The votes are in, and several of Pennsylvania‘s drive-in theaters have taken top honors in a nationwide poll.
Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre in North Whitehall Township, approximately an hour’s drive northwest of Philadelphia in the Lehigh Valley, claimed the top spot in the “Best Drive-In Theater” category for 2026. Dependable Drive-In in Moon Township, Allegheny County, was named No. 2 in the nation, The Mahoning Drive-In Theater in Lehighton was named No. 6, and the Evergreen Drive-In Theatre in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, rounded out the 10Best list at No. 10.
According to USA TODAY, “Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre is the oldest operating drive-in theater in the country. The business opened in 1934 and operates year-round. In addition to movies, there’s a snack bar on site with options like veggie dogs, popcorn, cheeseburgers, funnel cakes, and ice cream.”
Matthew McClanahan and Lauren McChesney, owners of Shankweiler’s, said that the drive-in placed second in 2025 and fifth in 2024 for this highly publicized contest.
“This win is unexpected since we were up against some really amazing competition,” said McClanahan in a statement shared with WFMZ-TV 69 News. “We are so incredibly grateful to all of our customers, friends, and drive-in enthusiasts for their support. We will work very hard this season to live up to this award!”
In addition to USA TODAY recognition, Shankweiler’s has received several accolades over the past year, including being named one of the “Top 21 Coolest Theaters” in the world by Variety magazine, one of the “15 Best Drive-Ins” by Fodor’s Travel, and one of the top 10 “Best Drive-In Theaters” by Newsweek. The theater was featured on Good Morning America and CNBC’s Make It program last summer.