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Last summer, we gave you a roundup of five retro drive-in movie theaters around New York City. Here are five more within a few hours drive from the city and located near popular weekend getaway locations. From the Jersey Shore to Litchfield County, have this list handy when you're planning a warm weather weekend trip. With many drive-in movie theaters going dark, it should be noted that three drive-in theaters on this list have opened in the last few years.
Delsea Drive-In
Vineland, NJ
New Jersey's only drive-in is located an hour from Atlantic City, so you can fit in a few hands of poker before the film. The Delsea opened in the 1940s, but closed in the late 1980s. In 2004, it was restored and reopened. The drive-in has two screens and shows the latest films. Come hungry, because the snack bar has a lot more on hand than popcorn and milk duds. The menu has everything from pork egg rolls to shrimp kebabs.
Garden Drive-In
Hunlock Creek, PA
It's eight dollars for adults and five dollars for kids to see a flick at this northeast Pennsylvania drive-in theater. The Garden Drive-In has two screens and also houses a large flea market on Sundays. Have a complete retro experience playing mini-golf and riding bumper cars at the Pikes Creek Raceway, also located in scenic Hunlock Creek.
Four Brothers Drive-In
Amenia, New York
The beloved Hudson Valley restaurant chain (they also have a location in Great Barrington) Four Brothers Pizza Inn opened the Four Brothers Drive-In in Amenia, a quaint Dutchess County town which is also home to weekender favorite, Troutbeck Inn and Conference Center. Dine on pizza and watch flicks from the comfort of your car. The drive-in originally opened under the name Amenia Drive-In and showed retro films, but now they currently screen the standard summer blockbusters. For updates, check out their Facebook page.
Pleasant Valley Drive-In
Pleasant Valley (Barkhamsted), CT
Located in Litchfield County in Connecticut, this rural drive-in has been open since 1947. There is one screen in the three acre field, which fits two hundred and fifty cars at this truly authentic old school drive-in. In 2014, they retired their 35mm projectors and transitioned into digital, but you'll still feel like you're stepping back in time as you munch on popcorn and watch movies underneath the stars at Pleasant Valley.
Southington Drive-In
Southington, CT
The Southington Drive-in closed in 2002, but in 2004, the town residents voted to purchase the theater—and it's now owned by the Connecticut town of Southington. The drive-in opens for the season on June 6th. It's fifteen bucks a carload, so be sure to pack your friend's minivan. If you don't have a car, it's two bucks to see the flick—just bring a lawn chair.
Alison Lowenstein, Gothamist Getaways editor, is the author of NYC guidebooks and the Brooklyn expert at About.com. She has covered travel for National Geographic Traveler, Newsday, NY Daily News, Travelandleisure.com, etc. When she isn't planning trips, she enjoys jogging around the streets of NYC. Despite her athletic pursuits, her favorite food is the donut. You can find her on Twitter at @cityweekendsnyc