Entry No. 83 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: after-dark
Comanche Drive-In Theatre
At 8,000 feet in the Arkansas Valley, the Comanche bills itself as the highest-elevation drive-in theater in the United States, with the movie screen framed by surrounding mountain peaks. The 2026 season opens in late April and runs weekends, Friday through Sunday, with every showing starting at dusk. It is one of only a handful of drive-ins still operating in Colorado.
The story
Drive three miles west out of Buena Vista down County Road 339 and you will run out of town long before you run out of dark. Parked at 8,000 feet in the mountain air of the Arkansas Valley, the Comanche Drive-In Theatre sits framed directly by the towering peaks of the surrounding range. It bills itself as the highest-elevation drive-in theater in the United States, and standing in the gravel lot looking up at the screen against a fading alpine sky, it is hard to argue.
While outdoor screens were systematically plowed under across the country over the last few decades, this patch of dirt quietly held on. It remains one of only a small handful of drive-ins still operating anywhere in Colorado. You are not getting megaplex gloss here—you are getting movies projected directly into the high-altitude twilight while engines cool down and the mountain air settles over the valley.
What it's like
Pull in as dusk starts to settle behind the peaks, back your car into space, and dial your stereo in to pick up the audio signal. The key move here is thermal preparation: at 8,000 feet, nightfall brings a sudden mountain cold that will cut right through a sweatshirt. Grab snacks from the concessions stand, pile heavy wool blankets into the back of your car, and watch the screen light up against the pitch-black mountain silhouette.
The move: Back the car in, recline the seats under an 8,000-foot mountain sky, and watch a movie outdoors as the alpine cold rolls in.
📍 Before you go Roughly 80 miles from Colorado Springs. Open weekends only, late April through summer; shows start at dusk. Pack blankets, nights get cold at altitude.
- 📍 Buena Vista
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 27784 County Road 339, Buena Vista, CO 81211
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Poplar Gulch Trail (from St. Elmo ghost town) — Hike into the high country past weathered 1880s cabins in Chalk Creek Canyon before driving back down to the valley floor for a show at dusk.
- Eleven Mile State Park (Dark Sky stargazing & reservoir) — Track west along US-24 and pause for late-afternoon views over the reservoir before finishing your drive to the movie screen in Buena Vista.
- Florissant Fossil Beds Night Sky Program — Break up the drive from Colorado Springs with a stop at the fossil monuments along your route through the mountains.
Good to know
Where is the Comanche Drive-In located?
It is located at 27784 County Road 339, roughly three miles west of Buena Vista and about 80 miles west of Colorado Springs.
When is the theater open for the season?
The season opens in late April and runs through the summer on weekends only (Friday through Sunday), with every show starting at dusk.
How do you listen to the movie sound?
The movie audio is broadcast locally over FM radio directly to your vehicle's stereo system.
What should I bring with me?
Pack heavy blankets, winter jackets, or sleeping bags. Nights at 8,000 feet get cold fast, even during midsummer.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · uncovercolorado.com · colorado.com · mtprinceton.com
last checked: 2026-06-23