The Best Places To See An Outdoor Movie

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Summer’s a great time to spend some time outdoors, chase a Frisbee, have a picnic lunch and even watch a movie. There are quite a few places throughout the country you can go to catch a flick outside. Grab a bowl of popcorn and head to one of these destinations below.

Local Parks In Chicago
If you happen to be near a park in Chicago during the summer, then you probably aren’t that far from an outdoor movie. Over 100 parks participate in movie screenings each month. Locals have been enjoying movies in the park for 17 years and it’s become a beloved tradition.

The Silver Moon Drive-In Near Tampa
Located about 35 miles from Tampa in Lakeland, Florida, the Silver Moon Drive-In has been showing movies for over 60 years. Each night they show a double feature on both of their screens that consist of first-run movies. You can either enjoy the movie from the comfort of our own car or sit in a chair in front of your car.

The Great Plaza In Philadelphia
During the months of July and August, visitors can head over to Penn’s Landing to watch a movie on Thursday nights. Both newer and older flicks are often shown. In addition to the movies, other events take place year round here as well.

HBO’s Bryant Park Summer Film Festival In New York
For the 25th year, locals and tourists can head to this one-block park on Monday nights to enjoy a movie this summer. Movies tend to be old favorites like Dirty Dancing or Wall Street. If you do plan on heading here to watch a show, make sure you arrive early as it does get crowded.

The Hollywood Forever Cemetery In Los Angeles
Looking to conjure up some spirits or just have a thrilling, yet creepy time? You can watch a movie at this cemetery, right next to the headstones of some of your favorite stars. Just don’t be surprised if you catch a glimpse of a ghost in addition to the movie.

Santa Cruz Beach In San Francisco
Some of the most memorable movie experiences take place on the beach during the evening in San Francisco. Head out to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to watch a flick on Wednesdays during the summer months with a view of the area’s giant roller coaster, the Giant Dipper, in the background. Don’t worry about bringing your own snacks as there’s a variety of goodies to purchases like salt water taffy and kettle corn.

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Sue Lobo
Sue Lobo is a four-time Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist (2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026) and Senior Travel Advisor at Atlas Travel Center, one of the most decorated travel agencies in the United States. With more than 35 years of experience in the travel industry, Sue has planned, booked, and personally accompanied trips for thousands of clients — from first-time cruisers to seasoned luxury travelers who have circled the globe multiple times. Sue's areas of deep expertise include ocean and river cruising, European tours, group travel coordination, luxury travel, honeymoon planning, and family vacation design. She is a CLIA-certified cruise specialist and works within an agency that holds IATA and ARC accreditation and maintains an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Over her career, Sue has been involved in more than 30,000 bookings and has personally coordinated over 200 travel groups — from faith-based group cruises and HBCU alumni trips to women's retreats, family reunions, and corporate incentive travel. What sets Sue apart is not just the credentials — it is the firsthand experience behind them. Sue has personally traveled to more than 20 countries across three continents, including Cuba, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and throughout Europe. She has sailed on dozens of cruise ships across nearly every major line, walked the river cruise routes she recommends, and eaten at the restaurants she suggests to clients. Her recommendations come from personal experience, not brochures. In addition to advising clients, Sue writes extensively about travel for The Traveler's Atlas blog — covering everything from cruise line comparisons and overtourism trends to destination guides and practical travel tips. Her writing is grounded in the same expertise she brings to every client conversation: honest, specific, and built on decades of real-world travel experience. Sue is based in the United States and available to help travelers plan cruises, European tours, group trips, river cruises, honeymoons, family vacations, and more. To work with Sue, contact Atlas Travel Center at atlastravelweb.com.