1. Jiffy Pop Popcorn
If you grew up in the ’70s, chances are you remember the magic of Jiffy Pop. Instead of the microwave bags we’re used to today, this was popcorn you could shake over an open flame, watching the silver foil dome rise like a balloon. Drive-in snack stands loved to sell these because it felt like you were taking a little piece of the theater experience back to your car. Kids were mesmerized by the process, and parents liked that it was cheap and fun.
At the drive-in, you could buy one already puffed up, ready to rip open and share. The buttery, slightly salty kernels had a unique taste compared to bagged popcorn. There was something charming about peeling back that foil and passing it around to friends or siblings. It might not have been the neatest snack, but it was part of the experience.
2. Pixy Stix
Pixy Stix were basically pure sugar in a paper straw, but that didn’t stop them from being a drive-in staple. You could dump them straight on your tongue or pretend you were sipping something fancy through a candy straw. The neon-colored powders gave you a quick jolt of energy, perfect for keeping kids awake through the second feature.
The paper tubes often split open in the heat, leaving sticky sugar trails across car seats, but that was part of the fun. Parents may have rolled their eyes, but for kids, Pixy Stix felt like pure joy in candy form. The flavors—grape, cherry, orange—were bold and unforgettable. They were cheap, too, so you could grab a handful without breaking the bank.
3. Charleston Chew
At the drive-in, the Charleston Chew was one of the most satisfying candy bars you could get. Long and chewy with nougat coated in chocolate, it was built to last the length of a movie. People often froze them before eating, which made them extra crunchy, but even fresh from the snack bar, they kept your jaws working for a while.
Breaking one into pieces and sharing it with friends was common. It had this creamy yet chewy texture that made it different from other chocolate bars of the time. The Charleston Chew came in flavors like chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, giving you options beyond the usual. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was dependable—and perfect for drive-in nights.
4. Snow Cones
Drive-ins loved to sell snow cones in waxy paper cups, dyed in every color imaginable. On a hot summer night, few things hit the spot like crunchy shaved ice drenched in syrup. The red cherry ones stained your lips, and the blue raspberry ones left your tongue an electric shade of blue.
They were messy, sticky, and melted too fast if you weren’t careful, but that was all part of the fun. Parents passed them back from the concession stand, and kids would lean out the windows to avoid dripping on the seats. The moment that ice started clumping at the bottom, you knew you had to slurp it fast. Drive-ins and snow cones just went hand in hand.
5. Milk Duds
Milk Duds were a movie classic, but they really shined at the drive-in. The little chocolate-covered caramel bites were sweet, chewy, and just sticky enough to keep you occupied during slower parts of the movie. The iconic yellow box was easy to spot in a dimly lit car, and everyone knew what was inside.
They were a little notorious for pulling out fillings or making your jaw ache if you ate too many. Still, there was something comforting about the combination of chocolate and caramel. You couldn’t eat them too fast, which made them a good option for a double feature. Milk Duds were a simple snack, but they had staying power.
6. Lemonheads
The tangy punch of Lemonheads made them a favorite for anyone who wanted something a little different from chocolate. At the drive-in, the little yellow boxes were cheap and easy to pass around. The first sour bite would make your eyes water, but once you got past that, the sweet lemon flavor kept you coming back.
On hot nights, that citrusy zing somehow felt refreshing. Lemonheads weren’t fancy, but they stood out among the sea of chocolate and caramel. The candy shells sometimes stuck together, but breaking them apart was half the fun. If you wanted a quick burst of sour-sweet candy during a long movie, Lemonheads were the answer.
7. Slush Puppies
Slush Puppies, those bright-colored icy drinks, were a drive-in treat that felt like an adventure in a cup. Unlike a snow cone, these were blended to be perfectly slushy, and you could mix flavors like cherry and blue raspberry for a wild combo. The more syrup, the better, and kids often left with brightly stained lips.
Trying to drink one too fast guaranteed a brain freeze, but that never stopped anyone. On humid summer nights, these were the ultimate cool-down. Slush Puppies also had that crunch of half-frozen ice, which made them fun to chew on between sips. They were messy, cold, and unforgettable.
8. Candy Cigarettes
Back in the ’70s, candy cigarettes were still considered fun instead of controversial. They came in little boxes designed to look like real brands, and kids loved pretending to be grown-ups while munching on the chalky sticks of sugar. At the drive-in, they were cheap and easy to buy with pocket change.
Some even had a sugary puff of powder when you blew through the paper wrapper, adding to the effect. Parents may not have loved the idea, but kids thought they were the height of cool. The taste wasn’t anything special—sweet, a little chalky—but the novelty made them a drive-in favorite. They’re the kind of snack that could never exist today.
9. Baked Pretzels with Cheese
Not everything was candy or sugar—drive-ins also sold hot, salty pretzels. The best ones came with a little cup of neon orange cheese sauce. The mix of warm bread and gooey cheese hit the spot when you needed something savory to balance out all the sweets.
They weren’t as common as popcorn or soda, but when you found a drive-in that sold them, it felt like a treat. The smell of the pretzels drifting out of the concession stand was impossible to resist. A salty bite in between chocolate candies made the whole movie experience better. It was comfort food at its simplest.
10. Good Humor Ice Cream Bars
Drive-ins often had Good Humor bars in their freezers, a quick cool-down snack that parents and kids both loved. Whether it was the chocolate eclair, strawberry shortcake, or toasted almond flavor, each one was coated in crunchy crumbs that made them stand out.
Eating one in the car meant racing against the melting ice cream, but that was part of the fun. The bars felt a little more special than your standard candy bar. They were creamy, cold, and always satisfying after a hot day. For many people, a Good Humor bar was the highlight of the night.
11. Fun Dip
Fun Dip was another sugar-packed snack that was everywhere at drive-ins. The little packets came with flavored powder and a white candy stick to dip into it. Half the time, kids just poured the powder straight into their mouths, but the dipping ritual made it last longer.
The colors were wild, from bright green apple to deep purple grape. Sharing wasn’t easy with this snack, so everyone usually had to get their own. It was messy, it stained your fingers, and sometimes the candy stick snapped in half—but none of that mattered. Fun Dip was pure childhood joy.
12. Red Vines
No drive-in list would be complete without Red Vines. Long, chewy, and just the right amount of sweet, they were the perfect snack to keep your hands busy during a movie. Some kids used them as straws in their sodas, making the drinks taste like cherry or strawberry.
The red licorice ropes were easier to chew than some of the tougher candies, which made them a hit with both kids and adults. The big tubs or bags could last an entire evening. Sharing them between seats in the car was easy, too. Red Vines were simple, but they were part of the magic of drive-in snacking.
