset Drive-In (Mansfield, OH)
Drive-ins.com (Ohio listings)

Drive-ins.com  This lists all the drive-ins by state!  Who knew there were so many!!

Just remember BUG SPRAY and BLANKETS!  It got quiet chilly last night and the bugs were out!