- Gets dark7:22 pmGates open 8:00 pm
- Google rating4.5012345678901234567890123456789reviews
- Screens2
- Price$25a carload
- Outside food$10permit per car
- FM101.9 FM, 87.9 FM*
- This week's moviesOn Facebook pageWeekly
- Opened1949
Hi-Road Drive-In is at 8059 US Route 68 in Kenton, Ohio, northwest of Columbus.
It has two screens, a concession stand and a playground. At the gate it is $10 for anyone 12 and up and $5 for kids 3 to 11, and kids 2 and under get in free. You can also buy a $25 carload online for up to six people, but that price is online only.
As of 2026, the gate opens at 7:30 p.m. and the first movie starts about 8:30 p.m.
Location
Where is Hi-Road Drive-In Theater?
Hi-Road Drive-In Theater is at 8059 US-68, Kenton, OH 43326. The entrance is at County Road 90. The closest highway is US-68.
Loads Google Maps when you tap it
Where to eat nearby
If you would rather eat before the movie than at the counter:
- Ralphie's Sports Eatery
- Salsa's Mexican Grill
- En Lai Chinese Restaurant
Start time
What time does the movie start at Hi-Road Drive-In Theater?
What Hi-Road Drive-In Theater says: Posted 8:00 PM for the movies on September 29, 2026, with gates at 7:00 PM. Full dark that night came around 7:48 PM, so the first movie started just after dark.
In October the sun sets around 6:54 pm and it gets dark around 7:22 pm.
Dark means full dark, about 25 minutes after sunset. It is not a time Hi-Road 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 March to December, on the 15th.
| Month | Gets dark |
|---|---|
| March | 8:07 pm |
| April | 8:41 pm |
| May | 9:15 pm |
| June | 9:40 pm |
| July | 9:36 pm |
| August | 9:02 pm |
| September | 8:12 pm |
| October | 7:22 pm |
| November | 5:46 pm |
| December | 5:38 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 Hi-Road Drive-In Theater costs
- Per car$25One price for the whole car
- Adult$10
- Child$5Ages 3-11
- Under 3FreeKids 2 and under
Amenities
Food, restrooms and rules
- Snack bar
- Outside food is allowed with a $10 permit, bought at the gate
- Restrooms in a building
- Playground
- Socials: TikTok @hiroaddrivein and Instagram @hiroaddrivein alongside Facebook
- Merch: shop page on hiroaddrivein.com
- "Screen 1 has the best looking projector I've ever seen at a drive-in" (Google review, Sept 2026)
Showtimes
What's playing at Hi-Road Drive-In Theater this week
Hi-Road Drive-In posts this week's movies and start times on its Facebook page, usually weekly. Check there for tonight's show.
Reviews
What visitors say about Hi-Road Drive-In Theater
From 593 visitor reviews, 4.5 stars.
Friendly, fast-moving staff
- 44 reviewers, in reviews through Sept 2026, describe the staff as friendly.
- 3 of those reviewers separately call the service quick.
Double feature for one ticket
- 10 reviewers, in reviews through Sept 2026, mention getting a double feature on their visit.
Old-school, movies-under-the-stars feel
- 4 reviewers, in reviews through Sept 2026, describe the outing as movies under the stars.
Before you go
Know before you go
- The box office opens 8:00 pm
- On a busy summer night, get there about 60 minutes early
- The Date Night Ticket Package (hiroaddrivein.com) bundles admission for two, two 32oz drinks and a large popcorn in one purchase, and stays redeemable for up to 5 years from the purchase date.
- A Carload Gift Certificate (hiroaddrivein.com) covers up to 6 people in one car and is good for 5 years from the date of purchase, so it works as a buy-ahead gift for a group.
History
The history of Hi-Road Drive-In Theater
Hi-Road opened June 11, 1949, under Bob Hipp with a 40x80-foot screen and room for 400 cars. A windstorm flattened the original screen in January 1952. The lot changed hands several times and had fallen into disrepair by the late 1990s, when Rodney Miller bought it in 1999 and restored it, adding a second screen in 2011 and converting to digital by 2013. It now holds over 600 cars across two screens.
In October 2026 the theater announced it had bought Screen 1 from the Coyote Drive-In in Fort Worth, Texas, which closed after its final show on September 7, 2026. Once built it will be the third largest screen in Ohio. The current 57 by 27 foot Screen 1 moves across the lot to replace Screen 2, and the new screen goes up behind it so the theater can stay open during construction. Permits start over the 2026 to 2027 winter, with construction hoped for by mid-2027.
Connected drive-ins: Coyote Drive-In Theater, Fort Worth, Texas.
FAQ
Questions about Hi-Road Drive-In Theater, answered
How many screens does Hi-Road Drive-In have?
Hi-Road Drive-In has two screens. Each one shows a different film on the same night, so you choose which screen you want as you pull in and park facing it. Ask at the gate what is playing on each.
What FM frequency does Hi-Road Drive-In use?
Hi-Road Drive-In broadcasts its soundtrack on 101.9 FM, 87.9 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 Hi-Road Drive-In?
What Hi-Road Drive-In says: Posted 8:00 PM for the movies on September 29, 2026, with gates at 7:00 PM. Full dark that night came around 7:48 PM, so the first movie started just after dark. In October it gets dark around 7:22 pm. Check with the theater on the day you go.
When is Hi-Road Drive-In open?
For the 2026 season, Hi-Road Drive-In is open from March to December, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. It closes for the winter and reopens in the spring, so a trip outside those months is not possible.
How much does Hi-Road Drive-In cost?
Admission to Hi-Road Drive-In is $25 a carload, $10 per adult, $5 per child 3-11. That is one price for the whole vehicle, so five of you pay what two would. Children 2 and under get in free.
Can I bring my own food to Hi-Road Drive-In?
You can bring your own food to Hi-Road Drive-In once you have bought a permit for $10 a car. The permit is worth it if you were going to spend more than that at the counter anyway. Without one, outside food is not allowed in.
Nearby
Other drive-in theaters in Ohio
- 41 miles awayTiffin Drive-In TheaterSee this theater
- 44 miles awayVan-Del Drive-InSee this theater
- 54 miles awayStarlight Drive-InSee this theater
- 56 miles awaySpringmill Drive-InSee this theater