- Gets dark6:55 pmGates open 6:30 pm
- Google rating4.701234567890123456789reviews
- Screens1
- Price$10per adult
- Outside foodPermit needed
- DogsOn a leash
- Sit outsideYes
- Car spots300
- Opened1956
Rose City Drive In is at 5418 NY-31, Newark, NY 14513.
Location
Where is Rose City Drive In Theater?
Rose City Drive In Theater is at 5418 NY-31, Newark, NY 14513. The entrance is at Main Street. The closest highway is NY-31.
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Where to eat nearby
If you would rather eat before the movie than at the counter:
- Tom Wahl's
- Wendy's
Start time
What time does the movie start at Rose City Drive In Theater?
What Rose City Drive In Theater says: The theater posted 8:00 pm for the first movie on September 11, 2026. Full dark that night was 7:55 pm, so the movie started about 5 minutes after dark.
In October the sun sets around 6:26 pm and it gets dark around 6:55 pm.
Dark means full dark, about 25 minutes after sunset. It is not a time Rose City 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 | 8:19 pm |
| May | 8:57 pm |
| June | 9:24 pm |
| July | 9:20 pm |
| August | 8:42 pm |
| September | 7:48 pm |
| October | 6:55 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 Rose City Drive In Theater costs
- Adult$10
- Child$8Ages 5-12
Amenities
Food, restrooms and rules
- Snack bar
- Outside food is allowed with a permit, bought at the gate
- You can bring your dog, on a leash
- You can sit outside your car
- Free Tuesday Classic: a free classic film screens every Tuesday alongside the paid weekend double features
- No re-admission: guests who leave the lot are charged full price to re-enter
- Rebuilt on its original 1956 footprint after 39 years abandoned (1985-2024); the Eugene Colacino family sold the property to the current owners
Reviews
What visitors say about Rose City Drive In Theater
From 35 visitor reviews, 4.7 stars.
Bathrooms consistently praised
- Reviewers repeatedly call the restrooms clean and well kept (4 of the 20 newest Google reviews, May-Aug 2026)
Concessions mostly liked, one quality complaint
- Several reviewers call the food good and the concession stand a highlight (Google reviews, Jun-Aug 2026)
- One 1-star review said the pizza was undercooked and the hot dogs tasted off (Google review, Jul 2026)
Before you go
Know before you go
- The box office opens 6:30 pm
- Larger vehicles are directed to designated parking areas; raised hatchbacks must be tied down to roof level or park with the trucks and vans.
- You get a free pass if rain stops the movie
- No re-admission. Patrons who leave the drive-in are charged full admission to re-enter.
- Concession stand staff keep a jump starter on hand for a dead car battery (Google review, Apr 2026)
History
The history of Rose City Drive In Theater
The Rose City Drive-In opened July 19, 1956 with "The Man from Laramie" and "Hot Blood." It closed October 6, 1985 after showing "Ghostbusters" and "Starman," then sat abandoned for nearly four decades. Paul Cole bought the property from the Eugene Colacino family and rebuilt on the original footprint, reopening April 5, 2024 with "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire."
FAQ
Questions about Rose City Drive In Theater, answered
How many screens does Rose City Drive In have?
Rose City 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 time does the movie start at Rose City Drive In?
What Rose City Drive In says: The theater posted 8:00 pm for the first movie on September 11, 2026. Full dark that night was 7:55 pm, so the movie started about 5 minutes after dark. In October it gets dark around 6:55 pm. Check with the theater on the day you go.
How much does Rose City Drive In cost?
Admission to Rose City Drive In is $10 per adult, $8 per child 5-12. Two adults and two children come to $36.
Can I bring my own food to Rose City Drive In?
You can bring your own food to Rose City Drive In once you have bought a permit. 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.
Are dogs allowed at Rose City Drive In?
Dogs are welcome at Rose City Drive In as long as the leash stays on. Keep it short near other cars, bring water, and clean up afterwards. A nervous dog is worth leaving at home, because sound carries across a lot.
Nearby
Other drive-in theaters in New York
- 25 miles awayFinger Lakes Drive-InSee this theater
- 31 miles awayVintage Drive InSee this theater
- 41 miles awayMidway Drive-In TheatreSee this theater
- 51 miles awaySilver Lake Twin Drive In TheatreSee this theater