Highway 18 Drive In Opening for the Season!

Have your kids ever wanted to go to a Drive In Theater, but you didn’t know if one still existed, or was even close to you in Wisconsin? Well there is! The Highway 18 Drive In Theater is located in Jefferson, Wisconsin at the corner of Hwy 18 and 89 and is scheduled to OPEN FOR THE SEASON in 2026 under NEW OWNERSHIP!! They are making sure that all the licensing and proper protocols are put in place prior to opening. And you’ll all be excited to know that the concession stand has been cleaned from top to bottom. It’s like brand new as we head into summer 2026!

Opening date will be May 21, 2026!

Highway 18 Drive In is Located at the corner of Highway 18 and 89
2 miles west of Jefferson Wisconsin

HIghway 18 Drive In Upcoming Shows:

May 21-24: The Greatest Showman and Bohemian Rhapsody – starting at dusk

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I have a lot of fun memories from going to the Highway 18 Drive In. Fun Fact – it was one of the first dates I went on with my late husband. So, if you haven’t already, go make some fun memories with your family!! It’s a great way to spend a summer night – even while social distancing.

For more information, the movies are updated on their website. They announce when they can due to the regulations from the film companies.

The prices for Highway 18 Drive In tickets are as follows:
Admission:

Adults(12+) TBD
Children(5-11) TBD
Children(4 & Under) Free

Check out the NEW 2026 POLICIES!

Highway 18 Drive In Menu items and prices subject to change without notice:

We use the highest quality food and drink items available in our concession stand. Our hamburgers are a special 80/20 lean to fat ratio ground chuck. Our hotdogs are Vienna all beef. We utilize canola oil in popping our popcorn (not the artery-clogging coconut oil you get in most theatres). We use only vegetable oil (no trans fats) in our deep fryers (not peanut, palm, or coconut oil). We have fryers dedicated each to French fries, and foods with dairy products to avoid cross-contamination for those with dairy and gluten allergies.

We cook all meats to proper internal temperatures as defined by the Health Department. Consuming undercooked meats raises the risk of food-borne illness. We will not honor any requests to cook hamburgers rare or medium-rare.

We do not use peanuts or peanut oil in the preparation of any of our foods. Some of our candy and ice cream products (e.g. M&M peanut and King Cone Ice Cream) do contain peanuts, but those products are separately wrapped and clearly identify their peanut content. Because these products are individually wrapped when we receive them, there is no danger of cross-contamination.

FAQ’s on The Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are you playing next week or on a certain date?

Film company booking policies are such that I often don’t know for sure if there is a print of the film available until the Monday before the Friday start date (most movies start their runs on Fridays, sometimes on Wednesdays. The film distributors dictate this). On the “Coming Attractions” web page, those films listed with run dates will either have the notations “Confirmed” or “Tentative”. “Confirmed” films are those whereby the distributor has reserved a print for us and we have a contract to show it on those dates. In some rare cases, films I’ve booked (confirmed) may become unavailable at the last minute, so please check the web page or phone recording prior to coming to the theatre. “Tentative” means I’ve requested that film for those run dates, but the film distributor isn’t sure if there is a print available, or we haven’t come to terms yet. Movies that don’t have any dates associated with them are those I’m considering for later in the season, but I haven’t decided when and haven’t yet requested the film. Please note that for any number of reasons, I may elect not to run a particular film I’ve listed on the “Coming Attractions” page, so please check back frequently.

2. Why don’t you show more family movies? Why do you show ‘R’ movies?

We are a family-oriented theatre and show as many family movies as we can get. Unfortunately, there are not enough good family movies being made (we define family movies as those rated “G” and “PG”.) to fill our summer schedule. In selecting which “PG-13” or “R” movies to run, we balance the success of the movie at the box office (or our estimate of its potential success if it’s first run) with how good the film is or how appropriate it is for this theatre. This is an inexact science and based mainly on my judgment, but I will say this: I will not book any “PG-13” or “R” films that, in my opinion, contain excessive or gratuitous violence, profanity, sexual situations, drug usage, or the like. I will occasionally show “R” movies that I feel are excellent films (I preview any “R” film before I book it). My policy is to show R movies together or second if combined with a PG-13 movie, but again, there may be exceptions to this rule.

3. Why don’t you change your movies more often?

During the summer months, we often book our lead features on-the-break (when they are first released). By contract, we must hold these movies a minimum of two weeks. In the case of some blockbuster movies, the studios may require a three week minimum run. Occasionally, we’ll hold over a film, either as a lead or second feature, if that film is doing strong business through the second week, and we feel there are no other available films that will do better for us. These business decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

We generally only keep movies that we show off-the-break (usually 3 – 6 weeks after release) for one week.

4. I went to your web site and it was out of date. What gives?

We do keep our web site updated during the season. However, if you access our site through a search engine or a link from some other web site, you may be directed to a cached (historical) version of our site. There have been cases where people have been directed to versions of our web page that were years out of date. We suggest you directly type in/bookmark our web address. Also, at the bottom of our main page is the date the web site was last updated. If you’re not sure you’re seeing a current version, check our phone message (1-920-674-6700), or email us (we answer all inquiries except solicitations or anything that lacks a civil tone).

5.Why don’t you have a discount/carload price night? Why don’t you give out/honor free passes?

We are required by our licensing agreements (legal contracts) with the film distributors to charge admission per person. Our admission prices must also be filed with, and agreed to by, the film distributors. No movie theatre can honor free passes in the first two weeks of a film’s run. Since we play first run product throughout the summer and rarely keep any movies for longer than two weeks, this restriction applies to us.

6. Are you open/do you show movies in the rain or bad weather? Will you cancel the show if too few cars show up?

Yes, we show the movies regardless of weather. No, we will not cancel the show due to low attendance. The only time we will not run the show is if we experience mechanical/electrical problems (e.g. a power outage) or if the projectionist can’t see the picture due to heavy fog or snow. In these cases, we will give everyone a refund (see our refund policy for more specific information). We can, and do, show movies in heavy rain and thunderstorms. We will not give a refund because someone decides they don’t like watching a movie in the rain. In general, our philosophy is: The show must go on. We will run movies even if only one car shows up (provided its within ten minutes of normal start time).

7. How do I hear the movie?

Tune your radio to 93.1 fm to hear a fine stereo presentation of the film’s soundtrack. We also have old-fashioned speakers on poles in the first six rows and horn speakers on the back of our concession stand (for the back rows). We do not loan or rent portable radios. Please note that our primary means of providing sound is via FM radio transmission and we do not guarantee that a speaker will be available. We will not give a refund because a speaker is not available. Please plan on arriving with a workable car radio.

8 . Will my battery go dead if I use my car radio without running the engine?

Your radio draws very little power and, for most vehicles, leaving it on for the duration of the show should not wear down your battery (unless your battery is damaged or old/weakened). It’s important that you turn your ignition to the ‘accessories” position and not to the “ON” position (refer to your owner’s manual). In the “ON” position, you are operating all of your vehicle’s equipment and this will run down your battery. Note that in some recent models, the battery canot be operated separate from other accessories and hybrid/electric cars may have unusual requirements in this regard; please refer to your owner’s manual on the operation of your car radio. If your battery goes dead, come to the projection booth and we’ll give you a free jumpstart.

9. What time is dusk? Why don’t you publish show times?

Dusk is whenever it gets dark enough to get a good picture on the screen. Generally it occurs about twenty minutes after sunset, but can vary depending on weather (Cloudy, rainy, sunny). Note that in June and July, it doesn’t get dark until 9:00 p.m. or later. In late August or September, it gets dark around 7:30 p.m. or earlier. We don’t publish show times because it can vary from night to night for any number of reasons (including delaying a few minutes on crowded nights to get cars on the lot). But once again, the show will start around the time it gets dark.

10. How long is your season?

We are open from late April/early May through September. In early Spring, we are open on weekends only. From Memorial Day until mid-August, we are open 7 nights a week. From mid-August until closing (in September) we are back to being open weekends only. Please check our web site for our opening and closing dates.

11. Do you accept credit/debit cards or personal checks?

We accept major credit/debit cards at all of our locations (Box Office, Concession Stand, Express Window, Satellite Concession Stand/Bar). We do not accept personal checks. Please note that we do not have an ATM on site.

12. Why don’t you allow us to bring in our own food and drink? What if I have food allergies? Why don’t you give out empty cups, utensils, or ice?

The economics of the movie theatre business (indoors and Drive Ins) is as follows: a high percentage of the box office admissions goes back to the film companies to recoup the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars it takes to produce and market a film these days. Theatres heavily rely on sales from their concession stand to stay alive. Given that our costs continue to rise (e.g. taxes, insurance, labor costs, cost of goods sold, among others) and we are loath to significantly raise prices (thereby placing further burden on our best customers), we’ve enacted this policy as a rational business decision. Restaurants, bowling alleys, sports stadiums, and most other businesses that rely on concession sales to stay in business do not allow patrons to bring in their own food and drink.

We will consider allowing carry ins in rare cases where there are unusual dietary restrictions, however, arrangements must be made with us ahead of time. Please note that we do not utilize peanut products in any of our food preparation, and we have a broad enough menu so that people with diabetes, gluten intolerance (e.g. Celiacs disease), and casein intolerance can find appropriate items in our concession stand. If you want information on ingredients of our menu items, please email us or we can provide label information in the concession stand.

We do not give out cups, utensils, or ice separate from the sold product because we know that people want these items for the alcohol or food/drink they’ve brought in violation of our policies.

13. Some other patron is spoiling my enjoyment of the movie. I’ve observed another patron sneaking in or stealing/vandalizing theatre property. What should I do?

If someone disturbs you or interferes with your enjoyment of the movie, please see one of our parking attendants or come to the projection booth or concession stand and tell one of our staff members. We will take action. Do not confront the offending patron yourself.

We also ask patrons to report to us instances of theft of service (sneaking in to the theatre without paying) or stealing/damaging theatre property, so we may take appropriate steps. Theft and vandalism hurts us and makes it harder for us to keep this place going.

14. Why can’t we sit on our vehicle’s roof?

Our insurance policy requires us to enforce this policy; we’ve had people get hurt from falling off their vehicle’s roof. We’ve also had numerous complaints of obstructed views from other patrons.

15. Why can’t we sit or play in the playground after the movie starts?

The playground is not lit and children may hurt themselves in the dark. Also, the noise from anyone playing on the playground distracts people from watching the movie.

16. What difference does it make if I play my radio loud?

Other theatre patrons don’t want to get their teeth rattled by your 100+ watt sub-woofers.

Here are some tips from our readers: 

• Be familiar with your vehicle’s lights and switches and safety features prior to going (in case the back hatch can’t stay open without beeping, etc…)
  • Possibly bring string to keep hatch too high for others parked behind your vehicle.
• Consider bringing chairs, blankets, bug spray and a boombox/stereo to watch the movie from outside your parked vehicle.
• Arrive early to grab a great spot.

You can join the conversation on Facebook here.

HIGHWAY 18 DRIVE IN Policy Details:

Keep your ticket stubs. In the event of a problem, your stub is your proof that you paid proper admission for that evening.

No refunds.  No rain checks.  

No leaving and re entering the theatre.  Re entering cars will be charged another admission. 

Video cameras or any other recording devices are prohibited on theatre grounds in support of anti-piracy laws.

On The Lot  Speed limit is 5 MPH. 

For the safety and security of our customers, staff, and theatre property, the lot is under video and audio surveillance.

The playground is closed once the show starts. Parents are responsible for supervising their children at all times.  Children must wear shoes on the lot.  

Only one space per vehicle.  Please park within two feet of the pole so you do not block another parking space.  If you wish to sit outside, do so in front of your vehicle. No saving spaces.  Spaces are on a first come, first served basis.

Large vehicles must park at the red poles – row five (5) on back – on designated evenings.  (Large vehicles are those not classified as either a car/sedan or wagon as defined by Edmunds.com and include vans, SUVs, trucks, jeeps, etc.). Oversized vehicles must park in the back as directed by our parking attendants.  Designated evenings are Fridays and Saturdays, Memorial Day to Labor Day, and holiday nights as designated.  We reserve the right to repark any vehicle. 

Hatchbacks must be tied down even with the roof line.  Bring some bungy cords or we will provide twine at no charge. No sitting on the roof of your vehicle. 

Please – no headlights or stepping on your brakes (tail lights) when the movie is on.  Patrons are responsible for knowing the operation of their vehicle. Your owner’s manual should have information on how to disable headlights/daytime running lights.  If you cannot disable your headlights, you may not run your engine. Do not shine flashlights on the screen.  Laser pointers are strictly forbidden.

Smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is not allowed in any building or within 15 feet of building entrances. Smoking and running your car engine is allowed only to the extent you do not bother other customers.

Pets are allowed.  However, owners are completely responsible for the behavior of their pets.   Dogs must be leashed and under firm control when outside of the car. No animals are allowed inside the concession stand as per Health Department requirements. You may walk your dog in the east side of the theatre away from the parking ramps, but you must clean up after your pet. If your dog likes to bark at passer-bys, please leave them at home. Dogs are not allowed in the playground area (between Row 1 and the screen).

No loud radio/CD playing. No Littering.  Please place your trash in one of the many trash receptacles we have about the lot.

We do not tolerate foul or abusive language. 

We provide the movie soundtrack via F.M. broadcast to your car radio. Although we have speakers in the first six rows, we do not guarantee that a speaker will be available. We suggest that you arrive in a vehicle that has a working F.M. radio. Generally you can hear the movie in the forward half of the theatre and there is a walk up ramp in the front where you can sit and listen to the movie. But we will not give a refund to anyone because their radio doesn’t work and a speaker is not available. Also remember that we do not rent or loan out portable radios.

We may ask to inspect a vehicle if we suspect a serious violation of theatre policies (e.g. people sneaking in without paying or contraband such as carry in food/drink, alcohol, illegal drugs, weapons, or video equipment).  Any patrons who refuse this request will be ejected from theatre grounds without a refund.  If you have any questions about this policy, please email us.

We ask you to be courteous to other patrons and theatre staff.  We try to accommodate customer needs, but we will enforce our policies.  Management reserves the right to define and uniformly enforce acceptable and unacceptable behavior beyond these defined policies and house rules. Anyone who refuses to abide by our policies or follow the direction of our staff, will be ejected from the theatre without a refund.  If you have any questions, please see one of our staff members (if they are wearing a t-shirt, it will have the word “Staff” on the front).  For more information, visit our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page, or email us.