For a movie night with a little history behind it, Philadelphia doesn’t have to look far. In Orefield, Pennsylvania, just off Route 309 in the Lehigh Valley, Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre has been welcoming moviegoers since 1934.
The nearly century-old theater is the oldest continuously operating drive-in theater in the world, making it a notable piece of American cinema history that is still very much in use. Instead of heading inside a traditional theater, visitors can pull into the outdoor theater, tune into the movie soundtrack and watch from their vehicles beneath the night sky.
Shankweiler’s also recently took the spot in the 2026 USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards for Best Drive-In Theater, marking the third consecutive year it has received the recognition.
A drive-in theater with more than 90 years of history
Shankweiler’s opened on April 15, 1934, when Wilson Shankweiler launched Pennsylvania’s first drive-in theater. At the time, it was the second drive-in to open in the United States, following the theater established by Richard Hollingshead in Camden, New Jersey, in 1933.
Over the decades, the theater has adapted to changes in movie technology while preserving its original concept. Car speakers arrived in the 1940s, FM stereo broadcasting was introduced in 1986 and digital projection was added in 2013.
In 2022, The Moving Picture Cinema, led by Matthew McClanahan and Lauren McChesney, purchased the theater and expanded it to year-round operation.
What to know before your movie night
Shankweiler’s currently offers first – and second-run movies, with programming and showtimes changing throughout the year. The box office typically opens about two hours before showtime, and online tickets are available for many programs.
A vehicle with one admission currently starts at $13.24, including the service fee, while admission for children under 12 starts at $9.16. The theater also has an on-site snack bar serving movie-night favorites, from popcorn and cheeseburgers to funnel cakes and ice cream.
Movie audio is broadcast on 90.7 FM, so visitors can use their car or radio or bring a portable radio. The theater operates rain or shine, except during severe weather or heavy snowfall.
Getting to Shankweiler’s from Philadelphia
From Philly, Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre is roughly an hour’s drive, depending on traffic. The theater is located at 4540 Shankweiler Road in Orefield, making it an easy road trip for Philly moviegoers looking to trade the traditional theater for an outdoor screen.
With more than 90 years of movie history behind it, Shankweiler’s offers Philadelphia a chance to experience a piece of American cinema that never stopped playing.
