Find the best drive-in theater near NYC

It seems almost cruel to award top honors to an upstart like Four Brothers, which opened in upstate hamlet Amenia in 2012, seeing as how drive-ins are normally more of a retro destination. But this stylishly designed theater—the country’s newest drive-in—is impossible not to love. Showing first-run double-features seven nights a week for a reasonable $9, Four Brothers is a colorful, unique spot that’s a Harlem Valley must-visit. Don’t skip the freshly made lemonade and locally sourced burgers and dogs. 4957 Route 22, Amenia, NY (845-373-8178, playeatdrink.com)

America’s oldest drive-in theater, Shankweiler’s has had 82 years to perfect its outdoor screenings. While the price of admission has ticked upward of 1933’s 25 cents, a night here is still a bargain: It’s $9 for a double feature presented in HD. Located in the Lehigh Valley just a 10-minute drive from Dorney amusement park, Shankweiler’s is the perfect conclusion to a day spent riding roller coasters. 4540 Shankweiler Rd, Orefield, PA (610-481-0800, shankweilers.com)

Scoring high marks for its proximity to the city—it’s only an hour-and-a-half drive—the Warwick Drive-In has been in operation (under varied ownership) since 1950. With three screens and two projection rooms, the theater caters to children and adults alike, screening everything from Zootopia to the new Star Wars. A double feature rings in at $10, meaning you’ll have dough left over for the fried-food extravaganza that is the snack bar. 5 Warwick Turnpike, Warwick, NY (845-986-4440, warwickdrivein.com)

Open since 1955, Overlook’s movie screen is the largest in the tristate area: It’s as tall as a six-story building, and with a 12-acre capacity for 750 cars, thousands of moviegoers pack in all season long to see it. A $9 ticket grants you access to a double feature—or, for a fun start-of-the-week adventure, drive up to Overlook on a Monday night, when tickets are just $6. 126 De Garmo Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY (845-452-3445, overlookdrivein.com)

Established in 1949, Hyde Park is owned and operated by the same family behind Overlook. Hyde Park, too, boasts a wide screen—82 feet across—and a super-large capacity accommodating 670 cars, not to mention the sweet cinnamon pretzels at the snack bar. If you think you and your friends will become regulars at both theaters, snag a discount book, which contains 10 tickets valid at either theater for just $70. 4114 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park, NY (845-229-4738, hydeparkdrivein.com)

Popular with Lehigh Valley families for its pre-screening fire engine rides and the moon bounce, Becky’s has been an operating drive-in theater since 1946. Run by William D. Beck (he’s Becky) and his wife, Alice, the drive-in was treasured for Alice’s culinary temptations: fresh-cut French fries and loaded chili dogs. The operation remains in family hands and, yes, both treats are still for sale today. 4548 Lehigh Dr, Walnutport, PA (610-767-2249, beckysdi.com)

The Delsea’s original 1949 screens went dark in 1987—but lucky for New Jersey movie lovers, they came to life again in 2004. The only drive-in in New Jersey, it receives visitors from all over the tristate area who come in search of fresh air, nightly choices of two double features and an enormous snack bar menu that runs the gamut from teriyaki chicken to gluten-free lasagna. 2203 S Delsea Dr, Vineland, NJ (856-696-0011, delseadrive-in.com)