Some Indiana meals still arrive on a tray that hooks right onto your car window. Across the state, a handful of old-school drive-ins keep serving root beer in frosty glass mugs, along with coney dogs, tenderloins, and onion rings.
Many of these stands make their own root beer, so each one tastes a little different. Here are eight spots where you can park, roll down the window, and order a meal the classic Hoosier way.
1. Port Drive In, Chesterton, IN
A tray hooked onto your car window is still the standard delivery method at this Chesterton stop. Young carhops bring the food right out, and the root beer shows up in a frosty mug.
That root beer is made in-house, which is the main reason Port Drive In opens this list. It pairs well with the burgers, hot dogs, fries, and shakes that fill out the menu.
The sides deserve attention too. Fried pickles and onion rings make it easy to turn a quick lunch into something a little more fun.
Families will find a kids’ menu and high chairs, and there is even a full vegetarian menu. Plan around the schedule, since the stand is closed Monday and Tuesday and open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM.
2. BK Root Beer Drive In, Mishawaka, IN
Bring cash. This Mishawaka drive-in keeps things old-fashioned right down to the payment method.
BK Root Beer Drive In is locally owned and makes its root beer by hand. The house brew turns up in more than just mugs, since root beer shakes are one of the stand’s best-known treats.
Not a root beer shake person? The butterscotch malt is another sweet option worth a look.
On the savory side, hot dogs with the house sauce and the fries get plenty of attention. Mac and cheese bites add a fun extra for kids or snackers.
Hours are generous, with service every day from 11 AM to 8 PM. The lot can fill up on busy afternoons, but the carhops tend to keep things moving quickly.
3. Mug-n-Bun, Speedway, IN
Just down the road from Indianapolis racing country, Mug-n-Bun has its own reason for drawing a crowd. The house root beer has a creamy, vanilla-forward taste that sets it apart from the others on this list.
It comes in glass mugs on trays that hang on your car window. Regulars can also bring a growler to fill and take some home.
The menu is big and hearty. Think pork tenderloin sandwiches, double cheeseburgers, crinkle-cut fries, hand-dipped onion rings, and hot pepper cheese balls.
The Mug-N-Bun Special is a house signature worth trying at least once. Portions run large, so arriving hungry is smart.
Indoor seating is available if the weather turns, and dogs are welcome. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest stretch, with weekend hours running until 9:30 PM.
4. Dog n Suds, Lafayette, IN
Foot-long coney dogs topped with cheese and sauerkraut are a big draw at this Lafayette favorite. Add crinkle-cut fries and a frosted mug of root beer, and you have the full Dog n Suds lineup.
The name says it plainly. Dogs and suds, meaning root beer, are what this place does best.
Carhops bring orders right to the car, which keeps the classic setup alive near Purdue country. Kraut dogs, cheeseburgers, and the Texas Burger round out the menu.
For dessert, a root beer float is the natural pick. Chili cheese options and Coney sauce help customize nearly anything.
The stand is open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM. Families get high chairs and a kids’ menu, and the business also handles catering.
5. Mr. Weenie, Peru, IN
With a name like Mr. Weenie, there is no mystery about the specialty. Hot dogs lead the way in Peru, including a Chicago Dog for anyone who wants extra toppings.
The menu goes well beyond franks, though. Tenderloins and BBQ sandwiches are popular, and the coleslaw has a strong following of its own.
The sauce gets plenty of praise, and so does the root beer. For many local families, a cold mug here is a long-running tradition.
Prices are among the lowest on this list, often under ten dollars per person. Waitresses move quickly, so lunch breaks stay short.
One practical note: there is no public restroom. Plan ahead, then enjoy daily hours from 10:30 AM to 9 PM.
6. B-K West, Logansport, IN
Ever had a Spanish dog? In Logansport, it is the order to know.
B-K West tops its hot dogs with a sweet, tomato-based Spanish sauce that tastes a bit like sloppy joe filling. Chili cheese dogs are another big seller.
The root beer is house-made, and a root beer float in a glass mug is close to required. Fast, friendly carhops bring it all straight to your car.
Sides add variety, with cheese fries, onion rings, and fried cauliflower on the menu. The deluxe tenderloin covers the classic Indiana sandwich craving.
Bring cash, since this is a cash-only stop. Hours run daily from 11 AM to 9 PM, and dogs are welcome outside.
7. B&K Root Beer, Huntington, IN
Root beer refills are a nice perk at this Huntington drive-in, and they come in handy on hot summer days. Frosty mugs are the house style.
Coney dogs are the star of the food menu. Pair one with cheesy fries for a simple, classic order.
Root beer floats make a good finish. It is a common stop for motorcyclists out on a summer ride, too.
The service is a highlight, with quick, friendly attention at the car. Dogs are welcome inside and out.
Plan around the schedule. B&K is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 AM to 8 PM and closed on Sundays, and there is no public restroom.
8. A&W Restaurant, Greensburg, IN
Most A&W locations today are standard fast-food stops. The Greensburg spot is different, because it still runs as a true drive-in with carhops and curb service.
Staff take orders at your car window and hang the tray right there. That makes it a fun introduction to drive-in dining for grandkids who have never tried it.
The famous root beer is the obvious order, and root beer floats are popular too. The menu is big, with burgers, chicken tenders, fried chicken, and fish sandwiches.
It also keeps the longest hours on this list, open daily from 10 AM to 10 PM. A drive-thru handles late arrivals in a hurry.
Friday afternoons and evenings tend to be busiest. Come then for the buzz, or slip in another day for a quieter tray-side meal.
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