- Gets dark7:19 pmGates open Gate opens 7:10 PM and the feature begins 8:10 PM (times posted per weekend on the venue's site, they shift with sunset across the season)*
- Google rating4.8012345678901234567890123456789reviews
- Screens1
- Price$8per adult
- Outside foodNot allowed
- DogsOn a leash
- Sit outsideBehind your car
- FM96.1 FM
- Car spots250
- This week's moviesOn Facebook pageWeekly (new-feature post each showing weekend)
- Opened1947
Stateline Drive-In has been showing movies on US-19E in Elizabethton since 1947, and it still runs one feature every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening from mid-May through mid-September in the 2026 season. Admission is $8.00 for anyone 12 and older and $5.00 for children 11 and younger, cash only, with no credit or debit cards and no outside food or drinks on the property.
The snack bar sells popcorn, hot dogs, nachos and Dr Enuf slushies, and the show plays through a normal rain shower, pausing only for severe local lightning.
Location
Where is Stateline Drive-In Theater?
Stateline Drive-In Theater is at 3682 US-19E, Elizabethton, TN 37643. The entrance is at State Line Road. The closest highway is US-19E. Landmarks: Next to the Doe River.
Loads Google Maps when you tap it
Where to eat nearby
If you would rather eat before the movie than at the counter:
- Wayne and Nancy's Family Restaurant
- Mayflower Seafood
- Arby's
Start time
What time does the movie start at Stateline Drive-In Theater?
What Stateline Drive-In Theater says: The theater posted 8:10 pm for the first movie on September 4, 2026. Full dark that night was 8:19 pm, so the movie started about 10 minutes before dark.
What visitors say: Gate / line management. 2026-06-02 review: gates opened about 15 minutes late, cars queued on the highway shoulder.
In October the sun sets around 6:53 pm and it gets dark around 7:19 pm.
Dark means full dark, about 25 minutes after sunset. It is not a time Stateline 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 May to September, on the 15th.
| Month | Gets dark |
|---|---|
| May | 8:56 pm |
| June | 9:18 pm |
| July | 9:16 pm |
| August | 8:47 pm |
| September | 8:02 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 Stateline Drive-In Theater costs
- Adult$8
- Child$5Ages 12 & older = adult; 11 & younger = child
Amenities
Food, restrooms and rules
- Snack bar
- You cannot bring your own food
- Restrooms in a building
- Cash machine on site
- You can bring your dog, on a leash
- You can sit outside, but only right behind your own car
- Merch: Stateline Drive-In shirts and hats sold in the snack bar
- Signature item: Dr Enuf slushies, a regional East Tennessee soft drink
- Parking layout: park close to a yellow pole, 2 cars per set of poles; chairs/blankets must stay within one vehicle's space (Facebook)
- Lights: no vehicle lights (headlights, taillights, interior) permitted during the movie (Facebook)
- Pets: dogs allowed on a leash only, not permitted inside the snack bar, owners must clean up and prevent barking (Facebook)
- Alcohol: Google's business listing tags 'Bar onsite' and alcohol offerings, not mentioned on the venue's own site, Facebook, or in any pulled review, unconfirmed
Showtimes
What's playing at Stateline Drive-In Theater this week
Stateline Drive-In posts this week's movies and start times on its Facebook page, usually weekly (new-feature post each showing weekend). Check there for tonight's show.
Reviews
What visitors say about Stateline Drive-In Theater
From 521 visitor reviews, 4.8 stars.
Cash-only / no outside food
- Multiple low-star reviews (e.g. 'Vicki', 2026-07-07) cite the no-outside-food, cash-only policy as a dealbreaker.
- Owner replied 2026-07-08 explaining concession sales fund the business since most of admission goes to movie distributors.
Gate / line management
- 2026-06-02 review: gates opened about 15 minutes late, cars queued on the highway shoulder.
- Other reviews describe lines forming 1-2 hours before the box office opens for popular titles.
Audio
- 2025-10-10 review: couldn't hear the movie well from their spot even with road noise down; no FM frequency issue named, just a weak-signal complaint.
Family atmosphere
- 4.8 average over 521 reviews; recurring praise for multi-generational nostalgia, friendly owners/staff, and clean restrooms.
Before you go
Know before you go
- The box office opens Gate opens 7:10 PM and the feature begins 8:10 PM (times posted per weekend on the venue's site, they shift with sunset across the season)*
- Rain or shine, the movie plays
- Bring cash. The gate does not take cards
- Bring a working FM radio tuned to 96.1 FM; sound is FM-only, no in-car speaker posts (Facebook).
- Popular new releases draw lines 1-2 hours before the box office opens; arrive early on weekends.
- Forgot cash? An ATM is on site (Facebook), but nothing on the property takes cards.
History
The history of Stateline Drive-In Theater
Since 1947, The StateLine Drive-In has been lighting up the East Tennessee night with big-screen movies and small-town, southern charm. Tucked away in the heart of Elizabethton, Tennessee, it has been a beloved local tradition for generations, family-owned and rooted in the community.
FAQ
Questions about Stateline Drive-In Theater, answered
How many screens does Stateline Drive-In have?
Stateline 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 Stateline Drive-In use?
Stateline Drive-In broadcasts its soundtrack on 96.1 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 Stateline Drive-In?
What Stateline Drive-In says: The theater posted 8:10 pm for the first movie on September 4, 2026. Full dark that night was 8:19 pm, so the movie started about 10 minutes before dark. In October it gets dark around 7:19 pm. Check with the theater on the day you go.
When is Stateline Drive-In open?
For the 2026 season, Stateline Drive-In is open from May to September, on 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 Stateline Drive-In cost?
Admission to Stateline Drive-In is $8 per adult, $5 per child 12 & older = adult; 11 & younger = child. Two adults and two children come to $26. The booth takes cash only, so stop at a machine on the way.
Can I bring my own food to Stateline Drive-In?
Stateline Drive-In does not allow outside food or drink. Everything you eat has to come from the counter, which is how a lot like this one keeps its gate price down. Eat before you go, or plan on buying dinner there.
Are dogs allowed at Stateline Drive-In?
Dogs are welcome at Stateline 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 Tennessee
- 15 miles awayTwin City Drive-InSee this theater
- 104 miles awayParkway Drive-InSee this theater
- 147 miles awaySwingin' Midway Drive-InSee this theater