- Gets dark6:35 pmGates open 6:30 PM
- Google rating4.6012345678901234567890123456789reviews
- Screens1
- Price$12per adult
- Car spots425
- Opened1956
49er Drive-In Theatre screens movies in Valparaiso, Indiana.
It holds a 4.6 rating from more than 125 Google reviews.
Location
Where is 49er Drive-In Theatre?
49er Drive-In Theatre is at 675 N Calumet Ave, Valparaiso, IN 46383. The entrance is at East 700 North.
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Where to eat nearby
If you would rather eat before the movie than at the counter:
- D’S Meats and Paninis
- The Bait Shop
- San Jose Mexican Restaurant
Start time
What time does the movie start at 49er Drive-In Theatre?
49er Drive-In Theatre does not post a set start time that we could find. Check its website on the day you go.
In October the sun sets around 6:07 pm and it gets dark around 6:35 pm.
Dark means full dark, about 25 minutes after sunset. It is not a time 49er Drive-In Theatre promises, and some drive-ins start the movie before it. Plan to be parked by sunset.
Here is when it gets dark in each month, from April to October, on the 15th.
| Month | Gets dark |
|---|---|
| April | 7:56 pm |
| May | 8:31 pm |
| June | 8:57 pm |
| July | 8:53 pm |
| August | 8:18 pm |
| September | 7:26 pm |
| October | 6:35 pm |
For more on what time it gets dark and when drive-ins really start their movies, read our start-time guide.
Prices
How much 49er Drive-In Theatre costs
- Adult$12
- Child$6Ages 5-11
- Under 5FreeKids 4 and under
Amenities
Food, restrooms and rules
- Snack bar
- Awards: named one of America's Top Ten Drive-In Theatres
- Awards: Indiana Governor's Half Century Award, 2025
- Awards: ROSE Award, 2014
Reviews
What visitors say about 49er Drive-In Theatre
From 126 visitor reviews, 4.6 stars.
Picture too dark or out of focus
- Three reviews from July to September 2026 said the screen looked too dark or slightly out of focus, one calling it 'more like heard it' on a night the picture was especially dim.
- No reviewer in the same period praised picture brightness or sharpness specifically.
Before you go
Know before you go
- The box office opens 6:30 PM
- If your vehicle has automatic running lights or daytime lowbeams (a reviewer's Jeep was the example), switch them off before the movie starts; a September 2026 review described spending several minutes figuring this out once parked, drawing complaints from neighbors.
History
The history of 49er Drive-In Theatre
The 49er Drive-In in Valparaiso, Indiana, has shown movies on one screen since 1956 and holds about 425 cars. When the theater faced closing, new owners bought it and kept it open.
FAQ
Questions about 49er Drive-In Theatre, answered
How many screens does 49er Drive-In Theatre have?
49er Drive-In Theatre has one screen. Everybody on the lot watches the same film, so there is nothing to choose when you arrive. Park where you like, tune your radio and wait for the light to go.
What time does the movie start at 49er Drive-In Theatre?
49er Drive-In Theatre does not post a set start time that we could find. Most drive-ins start the movie around dusk, which in October is about 6:35 pm and at midsummer closer to 8:57 pm. Plan to be parked by sunset and check with the theater on the day you go.
How much does 49er Drive-In Theatre cost?
Admission to 49er Drive-In Theatre is $12 per adult, $6 per child 5-11. Two adults and two children come to $36. Children 4 and under get in free.
Nearby
Other drive-in theaters in Indiana
- 32 miles awayMelody Drive In TheaterSee this theater
- 38 miles awayTri-Way Drive-In TheaterSee this theater
- 55 miles awayLake Shore Drive-In TheatreSee this theater
- 92 miles awayGQT Huntington Drive InSee this theater