USA TODAY says this Texas drive-in theater is one of the best in the country
Texas moviegoers, rejoice: A Lone Star state theater recently ranked on a national list of the best drive-ins in the country.
USA TODAY’s 10BEST list for the Best Drive-In Theaters of 2025 came out in late May. The 10 drive-in theaters on the list were nominated by a panel of experts that includes travel writers, newspaper editors and USA TODAY editors, and were then voted on by USA TODAY readers.
And while Fort Worth’s Coyote Drive-In didn’t make the cut, one theater about four-and-a-half hours away did. So, if you’re up for a road trip, hop on I-35 and head south.
Stars & Stripes Drive-In Theatre in New Braunfels
The Stars & Stripes Drive-In Theatre in New Braunfels placed at No. 10 in USA TODAY’s 10BEST list for the Best Drive-In Theaters of 2025.
USA TODAY highlighted the food selection at the year-round, three-screen drive-in:
“Their extensive food menu guarantees you won’t go hungry during the flick, with choices like spicy chicken wings, grilled cheese sandwiches, and hand-spun milkshakes,” the judges wrote.
Stars & Stripes also came in 10th in USA TODAY’s 2024 list. The family-owned-and-operated drive-in theater actually has two locations; the New Braunfels spot opened in 2013 and the original Lubbock location opened in 2003.
Drive-in theaters, especially Stars & Stripes and Fort Worth’s Coyote Drive In, were a boon to the film industry during the pandemic, because patrons didn’t have to leave their cars to see a movie.
The New Braunfels Stars & Stripes location is at 1178 Kroesche Lane.
North Texas drive-in movie theaters
Drive-in theaters have strong Texas roots. One of the first “drive-ins” started in 1921 in Comanche, Texas, when theater exhibitor Claude V. Caver got a city permit to erect a screen on the courthouse lawn across the street from his theater, which was undergoing renovations. People would park their cars bumper-to-bumper and watch silent films. The first patented drive-in theater wouldn’t come along until 1932 in New Jersey.
If you don’t want to drive down to New Braunfels to experience a drive-in movie, there are plenty of local options:
- Coyote Drive-In, Fort Worth
- Rooftop Cinema Club, Fort Worth (Not technically a drive-in, but still a fun experience)
- Galaxy Drive-In, Ennis
- Brazos Drive-In, Granbury
- Graham Drive-In Theatre, Graham
The rest of USA TODAY’s best drive-in movie theater rankings
Here’s USA TODAY’s full list:
- Skyview Drive-In - Belleville, Ill.
- Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre - Orefield, Pa.
- Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In Theatre - Gibson City, Ill.
- Bengies Drive-In Theatre - Middle River, Md.
- The Mahoning Drive-in Theater - Lehighton, Pa.
- Park Place Drive-In Theater - Marion, Va.
- Skyway Drive-In Theatre - Fish Creek, Wis.
- Sunset Drive-In - San Luis Obispo, Calif.
- Evergreen Drive-In Theatre - Mount Pleasant, Pa.
- Stars & Stripes Drive-In Theatre - New Braunfels, Texas
