South Bay Drive-In
Originally opened in 1958 as the Bayview Drive-In, the South Bay (since 1960) is located in Imperial Beach, about three miles north of the Mexico border as the crow flies, on former farmland. Now surrounded by residential properties, it’s still got space for up to 1,500 cars — though two additional screens were added to the original single screen in 1974 to transform it into a triplex. The South Bay Drive-In is one of San Diego County’s last two operating drive-ins—the other, a 2-screener in Santee (circa 1962) — and it’s survived the last six or so decades thanks to profits from its daytime swap meets on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
According to local drive-in historian Jay Allen Sanford, it also weathered the decline of the industry in the 1970s in part by catering to cult audiences, programming monster movies and horror festivals as well as occasional daytime concerts. Also a De Anza Company operation, this theater sports a nautical theme — even featuring a (cash-only) snack bar shaped like a ship. Concessions open at least one hour prior to the first showing — but as always, you’re welcome to enjoy your own food (no BBQs or booze) in your car. The theater is open seven days a week, 362 days a year and is even available for socially distant group events.
- Address: South Bay Drive-In Theatre 2170 Coronado Ave, San Diego, San Diego County, California 92154
- Yelp Rating: 4/5
- Contact: +1 619-423-2727
- Website: https://southbaydrivein.com/
- Price: Adults: $10.00 / Kids(5-9): $1.00
