Entry No. 217 — the Denver file — filed under: after-dark

Comanche Drive-In Theatre

Billed as the highest-elevation drive-in in the United States, Comanche sits three miles west of Buena Vista in the upper Arkansas River valley, with the Collegiate Peaks looming behind the screen. At nearly 8,000 feet the night sky is absurdly dark, so the stars compete with the movie. It's a genuine destination drive-in, not a metro convenience, worth the mountain drive for the setting alone.

The move: Make the mountain drive, park facing the screen with the Collegiate Peaks behind it, and watch a movie under some of the darkest skies in the state.

📍 Before you go Seasonal; 2026 season opens around April 24. It's ~2 hours from Denver, so plan a late return; bring layers since high-elevation nights get cold fast.

• 📍 Buena Vista
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 17063 Hwy 306, Buena Vista, CO 81211

Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-23