Our Picks For 4 Nebraska Drive-In Theaters Still Showing Movies Under The Stars

One Nebraska drive-in has been flipping on its projector since July 31, 1952. Its very first feature was a western called Cripple Creek.

That screen is still lighting up summer nights more than 70 years later.

The newer crowd is just as fun. One spot added a second screen in 2025, and both run on 4K laser projection.

Another shares its grounds with concerts, weddings, and cabins.

I love how simple the ritual still is. You park, tune your car radio to the right station, and wait for the sky to go dark.

Popcorn is basically mandatory.

Nebraska has kept this tradition alive in places you can reach in an afternoon drive. Some are near the city, and one sits out in the Sandhills.

So which one gets your next Friday night?

1. Quasar Drive-In

Few drive-ins can brag about laser projection, but this one in Valley shows its films in crisp 4K. Your grandparents’ drive-in never looked this sharp.

Quasar first lit up in May 2021, so it’s a young face in an old tradition. The original screen measures about 85 feet across, which is plenty of room for a car chase.

Then came a bonus in September 2025. A second 50-foot screen joined the lineup, giving you more than one movie choice on a busy night.

Double features are the standard here, so plan on a long evening. Sound comes through your car radio, letting you set the volume just how you like it.

Hungry? The concession stand covers the classics, from popcorn and hot dogs to nachos, candy, and soft pretzels.

Kids get extra perks too. There’s a playground and arcade games for burning off energy before the opening credits roll.

The drive-in also hosts community events, including Quasar Bazaar market days and Classics With a Cause charity nights. It’s a nice reminder that this field means more than movies.

Screenings usually run late in the week, so check the schedule before you head out. Valley is an easy hop from Omaha.

Address: 13427 N 300th St, Valley, NE 68064

2. TK-Starlite Drive-In

Back on July 31, 1952, a western called Cripple Creek opened this screen in Neligh. The projector has kept going ever since, earning the title of Nebraska’s oldest operating drive-in.

That’s a lot of summers. Yet the movies here aren’t dusty reruns, because the Starlite shows current releases.

Better still, weekends often bring double features. Two new movies in one night makes for a pretty sweet deal.

The single screen sits in a lot built for roughly 300 cars. You might even spot a few old pole speakers, though the sound now comes through your FM radio.

Digital projection keeps the picture looking fresh. It’s a neat mix of old bones and modern gear.

The concession stand got an upgrade in 2023, and the menu goes beyond popcorn. You can grab burgers, hot dogs, cheeseburgers, nachos, and chili cheese fries.

Eating a burger in your car under the stars just feels right. Nobody’s judging the ketchup on your steering wheel.

The season usually runs from spring into early fall. If you grew up around northeast Nebraska, this screen might hold a few of your own summer memories.

Address: 1000 US-275, Neligh, NE 68756

3. Sandhills Drive-In

Out near Alliance, the sky gets big and the nights get dark. That combination is exactly what a movie screen wants.

The Sandhills Drive-In sits on a county road outside town in the Nebraska Panhandle. It brings big-screen nights to a corner of the state where long drives are just part of life.

Showtimes land on Friday and Saturday evenings. Since the movies start after sunset, you’ll want to arrive with time to spare.

Families fit right in here. Kids can show up in pajamas, ready to doze off somewhere around the second act.

The snack bar handles the drive-in favorites you’d hope for. Prices stay friendly, which matters when you’re feeding a whole carload.

Live performances also pop up on the grounds from time to time. It adds a little variety beyond the usual movie lineup.

Restrooms are on site, a small detail that parents appreciate. The staff keeps things friendly and easygoing, too.

If you’re road-tripping near Carhenge, consider sticking around after dark. Few things top a Panhandle sunset followed by a movie under the stars.

Address: 2617 Co Rd 57, Alliance, NE 69301

4. Falconwood Park

Concerts, weddings, festivals, and movies all share the same grounds in Bellevue. Talk about a park that refuses to pick just one hobby.

The FalconWood Drive-In began showing films here in 2016. Floods in 2019 hit the area hard, but the drive-in came back.

When it reopened in May 2021, it returned with upgrades. A bigger screen went up, along with a permanent concession building and new restrooms.

Movie nights mostly happen on summer weekends. You’ll often catch second-run films, sometimes paired as double features.

Sound plays through your car’s FM radio. The setup earns solid marks for both audio and picture.

Food trucks often roll in, so dinner can be part of the plan. Picnic tables and grills are also on the property.

Bringing the dog? Dogs are allowed, so your four-legged buddy doesn’t have to miss the show.

Kids can work out the wiggles on the playground’s slides and swings first. That might buy you a quieter second movie.

Cabins and blues shows round out the lineup. It’s a full Nebraska night out, just minutes from Omaha.

Address: 905 Allied Rd, Bellevue, NE 68123