• Start Here
  • Work With Me
  • Parenting
  • Kids Activities
  • Working Moms
  • Productivity Tips
  • Number of items in cart: 0

    • Your cart is empty.
    • Total: $0.00
    • Checkout

Fab Working Mom Life

A Working Mom Blog: Let's thrive as working moms.

  • Blog
  • Motherhood
    • Breastfeeding
    • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Kids Activities
    • Working Mom
  • Lifestyle
    • Finances
    • Food
    • Health
    • Home Life
    • Military
    • Organize
  • Resources
    • Blogging Resources
    • Working Mom Life Resources
  • About
    • About Julie
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Subscribe
  • Work With Me
    • Advertise Here or Hire Me
    • Guest Post Here
    • Link and Image Policy
    • As Seen On
  • Freebies
    • Affirmations for Working Moms
    • Monthly Budget
    • Nanny Interview Questions Checklist
    • Start a Blog? email course
    • Printables
  • Shop
    • Budget Workbook Planner
    • 12 Month Habit Tracker Printable
    • Christmas Games and Planning Printables
    • Nanny Contract Template
    • Baby’s First Year Journal
    • Mind Dump Planner Journal
    • Self-Love Planner for Moms Printable
    • First day of school chalkboard printables
    • My Zazzle Store
    • My Amazon Store
    • Etsy Store

Note: posts contain affiliate links, earning me a commission. By using this site, you agree to our use of browser cookies. Read our disclosure and privacy policies for more details.

Tips for Attending a Drive-in Movie with a Baby

July 13, 2015 by Julie 37 Comments

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe and join fellow working moms. Thanks for visiting!

A few weeks ago I had my very first drive-in movie experience. We went to see Jurassic World at the Houston-area Showboat Drive-In with another family.

I was super excited about this because Hubby and I can’t go to a movie together without having to pay for babysitting, so we haven’t gone to a movie together yet. This way, not only could we see a movie and bring the baby with us, but I could even nurse during the movie from the privacy of my car. Score!

But, being inexperienced with this type of movie viewing style, we definitely learned a few things about drive in movie etiquette and will be prepared next time.

So here are some tips based on our experience going to a drive-in movie that I wanted to share.

Drive-in Movies with a Baby

Tips for Attending a Drive-in Movie

Here I’m sharing our lessons learned about taking baby to drive in movie and drive in etiquette.

Bring lawn chairs, or sit in the back of your truck.


We took my SUV thinking we would need to idle during the movie to have A/C (I mean, even in the evening, it is HOT in Texas). So we didn’t bring hubby’s truck since it is a diesel and in high idle, we thought it would be too loud.

As it turns out, the theater does not allow any vehicles to sit idle. So, we had to sit with our windows open to allow for a small breeze, which really didn’t work that well.

Baby and I ended up overheating and I watched most of the movie standing up next to my car holding him. If we had taken Hubby’s truck, we could have parked it backward and sat in the bed on some blankets or lawn chairs with his car seat next to us.

Recommended Post:  Tips for Battling Momnesia or How to Deal with the Mental Load of Motherhood

Bringing a lawn chair for each person is an important one for your list of drive in movie hacks!

Bring snacks/food.

Since you’re driving in your own vehicle, you are able to bring your own snacks with you. 
We actually grabbed some drive-thru fast food and brought it with us to eat/drink during the movie. That was fun. 

But the Showboat drive-in theater also has a concessions stand where you can get snacks.

Get there early to get a good parking spot near the screen.

The movie starts at dusk, but people start arriving way early to hang out, tailgate, eat, whatever. If you end up getting there late and park near the back there might be issues with visibility (since the parking lot is not stadium seating like a regular movie theater).

Plus, every time someone decides they want to move their car or leave early, everyone behind them gets bright lights in their eyes. 

Can you leave a drive in movie early? Yes you can leave at any time but please remember not to shine headlights at people and drive off carefully.

Although, if you arrive in a tall vehicle you may be asked to park in the back anyway.

Bring a portable radio if you will not sit inside your car.

To listen to the movie you have to tune to a specific radio station. The Showboat drive in radio station is stated on the website or at the theater and the FM station depends on which screen you are watching.

Next time we plan to sit outside the car or in the bed of the truck so we can bring a portable radio to have the speakers right next to us.

Follow general etiquette.

Even though you can watch a movie in your own car, you are still out in public and do not want to ruin the experience for others.

Recommended Post:  Reframe Your Thinking with Positive Quotes

Turn off your headlights so when you turn your car back on you won’t immediately shine bright lights on people while you’re waiting to be able to exit.

Don’t tap your breaks – it is really annoying to the people behind you.

Keep conversations to a minimum. 

If you eat, throw your wrappers into the garbage. I mean really, please clean up after yourself always.

Tips for Attending a Drive-in Movie

Do you have any drive-in movie tips to share?

This post is about going to a drive-in movie with a baby. You might also like my post about going to the movie theater with a toddler.

Join the Working Mom List

Join the Working Mom collective and get support and tools to help you thrive! Subscribers get access to my library of resources and printables.

Thank you for joining the tribe! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

Categories: Entertainment, Tips and Resources, TopPosts

the PAST
the FUTURE

Join the Working Mom List

Join the Working Mom collective and get support and tools to help you thrive! Subscribers get access to my library of resources and printables.

Thank you for joining the tribe! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

Comments

  1. Amy Ngai says

    July 21, 2015 at 2:42 pm

    Great tips. The Drive-In was one of the first movie experiences for my son. He was only 2 at the time and we thought that would be better than taking him to the theatre. He loved it and still remembers it! Thanks for sharing. #ConfessionsLinkUp

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 28, 2015 at 12:49 pm

      Ooh now that is awesome that he still remembers growing up going to the drive-in! I hope to have similar memories with our son 🙂 Thanks Amy!

      Reply
  2. Meredith says

    July 18, 2015 at 4:41 pm

    I’ve never been to a drive-in movie but would love to! These are such great pointers for when we go. Thanks for sharing at the Manic Mondays blog hop!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 28, 2015 at 12:48 pm

      Thanks Meredith 🙂 Hope you get a chance to try out a drive-in if you have one near you.

      Reply
  3. Tanya says

    July 17, 2015 at 8:51 am

    I use to love going to drive-ins as a child. Unfortunately I can’t stay up that late anymore! Great tips! Thanks for linking up to Small Victories Sunday Link Up!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 28, 2015 at 12:46 pm

      Yea I suppose if you do the full double feature it would be a late night. We only went to one of the movies so we were done by 10 or so.

      Reply
  4. Random Musings says

    July 16, 2015 at 8:37 pm

    I’d love to go to a drive in, but we don’t have them here in the UK 🙁 It always looks like such fun! #TheList
    Debbie

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 28, 2015 at 12:43 pm

      It might just be an American tradition, but I’m sure you guys have stuff we don’t too 🙂

      Reply
  5. A Cornish Mum says

    July 16, 2015 at 3:56 pm

    Aw we don’t have drive in movies over here (I don’t think!) but I’ve always thought they were a great idea, but I can just imagine how overheated you were but at least you know for next time!

    Thanks for linking up to #PicknMix Stevie x

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 28, 2015 at 12:43 pm

      I’m hearing that a lot that maybe they are not common or even exist in the UK. Thanks Stevie 🙂

      Reply
  6. Brandyn says

    July 16, 2015 at 12:30 pm

    Great tips! I haven’t been to a drive-in since they closed the local one down when I was a kid! It’s been a long time! This makes me want to find out where the nearest one is!

    Thank you for sharing with us at #MommyMeetupMondays!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2015 at 1:34 pm

      Thanks 🙂 Hope you find another drive-in theater nearby.

      Reply
  7. Corinne says

    July 16, 2015 at 7:39 am

    It’s been so long since I’ve been to a drive in! Reading your post has me motivated to find one near me. I’ll definitely be referring back here for tips if I can find one. Thank you so much for linking up at the Happy Home Life!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2015 at 12:02 pm

      Yay, glad you enjoyed the post and found it useful 🙂 Hope you find a nearby drive-in to try out.

      Reply
  8. Lisa (mummascribbles) says

    July 16, 2015 at 2:42 am

    I would so love to experience a proper drive in movie but they just don’t have them here in the UK. I didn’t know you had to tune in via the radio though so I’ve learnt something today! Luckily we got babysitters so we could go watch Jurassic World 🙂 Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2015 at 12:01 pm

      Well glad you got to see the movie the regular theater way 🙂 I’m starting to think drive-ins might just be a US thing.

      Reply
  9. Harry's Honest Mummy says

    July 14, 2015 at 4:28 pm

    I am 41 in 2 weeks time and I have NEVER been to a drive-in. Well, that is going to change by the time the next one comes round. They must do them somewhere here in the UK?!? Thanks for the tips. #TwinklyTuesday

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2015 at 12:00 pm

      I’m starting to hear that maybe the UK doesn’t have any. Hope you find some!

      Reply
  10. linda hobbis says

    July 14, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    I don’t think we have drive-in movies in the UK but they sound like real fun. #TwinklyTuesday

    Reply
  11. Shannon Peterson says

    July 14, 2015 at 1:30 am

    I’ve never been to a drive in but these are some awesome tips!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 14, 2015 at 12:55 pm

      Thanks Shannon 🙂

      Reply
  12. Dee says

    July 14, 2015 at 12:49 am

    Awesome tips! I’ve gone twice – once while sitting in a car and another time in a big group (lawn chairs, table, pizza, the works!) What’s also helpful is to have jumper cables in the event your (or someone else’s) battery doesn’t have enough juice to start the car after the movie. Other than that, have fun!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 14, 2015 at 12:53 pm

      Ooh I didn’t know there was a drive-in movie anywhere near where I used to live in Cali. I would have so gone I’m sure!

      Reply
  13. LEILANI says

    July 13, 2015 at 9:45 pm

    I must admit I need supreme comfort if I’m going to see a movie. Drive-ins are not my dive but I know many have fun there. What do you do about mosquitoes?

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2015 at 11:58 am

      Ah yes, good point, bug repellant is another good tip. We weren’t bothered by any this time thankfully.

      Reply
  14. Sandy Sandmeyer says

    July 13, 2015 at 7:32 pm

    I sure do miss our drive-in theater. We had a great time attending then early in our marriage. Thanks for sharing your drive-in tips at the #AnythingGoes Link Party.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 14, 2015 at 12:56 pm

      Thanks Sandy, I think we’ll have to make this something we do more often 🙂

      Reply
  15. Jane says

    July 13, 2015 at 7:30 pm

    These are great tips for going to a drive-in. We don’t have any where I live now. But in my hometown we used to go quite often, a fun family night out!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 14, 2015 at 12:57 pm

      I didn’t know many existed before seeing this one, but I’m finding out they’re more common than I thought 🙂

      Reply
  16. Lauryn Hock says

    July 13, 2015 at 4:19 pm

    These are great tips! I’ve never been to a drive in and I think these will help!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 14, 2015 at 12:57 pm

      Thanks Lauryn 🙂

      Reply
  17. Angela Gilmore says

    July 13, 2015 at 1:10 pm

    My additional tip is to bring a change of clothes for everyone. We took the family to a drive in on father’s day (funny enough, to see the same movie) and when I was changing my daughter she projectile pooped all over me! Luckily I had a towel that would fit around my bottom that I was able to wear during the movie.

    It’s great though, I nursed too! And my son watched the beginning of the movie and then when he got bored he sat in the back seat and played games on my phone. It was kind of perfect. I will definitely bring snacks next time, and bringing a portable radio is a great idea!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 13, 2015 at 3:24 pm

      Ooh that’s a great tip. Yes you definitely don’t want to be caught in a situation where you have to rush home and change. Gotta love the projectile blowouts, huh? Yay that we had a similar movie going experience!

      Reply

Comments are held for moderation. Links are no follow.

Trackbacks

  1. Tips to take your Toddler to his First Movie Theater - Fab Working Mom Life says:
    March 31, 2021 at 10:30 pm

    […] and enjoy a movie in a movie theater? The struggle is completely different than say going to a drive-in movie and sitting in the privacy of your car. Here you actually have to keep the child from disturbing […]

    Reply
  2. Gratitude and Goals Dec 4, 2015 #GratitudeGoals - Velvet-Rose.net says:
    December 4, 2015 at 3:28 pm

    […] went to the drive-in movies to watch Mockingjay Part 2. I was wondering how to go about watching this movie since both of us […]

    Reply
  3. Baby H 9 Month Update | Velvet-Rose.net says:
    August 10, 2015 at 3:24 pm

    […] nursed him at the drive-in movies and on a […]

    Reply
  4. Coffee and Conversation Link Party #50 - says:
    July 14, 2015 at 11:30 pm

    […] offered us “Tips for Attending a Drive-In Movie,” which I remember fondly from my childhood.  The movies…not the […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments are held for moderation.

About Julie

Julie of Fab Working Mom Life Welcome! My name is Julie :) I am a Texan living in Hawaii (military life). I'm a mom, a blogger, and also work full-time in environmental compliance. I write about being a working mom to help myself and other working moms in our journey to find a balance between our family, responsibilities, and hobbies. I do this because we moms need a support network to thrive both at home and at work.

Follow us

  • mail
  • instagram
  • instagram
  • tiktok
  • twitter
  • pinterest
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • youtube
  • bloglovin

Note: posts contain affiliate links, earning me a small commission at no additional charge to you. This site uses browser cookies to store information on your computer: some are essential to make this site work, others improve your user experience, and track behavior and user patterns (for advertising purposes). By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our disclosure and privacy policies for more details.

Join fellow Working Moms

Grab these Affirmations for Working Moms when you Join!

Join the Working Mom List

Join the Working Mom collective and get support and tools to help you thrive! Subscribers get access to my library of resources and printables.

Thank you for joining the tribe! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

Most Popular

healthy ideas toddler daycare lunches

35+ Toddler lunch ideas for daycare

recipes using baby food

Fun Uses for Baby Cereal

7 easy kid friendly dinner ideas

7 Easy Dinner Ideas For Kids

Featured Posts

  • Say No Like a Pro: Why Learning to say No is a powerful tool for moms
  • Get Ready for Back To School with these Tips (40+ Mom Hacks to Prepare for Back to School)
  • Lost in Public? What to do if you get Separated & Your Child Gets Lost
  • Social Media Detox: 15 signs you need a social media break right away!
  • ABCMouse Review: No-guilt Screen Time
Christmas gifts guide

Join the Working Mom List

Join the Working Mom collective and get support and tools to help you thrive! Subscribers get access to my library of resources and printables.

Thank you for joining the tribe! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

Fab Working Mom Life Hot Topics

productivity tips for working moms
5-things-you-need-to-know-to-breastfeed-baby-sliderthings-to-do-to-prepare-for-baby-for-first-time-moms-slider

Link to Fab Working Mom Life

Membership


Memberships page.

Join the Working Mom List

Join the Working Mom collective and get support and tools to help you thrive! Subscribers get access to my library of resources and printables.

Thank you for joining the tribe! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit
  • Start Here
  • Work With Me
  • Guest Post Here
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Link and Image Policy

Note: Posts contain affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase a product, I will receive a small commission for the sale at no additional cost to you. Fab Working Mom Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Protected by Copyscape
DMCA.com Protection Status
DMCA.com Protection Status

Copyright © 2022 · Fab Working Mom Life· Hello You Designs

Copyright © 2022 · Sweets Blog on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT