- Gets dark7:33 pmGates open 1 to 2 hours before showtime
- Google rating4.60123456789,012345678901234567890123456789reviews
- Screens4
- Price$12per adult
- Outside foodAllowed
- DogsOn a leash
- Car spots1700
- Opened1967
Tibbs Drive-In has played movies in Indianapolis since 1967 and is the city's only remaining drive-in theater, running four screens of first-run Hollywood releases with the occasional classic mixed in.
The family owned theater is open Thursday through Sunday for the 2026 season, with a full snack bar serving grilled burgers, pizza, chicken tenders and more.
Location
Where is Tibbs Drive-In Theater?
Tibbs Drive-In Theater is at 480 S Tibbs Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46241. The entrance is at West Washington Street and Oliver Avenue.
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Where to eat nearby
If you would rather eat before the movie than at the counter:
- Taquería El Ranchito
- Soriano's Mexican Restaurant
- FELIX TACOS TRUCK
Start time
What time does the movie start at Tibbs Drive-In Theater?
What Tibbs Drive-In Theater says: The theater says the first movie starts as soon as the sun goes down.
What visitors say: Lines build on busy nights. Google's review topics show "long lines" mentioned 7 times.
In October the sun sets around 7:06 pm and it gets dark around 7:33 pm.
Dark means full dark, about 25 minutes after sunset. It is not a time Tibbs 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 October, on the 15th.
| Month | Gets dark |
|---|---|
| March | 8:18 pm |
| April | 8:50 pm |
| May | 9:22 pm |
| June | 9:47 pm |
| July | 9:43 pm |
| August | 9:10 pm |
| September | 8:21 pm |
| October | 7:33 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 Tibbs Drive-In Theater costs
- Adult$12
- Child$6Ages 4-12
Amenities
Food, restrooms and rules
- Full kitchen
- You can bring your own food and drink
- Restrooms in a building
- You can bring your dog, on a leash
- Digital gift cards available on the site
- Open captions on select evenings
- No bbq: no BBQs or open flames larger than a candle allowed anywhere in the park
- Radio: sound plays over FM radio only, no streaming app; bring a portable radio or use your car radio
- Jump starts: staff carry jump boxes to help with a dead car battery until 10 minutes after the last movie
- Free carload pass: promotional carload/free passes are valid on regular-priced nights only, not special events
- Private events: screen rentals for private/corporate events, capacity 100 to 720 vehicles per screen depending on the night
- Coolers: reviewers report bringing coolers without being checked at the gate (per a Sept 2026 Google review)
- Screen swap: with two movies running per screen, a Sept 2026 reviewer says you can move your car to a different screen after intermission to catch a second movie there
- City noise: a Sept 2026 reviewer notes the city has grown up around the lot, so you may occasionally hear police sirens or chases nearby during a show
- Also here: arcade
Reviews
What visitors say about Tibbs Drive-In Theater
From 3,348 visitor reviews, 4.6 stars.
Staff called out as friendly and helpful
- Google's review topics show "polite staff" mentioned 30 times, the most common theme for this listing
- A Sept 2026 reviewer says "the staff is amazing" and describes staff driving a golf cart out to help fix stray headlights during a show
Restrooms praised as clean and cold
- Google's review topics show "clean restrooms" mentioned 22 times
- A Sept 2026 reviewer calls out "many clean and COLD bathrooms" by name
Food praised, funnel fries a favorite
- Google's review topics show "funnel fries" mentioned 11 times
- A Sept 2026 reviewer calls the food "great and priced appropriately," citing $5 cheeseburgers and $3.50 pizza slices
Lines build on busy nights
- Google's review topics show "long lines" mentioned 7 times
Before you go
Know before you go
- The box office opens 1 to 2 hours before showtime
- Trucks, vans and SUVs are asked not to park in the first row on Screens 1, 2 and 4; Screen 3 has separate white-pole (cars) and orange-pole (large vehicles) parking rows.
- Rain or shine, the movie plays
- No re-entry after exit or pass-outs. Once inside you may leave at any time, but re-entry requires purchase of a new ticket.
- Restrooms run cold even in summer heat, per a Sept 2026 Google review calling them "clean and COLD"
History
The history of Tibbs Drive-In Theater
Tibbs Drive-In has served Indianapolis since 1967 and is now the city's only drive-in, running four screens.
FAQ
Questions about Tibbs Drive-In Theater, answered
How many screens does Tibbs Drive-In have?
Tibbs Drive-In has four 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 time does the movie start at Tibbs Drive-In?
What Tibbs Drive-In says: The theater says the first movie starts as soon as the sun goes down. In October it gets dark around 7:33 pm. Check with the theater on the day you go.
When is Tibbs Drive-In open?
For the 2026 season, Tibbs Drive-In is open from March to October, 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 Tibbs Drive-In cost?
Admission to Tibbs Drive-In is $12 per adult, $6 per child 4-12. Two adults and two children come to $36.
Can I bring my own food to Tibbs Drive-In?
You can bring your own food and drink to Tibbs Drive-In at no extra charge. Pack a cooler and the tickets are the only thing you pay for. The counter is still there if you would rather buy dinner when you arrive.
Are dogs allowed at Tibbs Drive-In?
Dogs are welcome at Tibbs 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
- 19 miles awayCenterBrook Drive-In TheaterSee this theater
- 33 miles awayThe Skyline Drive-InSee this theater
- 39 miles awayCinema 67 Drive-inSee this theater
- 51 miles awayStarlite Drive-In TheatreSee this theater