Some summer traditions never really go out of style, and a frosty mug of root beer handed to you at your car window is one of them. Ohio still has a handful of old-school stands where you can pull in, order a coney dog, and have your tray hooked right onto the door.
These spots keep things simple, with cold root beer, floats, fries, and hot dogs at prices that feel like a friendly throwback. Some are family-run favorites, while others carry names that go back generations.
If you have ever wanted to share that classic drive-in moment with your kids or relive it yourself, this list covers seven stands from Dayton to Akron that still do it the old way. Save it for your next warm evening drive, because a few of these places keep seasonal or limited hours.
1. The Root Beer Stande, Dayton, OH
Car service and window trays are still the main event on Woodman Drive. Pull into The Root Beer Stande and your frosty mug can arrive on a tray that hooks right onto the side of your car.
The root beer is housemade, and it comes in generous pours. A classic root beer float in a frosted glass is an easy order, and so is ice cream if you want something sweeter.
Food leans toward comfort classics. Foot-long coneys come topped with real chili, and plain footlongs with mustard, onions, and relish are just as popular.
The fried side of the menu is strong too, with onion rings and a deep-fried cauliflower that stands out from typical stand fare.
Plan around the schedule. The stand is open seasonally, Wednesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from noon to 8 PM, and it is closed Monday and Tuesday.
Weekend afternoons draw the biggest crowds, so a weekday lunch is the calmer choice. Dogs are welcome, and most meals land in the $10 to $20 range per person.
2. Stewart’s Root beer Drive in, Marion, OH
Here is how it works in Marion. You order through a two-way radio at your parked car, and a carhop walks the food out to you.
That setup comes from a brand with deep roots. Stewart’s traces its history back to 1924, which makes this North Main Street stop a real link to the early days of the American root beer stand.
The root beer is served in mugs chilled in the freezer, so the glass arrives icy. Floats are a big draw here, and curly fries make a natural sidekick.
Burger fans should look for the Garbage Burger, a menu highlight. Prices stay friendly, with most visits running $10 to $20 per person.
Hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 7 PM, and it is closed Sunday. Friday and Saturday afternoons get busy, and note that there are no public restrooms on site.
3. B-K Root Beer, Troy, OH
Choice is the quiet perk at B-K Root Beer in Troy. You can eat inside, grab a seat outdoors, or stay in your car and get classic stand service right at the window.
The order most people should start with is the Spanish Dog paired with a frosty mug of root beer. It is the house specialty, and it shows up as a menu highlight for good reason.
Beyond that, the menu covers hot dogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches, ice cream, milkshakes, and floats. Coffee is available too, which is a small but handy extra.
Families will find high chairs and a kids’ menu, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables. It is open every day, Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from noon to 8 PM.
4. B & K Root Beer Drive In, Akron, OH
Bring cash. This Manchester Road drive-in is cash-only, and that fits the old-school way it runs.
Staff wait on you at your car and set a tray on your window, with root beer poured into a frosty mug. The homemade root beer has a flavor all its own, and plenty of Akron families make a point of coming here specifically for it.
Foot-long coneys are the headline food. The Spanish dog, crispy fries, and burgers round things out, and root beer floats are always on the table.
Prices are some of the lowest on this list, typically $1 to $10 per person. Hours run Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from noon to 6 PM.
There are no restrooms, so plan a quick stop rather than a long hangout.
5. B&K Rootbeer, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
A 1950s look and picnic tables out front set the tone on Munroe Falls Avenue. B&K Rootbeer in Cuyahoga Falls is family-run, and it leans fully into the classic stand style.
The root beer comes fresh and homemade in cold glass mugs, often topped with a frosty head. Tiny fans can get a Baby Rootbeer, which shows up as a free menu item.
Food is simple and filling. Double cheeseburgers, chili dogs, and fries are the go-to orders, and prices usually stay between $1 and $10 per person.
I like this one for a long summer evening, since it stays open until 9 PM Tuesday through Sunday. It opens at 11 AM and is closed Mondays.
Restrooms are available, dogs are welcome, and there is a kids’ menu for younger diners.
6. THE Root Beer Stand at Indian Lake, Russells Point, OH
Lake days and root beer floats pair nicely in Russells Point. THE Root Beer Stand at Indian Lake sits along Route 366, close to one of Ohio’s classic summer getaways.
What sets it apart is the root beer lineup. There are at least three choices, including Mug, IBC, and Barq’s, and you can have any of them in a frosted mug.
The food runs big. Enormous foot-longs, chili cheese dogs, shredded chicken, and a burger with the playful name Shell Yeah all share the menu with onion rings and ice cream.
Putt-putt adds a bonus, and Mondays have included free mini golf. Batting cages have also been in the works.
Hours are generally 11 AM to 8 PM, with later hours on Saturday. Free Wi-Fi and restrooms make it an easy family pit stop.
7. A&W Restaurant, Ravenna, OH
Plenty of A&W locations dropped car service over the years. The Ravenna restaurant on East Main Street kept it, with carhops still bringing orders out to parked cars.
The star is A&W root beer in those big frosty mugs. A root beer float in a frosted mug is the classic move, and coney dogs make the natural partner.
Fried cheese curds are a sneaky favorite on the menu. Chicken strips, burgers, onion rings, and chili cheese items fill out the rest, and Papa sauce on the side works well for dipping.
Schedules are easy to remember. It is open every day from 11 AM to 9 PM, with Thursday through Saturday evenings drawing the most cars.
High chairs and a kids’ menu help with little ones. Most meals fall in the $10 to $20 range, a fair price for a real drive-in night out.
From Dayton to Ravenna, these seven stands prove the frosty mug tradition is alive and well in Ohio.
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