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Santa Maria Hi-Way Drive-In Tickets

Location
Way Drive-In Venue Page | Outdoor Drive-In Theater in Santa Maria, CA

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The venue

About Santa Maria Hi-Way Drive-In

Santa Maria Hi-Way Drive-In is a single-screen outdoor theater set on a graded lot that slopes toward the screen to enhance viewing. With a capacity of approximately 550 cars, it provided a nostalgic, community-driven cinema experience in Santa Maria, California. While the site has a storied past, including the 2020 Metallica drive-in concert and its final operational day on January 6, 2022, the venue is undergoing redevelopment as of 2025–2026. This page offers practical, up-to-date details for visitors and locals who want to secure a great night out in the area, including seating and parking layouts, transit options, and nearby lodging and dining choices. We’ve got you covered with helpful insider tips and trustworthy information to make planning easy.

Note: The Santa Maria Hi-Way Drive-In is being redeveloped into affordable housing by People’s Self-Help Housing. If you’re seeking current entertainment options, consider nearby venues and seasonal screenings that align with the local calendar. For travelers, nearby hotels and restaurants offer convenient stays and meals before or after a movie night, and local transit access from the Santa Maria Transit Center provides easy bus connections to the former drive-in site.

Good to know

Seating, Parking & Venue Information

  • Capacity: 550 cars (drive-in lot).
  • Address: commonly cited as 3170 Santa Maria Way, Santa Maria, CA 93455 (some listings show 3085 Santa Maria Way).
  • Venue type: single-screen outdoor drive-in theater with a sloped parking area to improve viewing.
  • Parking: outdoor car-based parking, in a graded lot; capacity ~550 vehicles.
  • Transit: served by Santa Maria public transit; nearby Transit Center with multiple bus routes accessible from the Hi-Way site.
  • Nearby hotels: Fairfield by Marriott Santa Maria; Candlewood Suites Santa Maria; Historic Santa Maria Inn (local options).
  • Notable events: 2020 Metallica drive-in concert; final day of operation reported January 6, 2022; redevelopment plans announced thereafter.
  • Demolished/renamed: not renamed; site closed and being redeveloped into affordable housing by People’s Self-Help Housing (as of 2025–2026).