- Gets dark7:31 pmGates open 7:00 pm
- Google rating4.6012345678901234567890123456789reviews
- Screens1
- Price$30a carload
- Outside foodNot allowed
- DogsOn a leash
- Sit outsideYes*
- FM89.9 FM
- Car spots450
- This week's moviesOn Facebook pageWeekly
- Opened1950
The Skyline Drive-In shows movies in Shelbyville, Indiana, with the soundtrack broadcast on FM radio at 89.9.
The property includes Skycade, an arcade on the west side of the cafe with games from 25 cents to a dollar, and leashed dogs are welcome throughout the theater.
Location
Where is The Skyline Drive-In Theater?
The Skyline Drive-In Theater is at 3986 E Michigan Rd, Shelbyville, IN 46176. The entrance is at South 375 East.
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Where to eat nearby
If you would rather eat before the movie than at the counter:
- The Skyline Cafe
- Flying Pig Diner
- The Burger Poet - Shelbyville, IN.
Start time
What time does the movie start at The Skyline Drive-In Theater?
What The Skyline Drive-In Theater says: The theater posted 8:30 pm for the first movie on September 11, 2026. Full dark that night was 8:26 pm, so the movie started about 4 minutes after dark.
In October the sun sets around 7:04 pm and it gets dark around 7:31 pm.
Dark means full dark, about 25 minutes after sunset. It is not a time The Skyline 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 | 8:47 pm |
| May | 9:19 pm |
| June | 9:44 pm |
| July | 9:40 pm |
| August | 9:08 pm |
| September | 8:19 pm |
| October | 7:31 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 The Skyline Drive-In Theater costs
- Per car$30One price for the whole car
- Adult$10
- Child$5Ages 6-12
- Under 6FreeKids 5 and under
Amenities
Food, restrooms and rules
- Radios to rent: $3/night
- Snack bar
- You cannot bring your own food
- Thursdays: regular-price ticket includes a free popcorn (one movie only).
- You can bring your dog, on a leash
- You can sit outside your car
- Wednesday special: all tickets $5, one movie only.
- Parking: two vehicles per post, park on the bumps only, no parking in driveways.
- No grills, fire, fireworks, or glass containers.
- No drugs or alcohol permitted.
- No sitting on vehicle roofs.
- Shoes required at all times.
- Skycade arcade change machine accepts $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills.
- Gift cards sold on the site (WooCommerce product page).
- Also here: arcade, camping
Showtimes
What's playing at The Skyline Drive-In Theater this week
The Skyline 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 The Skyline Drive-In Theater
From 766 visitor reviews, 4.6 stars.
The Skycade arcade
- The on-site Skycade arcade is the most-mentioned topic in the venue's Google reviews (19 review mentions), described as a good way to pass time before the movie starts.
Horror and classic movie programming
- Horror-themed and classic or cult movie nights are the second most-mentioned topic (14 mentions), including the venue's own horror event weekend branded 'Drive-In Massacre' (2 mentions).
Clean, well-kept property
- Reviewers repeatedly describe the grounds and concession stand as clean (3 mentions of clean grounds, 2 of a clean concession stand).
Online concession ordering
- Being able to order concessions online is a recurring convenience mentioned in reviews (3 mentions).
Before you go
Know before you go
- The box office opens 7:00 pm
- Hatches must be closed or lowered to roof level (twine available at concessions); SUVs and large pickups are asked to be mindful of smaller vehicles behind them.
- During camping-allowed event weekends (Monster Moviefest, Cinema Scares), tents must be pitched near the back of the lot, not close to the screen.
- The kitchen can back up on busy nights: one review reports that arriving less than about two hours before showtime meant a concession order didn't come out until the movie was nearly over.
History
The history of The Skyline Drive-In Theater
The Skyline Drive-In in Shelbyville, Indiana, about 30 miles southeast of downtown Indianapolis, opened in 1950 and has operated every season since. It runs one screen with first-run double features and holds about 450 cars.
FAQ
Questions about The Skyline Drive-In Theater, answered
How many screens does The Skyline Drive-In have?
The Skyline 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 The Skyline Drive-In use?
The Skyline Drive-In broadcasts its soundtrack on 89.9 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.
Can I rent a radio at The Skyline Drive-In?
The Skyline Drive-In rents radios at the counter: $3/night. It is worth one if you plan to sit outside the car, or if running your stereo for four hours would flatten your battery. They go quickly on a busy night, so ask when you arrive rather than at the interval.
What time does the movie start at The Skyline Drive-In?
What The Skyline Drive-In says: The theater posted 8:30 pm for the first movie on September 11, 2026. Full dark that night was 8:26 pm, so the movie started about 4 minutes after dark. In October it gets dark around 7:31 pm. Check with the theater on the day you go.
How much does The Skyline Drive-In cost?
Admission to The Skyline Drive-In is $30 a carload, $10 per adult, $5 per child 6-12. That is one price for the whole vehicle, so five of you pay what two would. Children 5 and under get in free.
Can I bring my own food to The Skyline Drive-In?
The Skyline 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 The Skyline Drive-In?
Dogs are welcome at The Skyline 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 Indiana
- 33 miles awayTibbs Drive-InSee this theater
- 37 miles awayCenterBrook Drive-In TheaterSee this theater
- 37 miles awayBel Acre Drive-In TheaterSee this theater
- 54 miles awayStarlite Drive-In TheatreSee this theater