Some road trip snacks are forgettable, but a basket of hand-breaded onion rings handed through a car window is not one of them. Indiana still has a handful of old-school drive-ins where the rings come out hot, crispy, and piled high enough to share.
These six spots stretch from Marion to Speedway to New Haven, and each one brings its own twist, from house root beer to giant tenderloins. Save this list for your next drive and bring a friend who does not mind splitting a basket.
1. Myers Drive-In, Marion, IN
Car hops still run the show at this Marion stop on South Washington Street. Pull into a spot, and your order comes straight to the car with speedy curbside service.
The onion rings here are hand-breaded, and they pair naturally with the classic cheeseburgers that built the place’s reputation. A double cheeseburger with a side of rings is the easy order, though the breaded tenderloin and the onion burger both deserve a look.
I like that Myers opens at 9:30 in the morning, so breakfast and coffee are on the table too. Milkshakes round out the menu for anyone who saves room.
Hours run Monday through Saturday until 8 PM, and it is closed Sundays. Wednesday and Saturday mornings tend to be the quietest times to swing by, and parking is free and plentiful.
2. Mug-n-Bun, Speedway, IN
Just a short hop from the famous racetrack town of Speedway, Mug-n-Bun has been pouring its own creamy, vanilla-forward root beer for generations of drivers. That house root beer is half the reason people pull in.
The other half is the onion rings. They are hand-dipped, batter-fried, and served in portions big enough to pass around the car.
Burgers come with all the fixings, and the pork tenderloin sandwich is a classic Hoosier order. Crinkle-cut fries, chili cheese fries, and funnel cake fries keep the side menu playful.
Prefer to sit? There is indoor seating plus covered spots outside, and dogs are welcome.
A root beer float with a shared basket of rings is about as Speedway as lunch gets.
Open daily, with Friday and Saturday hours stretching to 9:30 PM.
3. Steer-In, Indianapolis, IN
Onion rings for breakfast sound unusual until you see the menu at Steer-In. This long-running Eastside Indianapolis diner serves them alongside corned beef hash, pancakes, and eggs, and nobody blinks.
The rings are homemade, large, and coated in a light batter that stays crispy. Order the basket and you will see why they anchor the lineup.
Steer-In is more diner than pure drive-in, but there is still a drive-up in the back for those who want to stay in the car. Inside, the menu is huge, covering the Hoosier Tenderloin, beef and noodles, mashed potatoes and gravy, and bacon and cheese loaded tots.
Save room for coconut cream pie. It is a strong finish.
Doors open at 7 AM daily, closing at 3 PM Mondays and 8 PM the rest of the week.
4. Bummie’s Drive-In, Bluffton, IN
Budget-minded snackers, take note. Bummie’s in Bluffton keeps most meals in the one to ten dollar range, which is rare for a basket this generous.
The onion rings lean light on the breading and heavy on actual onion, with good thick chunks inside a crisp shell. Portions are reliably full, so skimping is not part of the routine here.
Homemade root beer is the signature sip. Malt shakes, corn dogs, and classic burgers fill out a short, nostalgic menu.
A couple of practical notes. There are no restrooms on site and no delivery, so plan around a quick stop with takeout or outdoor seating.
Bummie’s is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8:50 PM and closed Sundays.
5. Hall’s Drive-Ins, Inc, New Haven, IN
Fort Wayne area families know the Hall’s name well, and the New Haven drive-in is one of its longtime classics on State Road 930.
Here the onion rings arrive hot and in a portion that easily covers two people. They sit next to excellent sandwiches and the 90s busters, a menu item fans of the spot keep circling back to.
The menu goes wider than most drive-ins. Steaks, seafood, burgers, and even a solid Cobb salad all show up, so it works when the group cannot agree.
Service moves fast, with a drive-thru for quick runs and table seating for a longer meal. Reservations are accepted, and high chairs and a kids’ menu make family dinners easy.
Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest, with weekend hours running to 10 PM.
6. Ray’s Drive Inn, Kokomo, IN
Kokomo’s Ray’s Drive Inn is famous for a breaded pork tenderloin that hangs well past the bun. Still, the homemade onion rings make a strong case for a spot on the tray.
Fried mushrooms are another side worth adding. The Breaded Tenderloin Manhattan is a hearty pick if you want the tenderloin with a knife-and-fork twist.
Food comes straight to your car, and it arrives hot. There is no indoor dining or restroom, so this is a true park-and-eat experience.
Early birds get a break, since Ray’s opens at 6:30 AM every day of the week for breakfast and coffee. It stays open until 8 PM.
Friday afternoons into evening bring the biggest rush. Mornings are the calmest window for a quick visit.
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