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When mapping my Memorial Day Weekend trip to find Brood X cicadas, North Georgia was my best bet. This was based on scientist predictions on when they would emerge from the ground. As to where, several articles narrowed it down to Fannin, Gilmer, and Union counties. Looking at a cicada map and HipCamp’s map, the coolest place I found to camp is the Tiger Drive-In in Tiger, Ga. If my calculations were correct, Tiger was about an hour from cicada-land. My stay at the drive-in was as special and fun as I imagined.
A Comfortable Night at the Movies
The last time I was at the drive-in was when I was married. That was a really, really long time ago. “The Bridges of Madison County” was the feature somewhere in Montana.
For this journey, my traveling companion Janet opted to spend the night in a hotel in nearby Clayton. After dropping her off, my dog and I trekked off to the Tiger Drive-in for a 5 p.m. arrival. The parking area it like an amphitheater with tiered parking vs. tiered seating. I parked in the very last row and backed up against the overgrown lot. Markers in the grass indicated each space.
The camping gear was soaked from the previous night’s rainfall. I pulled it out to dry and decided to spend the night in the car, something I’m familiar with. While planning the trip, I purchased a backseat air mattress from Amazon. It’s a game-changer! After setting up my GMC Terrain for the overnight stay, I took a hot shower by the concession stand and settled in for an outdoor night at the movies.
I talked to other movie-goers. Some were spending the night in campers, tents, or their cars and some were locals just there for the movies. Because it’s dog-friendly, lots of other movie-goers brought their pups. It’s also kid-friendly, although some movies may not be suitable for young children. There’s a playground at the front of the drive-in and was getting some use that evening before the movie.
Retro Yet Modern
The first film began at 9 p.m., “Raya and the Last Dragon,” followed by the second, “Cruella.” The drive-in screens first-rate movies Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
A handful of campers are available for rent and they look retro and adorable. The next morning, I asked a renter if the camper is as cute as it looks online. She gushed how adorable it is!
The Tiger Drive-In has a chill, retro vibe and the guys running the snack bar were extremely nice. The popcorn was delicious and I’m not sure if it’s because I haven’t had movie popcorn in close to two years or if it’s really that good. Thankfully, audio broadcasts through a loudspeaker. This means, there’s no need to sit in your car with the radio tuned to a specific station to hear the film. You can if you want but you don’t need to.
About a dozen of vehicles spent the night. Some campers pitched tents while others spent the night in their vehicles including a decked-out camper van. Some pups spent the night, too. It was a quiet stay and I enjoyed the chill of the North Georgia mountains. The next morning, I walked Radcliff along the main road and through the neighborhood across the street.
The stay exceeded my expectations and I’m hoping to make another visit. After all, it’s not *that* far of a drive from Southwest Florida.
HipCamp Stay in North Georgia at the Tiger Drive-In Theater
Tiger Drive-In
2956 Old 441 S.
Tiger, Ga. 30576
Tel: (706) 782-1611
Book with HipCamp
New to HipCamp (www.hipcamp.com)? Think of it as the Airbnb version of camping and glamping. Sure, you can book a stay in a campground but you can also book a stay in a camper, in an orange grove, or at a drive-in movie theatre.
Book through my HipCamp link to save $10 on your first booking.
The night before, we stayed at NERO Coffee + Camp in Hendersonville, N.C.
The night before that, we stayed at the Rosewood Rendezvous Tiny Cabin in Winnsboro, S.C.
