Larsen's Frostop (Closed)
St. George, UT Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Check out the roadside famous Larsen's Frostop in St. George, Utah. This huge vertical sign helped define one of the main routes through town and was hard to miss if you happened to be hungry. The towering marquee became a familiar sight along old Highway 91 and remained one of St. George's most recognizable roadside landmarks for decades. 10-06
Larsen's Frostop opened in 1965 as part of the Frostop Root Beer chain and quickly became a favorite stop for locals and travelers alike. Over the years, generations of customers stopped by for burgers, root beer, and the restaurant's famous Piccadilly chips. The little character carrying a giant burger atop the sign became almost as recognizable as the restaurant itself.
(Far right) Here's a close-up of the little character carrying the big burger on top of the sign at Larsen's Frostop.
UPDATE: Larsen's Frostop is now permanently closed. After briefly reopening under new ownership following a pandemic-era shutdown, the restaurant closed for good in 2023. Fortunately, the iconic sign was preserved when the property became home to Sip-N Drinks and Treats. The little burger-carrying character now holds a drink cup instead, proving that even roadside landmarks occasionally need to adapt to survive. 07-25
Highway 30 Drive-in (originally KwikCurb Diner)
Mountain Home,
ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
This old drive-in eatery now named the Highway 30 Drive-In looks like a picture-perfect postcard from the golden age of American car culture. Located along historic Highway 30 in Mountain Home, Idaho, the building remains one of the area's best surviving examples of classic drive-in architecture. The low-slung roofline and vintage design are a welcome reminder of a time when roadside dining was as much about the experience as the food. 10-06
The diner traces its roots back to 1955 when it first opened as the KwikCurb Diner. Over the years, the building operated under several different names, including Marv's Drive-In, the Hungry Onion, and the Big Onion, before eventually becoming the Highway 30 Drive-In. Despite the changes, the structure itself remained remarkably intact and continues to preserve the look and feel of a classic 1950s drive-in. 10-06
UPDATE: While many drive-ins of this era have disappeared, this one survives and is still serving customers today. The building was recognized for its historic architecture and added to the National Register of Historic Places. More than seventy years after it first opened, hungry travelers can still pull up for a burger and shake at one of Idaho's best-preserved roadside diners. 06-26
Johnson's Drive-in
UT Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Johnson's Drive-In looked like a good stop if you were looking for a quick bite to eat right off the roadside. Not sure how the food was, though there always seemed to be someone in line here. That's usually a good sign.
Places like Johnson's were once common sights along Utah's older highways. A small building, a simple menu, and a steady stream of locals and travelers were sometimes all it took to make a roadside stop memorable.
UPDATE: It appears Johnson's Drive-In is now gone. I don't have much information on this one, but the photo captures another small roadside eatery that quietly disappeared from the Utah landscape. 07-25
Annie's Drive-inn (Closed)
Beaver, UT Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Annie's Drive-inn was a good place for a soft-serve treat back in the early 2000s. The small roadside stand had the kind of classic drive-in look that seemed right at home in a town like Beaver. On a warm summer day, it wasn't hard to find a reason to stop.
The location actually dates back to 1955 when it originally opened as a Foster's Freeze. Over the years, the building evolved into Annie's Drive-Inn while continuing to serve locals and travelers passing through southern Utah. It's always nice to find a place that manages to hang onto its mid-century roots.
UPDATE: Annie's Drive-Inn is gone, but the building survives. Today the location operates as Mel's Drive-Inn, continuing a roadside tradition that stretches back nearly seventy years. The name may have changed, but fortunately the old drive-in is still serving customers. 07-25
Hermie's Drive-in
Cedar City, UT
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Hermie's Drive-In looks like a fantastic throwback to the golden age of the roadside diner. Located along Main Street in Cedar City, this longtime local favorite has been serving hungry travelers, college students, and residents for decades. The classic drive-in atmosphere feels increasingly rare in a world of modern fast-food chains.
Hermie's has built a loyal following with its burgers, shakes, and old-fashioned comfort food. The menu features local favorites including the famous Hermie Burger, a towering creation that has become something of a Cedar City tradition. Pair it with a milkshake and you'll quickly understand why generations of southern Utah residents keep coming back.
Hermie's Drive-In is still going strong and remains one of Cedar City's best-known roadside eateries. While the interior has been updated over the years, the restaurant continues to serve the same menu that made it a local institution. Some drive-ins fade away, but Hermie's is still packing in customers after all these years. 06-26
Highway 30 Drive-in (originally KwikCurb Diner)
Johnson's Drive-in
Annie's Drive-inn (Closed)
Hermie's Drive-in
