It’s Officially Drive-In Movie Theater Season in Oklahoma!

The Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa, Oklahoma is just one of the six drive-in theaters that kicked off their 2025 season over the past weekend. Now, families all across the state will have the opportunity to watch timeless classics or new releases beneath Oklahoma skies at one of the few drive-ins left in the state.

Admiral Drive-In opening weekend and plans for 2025.

On Friday, Mar. 21, the historic drive-in, Admiral Twin, tested the waters for the 2025 season by opening and showing the movie Disney's Snow White, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie and a few others. Based on the turnout they had, the new year is looking pretty optimistic for the long-standing drive-in movie theater. 

Since 1951, they've been showing movies to drivers from all over the United States; the theater is conveniently situated just beside historic Route 66. They've also held a variety of local events and keeping Oklahoma's thriving movie making industry alive.

Read more: Moviemakers Pride Oklahoma As One Of The Best Places To Live & Work

The Admiral Twin theater is one of the longest running drive-ins, along with the oldest drive-in theater in the state: the Chief Drive-In in Ninnekah, which was opened in 1949.

Both are among the six drive-in theaters are still operating. Most theaters on the list are currently open for the new year as of Monday, Mar. 24.

What to expect at an Oklahoma drive-in theater.

When you arrive, you'll simply pay a small entry fee and make your way to the spot staff will guide you to. Depending on the set up of the theater, you may have different parking areas for different movies. In general, it's always better to be earlier for the best seats in the house.

Generally, ticket costs for drive-in theaters are relatively inexpensive. For example, if you're visiting the Admiral, it's $9 for ages 12 and up, $5 for ages 3-11 and children 2 years old and younger get in for free.

Once you've parked, everyone can get comfortable and you can set your FM radio to the station the theater will provide in order to hear the audio for your movie. If your car doesn't have access to FM radio, you can use another source or just listen from the venue.

While movie goers may have the option to see a movie in a regular movie theater, there is something special about parking your car, rolling down the windows or laying in the bed of a truck and watching the movie from underneath the Oklahoma stars.

As the Admiral theater's owner, Blake Smith, explained, it's more about the experience at a drive-in movie theater.

"It's about being outside with your family and your friends," he said. "Honestly, it's a movie but there's a social aspect to it and it's incredibly Americana."

@djaddib The most perfect fall date night!🎬 #driveinmovie #towerdriveintheater #driveinmovietheater #poteauoklahoma #falldatenight #dateideas ♬ Pink Houses - John Mellencamp

More drive-in theaters across Oklahoma.

As of 2025, the only six drive-in movie theaters in Oklahoma that are still running are:

• The Winchester Drive-In - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Admiral Twin Drive-In - Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Chief Drive-In - Ninnekah, Oklahoma
• El-Co Drive In - Shattuck, Oklahoma
• Tower Drive-In Theater - Poteau, Oklahoma
• Tee Pee Drive In - Sapulpa, Oklahoma (Opening March 28, 2025)

We have reached out to the Beacon Drive-In theater to confirm if they will be reopening for the 2025 season, but have not yet heard back from them. We will update this post if they follow up with more information.

While Oklahoma isn't the only state with drive-in theaters left, they are becoming rarer to find. If you want to keep the American tradition alive, plan a family night out at one of the few that are left in the state. After all, you know what they say: you don't what you've got until it's gone.