A drive-in is a place where you can enjoy entertainment or services while staying in your car. The most famous kind is the drive-in movie theater, where families park their cars facing a giant outdoor screen and watch movies under the stars. Instead of sitting in theater seats, you stay cozy in your own car, often tuning your radio to hear the sound.

Drive-ins became wildly popular in America during the 1950s and 1960s. Families loved them because parents could bring young children without worrying about noise, and teenagers enjoyed the independence of having their own space. At their peak, America had over 4,000 drive-in theaters. Today only a few hundred remain, making them special nostalgic treats.

The drive-in concept extends beyond movies. A drive-in restaurant lets you order food from your car, with servers bringing meals to your window. Some banks and pharmacies have drive-in windows (often called drive-through windows) where you can do business without leaving your vehicle. The key idea is always the same: you drive in, get what you came for, and drive away, all without stepping out of your car.