10 Drive-In Restaurants That Defined Teenage Life in the 1950s and 1960s

For teenagers in the 1950s and 1960s, the drive-in restaurant was the center of the social universe. After school, on a Friday night or after the big game, kids piled into cars and pulled into a parking spot under a neon sign. A carhop came to the window to take the order, and a few minutes later a tray of burgers, fries and frosty root beer was hooked onto the car door.

The drive-in wasn’t just about the food. It was where teenagers showed off their cars, flirted, listened to the radio and caught up with friends. Movies like “American Graffiti” later captured that world, and many boomers still remember it fondly. Some of those famous drive-ins are long gone, while others are still serving customers today. Here are 10 drive-in restaurants that defined teenage life in the 1950s and 1960s.

1. A&W

A&W is one of the oldest names in American drive-in history. Roy Allen opened a root beer stand in Lodi, California, in 1919, and he later partnered with Frank Wright, combining their initials into the A&W name. The company tells the story of how it all started with a roadside stand.

By the 1950s and 1960s, A&W drive-ins dotted towns across the country, famous for their frosty mugs of root beer and root beer floats. Teenagers loved hanging out in the parking lot with their friends. A&W is still in business today, and some locations still offer old-fashioned car service.

2. Sonic Drive-In

Sonic began in Shawnee, Oklahoma, in 1953, when Troy Smith opened a root beer stand called the Top Hat. He added an intercom system so customers could order from their cars, and the idea quickly caught on. The Oklahoma Historical Society explains how Sonic grew from that one small stand.

Because the Top Hat name was already trademarked, the business was renamed Sonic in 1959, with the slogan “Service at the Speed of Sound.” Sonic’s carhops, some on roller skates, became part of the brand’s identity. Today, Sonic is one of the largest drive-in chains in the country, and it’s still a favorite spot for burgers, tots and slushes.

3. The Varsity

The Varsity in Atlanta opened in 1928 and grew into one of the most famous drive-ins in America. It’s known for its chili dogs, onion rings, frosted orange drink and the famous greeting from the counter staff, “What’ll ya have?” It has long billed itself as the world’s largest drive-in.

For generations of Georgia Tech students and Atlanta teenagers, the Varsity was a rite of passage. Its sprawling parking lot was packed on game days and weekend nights. The Varsity is still open today and remains a beloved Atlanta landmark.

4. Steak n Shake

Steak n Shake was founded in 1934 in Normal, Illinois, by Gus Belt. The restaurant became known for its steakburgers and hand-dipped milkshakes, as well as its motto, “In Sight It Must Be Right,” which promised that customers could watch their food being prepared. Curb service was a big part of the experience for many years.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Steak n Shake drive-ins were popular hangouts across the Midwest. Teenagers loved pulling up for a burger and shake on a summer night. Steak n Shake is still in business, though most locations today focus on drive-thru and dine-in service rather than curbside carhops.

5. Mel’s Drive-In

Mel’s Drive-In opened in San Francisco in 1947, founded by Mel Weiss and Harold Dobbs. It quickly became a popular spot for teenagers, with carhops serving burgers and shakes to customers in their cars. Mel’s grew into a small chain of drive-ins across Northern California.

Mel’s became famous when George Lucas featured it in his 1973 film “American Graffiti,” which looked back on teenage car culture in the early 1960s. The movie helped make Mel’s a symbol of that era. Mel’s Drive-In still operates today as a chain of retro-style diners, though they no longer serve food to customers’ cars.

6. Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank

The Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank, California, opened in 1949 and is one of the most famous surviving restaurants of the Big Boy chain. Its sleek, car-friendly design and towering sign made it a classic example of mid-century Southern California architecture. The famous Big Boy statue in his checkered overalls still greets customers.

Teenagers and car lovers flocked to Big Boy restaurants in the 1950s and 1960s for double-decker burgers and milkshakes. The Burbank location is still open, and it hosts a weekly classic car show on Friday nights. It’s a wonderful way to step back in time.

7. Dog n Suds

Dog n Suds was founded in 1953 in Champaign, Illinois, by two music teachers who opened a hot dog and root beer stand. The chain grew quickly, especially in the Midwest, and its cartoon dog mascot, Rover, became a familiar sight. At its peak in the late 1960s, the chain had hundreds of locations.

For many teenagers, Dog n Suds was the place for a coney dog and a frosty mug of root beer. Most of the original locations have since closed, but a small number of Dog n Suds drive-ins are still operating. The company shares its story on the official Dog n Suds website.

8. Frostop

Frostop root beer stands were easy to spot thanks to their giant rotating root beer mug signs. The first Frostop opened in 1926 in Springfield, Ohio, founded by L.S. Harvey. The chain spread across the country in the following decades, and its drive-ins became popular hangouts.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Frostop was a favorite for root beer floats, hot dogs and burgers. Only a handful of Frostop locations remain today, but the brand still has devoted fans. Ohio Magazine has written about the history of Frostop root beer and the original recipes that are still used.

9. Swensons

Swensons is a beloved drive-in chain from Akron, Ohio, that dates back to 1934. It’s best known for the Galley Boy, a double cheeseburger topped with two special sauces and an olive on a toothpick. Its curb servers are known for hurrying out to cars to take orders and deliver food.

For generations of Northeast Ohio teenagers, Swensons was the place to go after a game or on a date. The drive-in still operates several locations in the Akron area, and it continues to offer curbside service. Many locals say no visit home is complete without a Galley Boy.

10. Stewart’s Root Beer

Stewart’s Root Beer began in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1924, when Frank Stewart started selling his homemade root beer. The business grew into a chain of drive-ins known for root beer, hot dogs and burgers. Many locations featured carhops who brought frosty mugs right to the car window.

Stewart’s drive-ins were popular hangouts in the 1950s and 1960s, especially in the Northeast and Midwest. Some Stewart’s drive-ins are still open today, including locations in New Jersey and Ohio. Stewart’s root beer is also sold in bottles in many grocery stores.

Why Drive-Ins Mattered

Drive-in restaurants were a natural fit for postwar America, when more families owned cars and teenagers had more freedom than ever. A car gave young people a place to hang out with friends away from home, and the drive-in gave them somewhere to go. It became a central part of dating, friendships and small-town life.

Over time, fast-food chains with drive-thru windows replaced many drive-ins. But the memories are still strong for anyone who grew up in that era, much like those classic Saturday morning habits families shared. Some of those old drive-ins have even become roadside landmarks, joining the list of quirky stops like the strangest roadside attraction in America.

Visiting a Drive-In Today

If you want to relive the drive-in experience, many classic spots are still open. Some host classic car shows, while others keep carhop service alive for customers who love nostalgia. Visiting one with children or grandchildren can be a fun way to share a piece of history.

Even if the menu prices have changed, the feeling of pulling up to a drive-in on a summer night hasn’t. A burger, a root beer float and good company still make for a perfect evening. Which drive-in restaurant did you go to as a teenager, and what did you always order?