- Gets dark7:02 pm
- Google rating4.7012345678901234567890123456789reviews
- Screens1
- Price$10per adult
- DogsWelcome*
- FM104.5 FM
- Car spots500
- Opened1951
Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In is at 425 Theatre Road in Carrolltown, Pennsylvania, in the Cambria County hills.
It is family run, has one screen and shows double and triple features on Friday and Saturday nights in the 2026 season. There is a full snack bar, and the gate is cash only.
Location
Where is Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In Theater?
Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In Theater is at 425 Theatre Rd, Carrolltown, PA 15722. The entrance is at Cole Road.
Loads Google Maps when you tap it
Where to eat nearby
If you would rather eat before the movie than at the counter:
- Old Gray Mare
Start time
What time does the movie start at Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In Theater?
What Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In Theater says: The theater posted 7:45 pm for the first movie on October 9, 2026. Full dark that night was 7:12 pm, so the movie started about 33 minutes after dark.
In October the sun sets around 6:35 pm and it gets dark around 7:02 pm.
Dark means full dark, about 25 minutes after sunset. It is not a time Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In Theater 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 | 8:21 pm |
| May | 8:55 pm |
| June | 9:20 pm |
| July | 9:16 pm |
| August | 8:43 pm |
| September | 7:52 pm |
| October | 7:02 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 Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In Theater costs
- Adult$10
- Child$5Ages 5-11
- Under 5FreeKids 4 and under
Amenities
Food, restrooms and rules
- Snack bar
- Restrooms in a building
- You can bring your dog
- History: opened 1951 with a 500-car single screen (per usdriveins.com mirror description, id 117 -- no venue own-site history page and no Cinema Treasures match, so held here rather than in the history field which requires a history_url)
- Bar-Ann Drive-In, same operator (Donald Gawel)
- Alcohol: bar onsite per Google Maps listing (offerings: Alcohol; amenities: Bar onsite)
- Staff have jump-started dead batteries for customers (recurring in reviews, 2026-08-18 and 2025-08-06)
- Credit and debit cards accepted at the snack bar even though gate admission is cash only
- No BBQ grill or campfire permitted on the lot
- Laser pointers prohibited
- Vehicles must stay "dark" (no headlights/interior lights) for the duration of the features
- On busy nights, parking spaces are restricted to vehicles only
- Opens when the ticket booth opens, stays open until 10 minutes after the second feature begins
- 76-foot screen, 33,000-lumen digital projector (per usdriveins.com mirror)
Reviews
What visitors say about Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In Theater
From 411 visitor reviews, 4.7 stars.
Snack bar
- Affordable, decent food praised across many reviews (topic-mention count: 21 for "concession stand", 13 for "snack bar", out of 411 total reviews).
Bathrooms
- Called clean by multiple reviewers (topic-mention count: 3 for "clean bathrooms").
Before you go
Know before you go
- On a busy summer night, get there about 60 minutes early
- If your hatch is open, you may be asked to tie it level with the top of your vehicle.
- Re-entry is prohibited.
- Bring cash. The gate does not take cards
- Admission is cash only; the snack bar takes credit and debit cards.
- The ticket booth normally opens about 1 hour before the first showtime.
- A raised hatchback may be asked to be tied down level with the vehicle roofline.
- Staff has jump-started dead car batteries for patrons on multiple occasions per recent reviews.
History
The history of Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In Theater
The Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In in Carrolltown, Pennsylvania, was built in 1951 with a single screen and room for about 500 cars. It has since switched to digital projection. Donald Gawel runs it and also owns the nearby Bar-Ann Drive-In in Portage.
FAQ
Questions about Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In Theater, answered
How many screens does Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In have?
Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In 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 FM frequency does Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In use?
Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In broadcasts its soundtrack on 104.5 FM. The audio comes through your own car stereo rather than a speaker on a post. If your car cannot run its radio with the engine off, bring a portable one.
What time does the movie start at Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In?
What Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In says: The theater posted 7:45 pm for the first movie on October 9, 2026. Full dark that night was 7:12 pm, so the movie started about 33 minutes after dark. In October it gets dark around 7:02 pm. Check with the theater on the day you go.
How much does Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In cost?
Admission to Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In is $10 per adult, $5 per child 5-11. Two adults and two children come to $30. Children 4 and under get in free. The booth takes cash only, so stop at a machine on the way.
Are dogs allowed at Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In?
Dogs are welcome at Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In, so there is no sitter to arrange. Keep yours with you at the car, bring water, and clean up afterwards. A nervous dog is worth leaving at home, because car horns and sound carry across a lot.
Nearby
Other drive-in theaters in Pennsylvania
- 17 miles awayBar-An Drive-InSee this theater
- 23 miles awayPalace Gardens Drive-InSee this theater
- 26 miles awaySilver Drive-InSee this theater
- 33 miles awaySuper 322 Drive-InSee this theater