Entry No. 77 — the Wichita file — filed under: outdoor
Starlite Drive-In
A 1953-vintage twin-screen drive-in that survived when nearly every other one in Kansas vanished, still running double features off two screens that hold 750 and 550 cars. The season opens in March on weekends and ramps up to more nights once school lets out, so summer is prime time. You tune the audio through your car radio and watch first-run films under the actual sky.
The story
While almost every outdoor theater across Kansas was plowed under for strip malls and housing tracts over the last half-century, the Starlite on South Hydraulic Avenue managed to keep its twin screens standing. Operating since 1953, it remains one of the state's few surviving strongholds of mid-century drive-in cinema, anchoring a massive footprint that holds 750 cars in front of one screen and 550 in front of the other.
The operation doesn't rely on polished modern luxury gimmicks to fill the gravel and grass lots. You tune your car's FM receiver to pick up the soundtrack, and the marquee stays locked into classic double features—meaning a single ticket buys you two back-to-back first-run films under the open Kansas sky.
What it's like
Arrive well before dusk on South Hydraulic, especially on summer weekends when the queue stretches out and choice spots disappear early. Back your vehicle into a stall, pop the tailgate, and set up camp with lawn chairs, blankets, and your own contraband snacks. The primary hazard here is a dead vehicle battery after a four-hour double feature—pack a portable battery-powered FM radio to save your car starter, or keep a set of jumper cables in the trunk just in case.
The move: Back into a parking spot, fold down the seats with blankets and snacks, and watch a double feature on the big screen from inside (or in front of) your car.
📍 Before you go Seasonal (roughly March through fall); weekends only early season, more nights in summer. Tune audio via car FM radio. Around $10.75 ages 12+, $5 kids.
- 📍 South Wichita
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 3900 S Hydraulic Ave, Wichita, KS 67216
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Muffler Man at Brown's Tire & Custom Wheel Center — Visit this 14-foot fiberglass giant just over a mile west on South Broadway for a vintage roadside photo op before pulling into the drive-in lot.
- Pink Elephant Games and Cafe — Grab a pre-show tabletop game session three miles north on Pawnee before the Starlite gates open for the night.
- Kansas Aviation Museum — Public Paranormal Investigations — Combine late-night movie watching with an after-dark paranormal investigation inside the 1935 Art Deco airport terminal just two miles away.
Good to know
How much does admission cost?
Tickets run around $10.75 for adults (ages 12 and up) and $5 for children, which covers both movies in the double feature.
How do you listen to the movie sound?
Audio broadcasts directly over localized FM radio frequencies. You can use your car radio or bring a portable FM player.
What is the season and schedule?
The Starlite runs seasonally from roughly March through fall. Early spring operates on weekend-only schedules, ramping up to more nights per week during summer.
How many vehicles fit in the drive-in?
The twin-screen property holds up to 1,300 vehicles total, split between a 750-car screen lot and a 550-car screen lot.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · visitwichita.com · Yelp
last checked: 2026-06-23