There’s something perfectly nostalgic and wonderful about visiting a drive-in. Whether you walk up to grab your food or it’s delivered to you on roller skates, drive-ins are a symbol of a time gone by. A lot of places try to recreate the feeling these places evoke, but the ones operating here in Wisconsin have been doing so for decades. Many are seasonal, but you’ll still find quite a few ready to serve you the very best burgers, hot dogs, ice cream and shakes before the cold weather sets in. Check out these 13 amazing spots (but make sure to check their websites for the latest opening and closing information).
Please note, many of these drive-ins are seasonal. Verify hours before heading out to dine.
- Dari-Maid - Land O’Lakes
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Facebook/DairiMaid Well known as a Northwoods spot for soft serve, they also make great burgers and sandwiches. The perfect little spot Up North. Hours vary by season, but in September are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. They are closed Tuesdays. Located at 6527 Pine St., Land O’ Lakes, WI 54540.
- Gus’s Drive In - East Troy
Facebook/GussDriveIn
Facebook/GussDriveIn Gus’s Drive In is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day from March through October. Saturdays you’ll find the coolest party in town with their Cruisin’ nights featuring Elvis impersonators and all the classic cars you can stand. It can be found at 3131 Main St. in East Troy.
- The Kiltie - Oconomowoc
Facebook/KiltieDriveIn
Facebook/KiltieDriveIn Established around 1948, this place is an institution in Lake Country. Open seasonally, they’ll shut down as fall creeps in. Located at N48W36154 E Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc, WI 53066.
- Ardy & Ed’s - Oshkosh
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Facebook/ArdyandEds Open through the end of September 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, this place is as classic as it gets, with tons of neon. Located at 2413 S Main St., Oshkosh, WI 54902.
- The Spot Drive In - Kenosha
Facebook/TheSpotDriveIn
Facebook/SpotDriveIn This historic spot has been in this location since 1845. It’s cash only, though they have an ATM. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day. Located at 2117 75th St., Kenosha, WI 53143.
- Charlie’s Drive In - Hortonville
Facebook/CharliesDriveIn
Facebook/CharliesDriveIn Classic cars gather here on Tuesdays, carhops abound and it feels straight out of the 50’s. Open through the end of September. Located at 806 W Main St,. Hortonville, WI 54944.
- Wayne’s Drive In - Cedarburg
Facebook/WaynesDrive In
Facebook/WaynesDriveIn Celebrating their 20th year, Wayne’s stays open into November 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. This spot is on the iconic five corners and a popular North Shore spot. Located at 1331 Covered Bridge Rd., Cedarburg, WI 53012.
- Rudy’s Drive In - La Crosse and Sparta
Facebook/RudysDriveIn
Facebook/RudysDriveIn With roots going back to the 1930’s, this place is a spectacular blast from the past. Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in LaCrosse and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Sparta. Located at 1004 La Crosse St., La Crosse, WI 54601 and 514 S. Water St., Sparta, Wisconsin 54656.
- Mullin’s Short Stop - Columbus
TripAdvisor/JDMilliburn
TripAdvisor/JDMilliburn Located just off the Crawfish River and open mid-May to Labor Day, this place is the perfect spot for a summer pick-me-up. Located at 641 N Ludington St., Columbus, WI 53925.
- JD’s Drive In - Appleton
Facebook/JdsDriveIn
Facebook/JDsDriveIn Serving the area since 1968, this place is classic drive-in and all the nostalgia you could ever need. Located at 1939 E John St., Appleton, WI 54915.
- Albatross Drive-In - Washington Island
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Facebook/Albatross Open Memorial Day to Columbus Day, this is an iconic spot on Washington Island rebuilt after a fire a few years ago and continues to add to the vacation atmosphere in Door County. Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Located at 777 Main Rd., Washington, WI 54246.
- Dick’s Drive In - Kaukauna
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Facebook/DicksDriveIn Great food and ice cream since 1955, this spot is season, but thankfully their season is a long one, March 1st - November 30th from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Located at 1718 Crooks Ave., Kaukauna, WI 54130.
- Shepard’s Drive In - Berlin
Facebook/ShepardsDriveIn
Facebook/ShepardDriveIn Open late February to early September, this place has all the nostalgic ice cream treats you remember from your childhood. Located at 238 Ripon Rd., Berlin, WI 54923.
What’s your favorite drive-in spot? Let us know in the comments!
Facebook/DariMaid
Facebook/DairiMaid
Well known as a Northwoods spot for soft serve, they also make great burgers and sandwiches. The perfect little spot Up North. Hours vary by season, but in September are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. They are closed Tuesdays. Located at 6527 Pine St., Land O’ Lakes, WI 54540.
Facebook/GussDriveIn
Gus’s Drive In is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day from March through October. Saturdays you’ll find the coolest party in town with their Cruisin’ nights featuring Elvis impersonators and all the classic cars you can stand. It can be found at 3131 Main St. in East Troy.
Facebook/KiltieDriveIn
Established around 1948, this place is an institution in Lake Country. Open seasonally, they’ll shut down as fall creeps in. Located at N48W36154 E Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc, WI 53066.
Facebook/ArdyandEds
Open through the end of September 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, this place is as classic as it gets, with tons of neon. Located at 2413 S Main St., Oshkosh, WI 54902.
Facebook/TheSpotDriveIn
Facebook/SpotDriveIn
This historic spot has been in this location since 1845. It’s cash only, though they have an ATM. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day. Located at 2117 75th St., Kenosha, WI 53143.
Facebook/CharliesDriveIn
Classic cars gather here on Tuesdays, carhops abound and it feels straight out of the 50’s. Open through the end of September. Located at 806 W Main St,. Hortonville, WI 54944.
Facebook/WaynesDrive In
Facebook/WaynesDriveIn
Celebrating their 20th year, Wayne’s stays open into November 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. This spot is on the iconic five corners and a popular North Shore spot. Located at 1331 Covered Bridge Rd., Cedarburg, WI 53012.
Facebook/RudysDriveIn
With roots going back to the 1930’s, this place is a spectacular blast from the past. Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in LaCrosse and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Sparta. Located at 1004 La Crosse St., La Crosse, WI 54601 and 514 S. Water St., Sparta, Wisconsin 54656.
TripAdvisor/JDMilliburn
Located just off the Crawfish River and open mid-May to Labor Day, this place is the perfect spot for a summer pick-me-up. Located at 641 N Ludington St., Columbus, WI 53925.
Facebook/JdsDriveIn
Facebook/JDsDriveIn
Serving the area since 1968, this place is classic drive-in and all the nostalgia you could ever need. Located at 1939 E John St., Appleton, WI 54915.
Facebook/AlbatrossDriveIn
Facebook/Albatross
Open Memorial Day to Columbus Day, this is an iconic spot on Washington Island rebuilt after a fire a few years ago and continues to add to the vacation atmosphere in Door County. Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Located at 777 Main Rd., Washington, WI 54246.
Facebook/DicksDriveIn
Great food and ice cream since 1955, this spot is season, but thankfully their season is a long one, March 1st - November 30th from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Located at 1718 Crooks Ave., Kaukauna, WI 54130.
Facebook/ShepardsDriveIn
Facebook/ShepardDriveIn
Open late February to early September, this place has all the nostalgic ice cream treats you remember from your childhood. Located at 238 Ripon Rd., Berlin, WI 54923.
Did you know that Wisconsin has a bunch of drive-in movie theaters, as well? Read all about them here!
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