I almost drove right past it, figuring it was just another roadside burger stand in small-town Minnesota. Then I spotted a giant root beer mug spinning in the sky, and my stomach made the decision for me.
What I found was a place where carhops still walk food right up to your car window, and the root beer is made in house. It turned a quick lunch stop into the kind of memory you keep bragging about to friends.
A Retro Pit Stop on Bench Street
Tucked along Bench Street in Taylors Falls, The Drive In Restaurant sits at 572 Bench St, right in the heart of one of the St. Croix Valley’s busiest little towns. It is an old-school hamburger joint in the truest sense, built around burgers, hot dogs, and root beer floats.
Picture parking stalls where you can stay in your car, picnic tables spread outside, and a counter for folks who want to sit up close to the action. Visitors describe the whole setup as a cheerful step back in time, and the vibe hits you the second you pull in.
Minnesotans love saying their small towns can outshine the big city, and this spot gives them plenty of ammunition. You will not find anything quite like it in a downtown Minneapolis food hall.
Plenty of travelers, including one family who drove six hours from Chicago, say the stop alone was worth the trip.
The Giant Spinning Root Beer Mug
Landmarks come in all shapes, and in Taylors Falls one of the most beloved happens to be a root beer mug the size of a small car. It spins above the lot, greeting every visitor before they even find a parking spot.
Kids point at it. Grown-ups snap photos of it.
Regulars treat it like a friendly wave from an old neighbor who has been expecting them.
Roadside signs like this were once common across the Upper Midwest, back when families cruised two-lane highways looking for a place to stop. Many of those signs have quietly disappeared over the years, which makes this one feel extra special.
Spotting it is half the fun. Once you see that mug turning slowly against the sky, you know you are about to enjoy something homemade, cold, and fizzy.
It sets the tone for the meal and reminds everyone that a little bit of whimsy still goes a long way in Minnesota.
Carhops in Poodle Skirts
Roll down your window, and the show begins. Servers here deliver trays of burgers, fries, and frosty root beer straight to your car, a tradition that has nearly vanished from American roadsides.
Many visitors mention the poodle skirts, which add a playful 1950s touch to the whole experience. One parent shared that the in-car dining option turned into a really fun outing for the kids, who thought eating dinner in the back seat was the coolest thing ever.
On busy days, those car-side spots can fill up quickly. Some guests have found themselves redirected to a table instead, so arriving early or on a weekday may improve your chances of snagging a stall.
Still, the effort pays off. Few experiences capture old-school Minnesota summer quite like a carhop hooking a tray onto your window while the sun dips low over the St. Croix Valley.
Homemade Root Beer Worth the Hype
Ask anyone what to order first, and the answer is nearly always the same: root beer. It comes up more than any other topic among visitors, and for good reason, because it is brewed right in house.
Guests have called it possibly the best root beer they have ever tasted. One traveler from Texas makes an hour-long drive every time she visits the area and always grabs a half gallon to take home.
That says a lot.
Fans describe it as smooth, sweet, and deeply flavorful, though a few find it on the sweeter side. Served cold, ideally in a frosty mug when they have them on hand, it is the drink that ties the whole visit together.
For Minnesotans who appreciate a recipe done the old way, this is a point of pride. Big chains bottle their soda by the millions.
Here, it tastes like somebody actually cares about every batch.
Burgers on Pillow-Soft Buns
Juicy, perfectly sized, and stacked on a bun so soft one visitor compared it to a pillow. That is how many guests describe the burgers coming out of this kitchen.
Popular picks include the All American and the bacon cheeseburger, with diners praising the crispy bacon and fluffy bread. Rough chopped onions and pickles paired with Thousand Island dressing create a tangy, nostalgic combination that tastes like a summer road trip.
There is even a bison burger on the menu, giving adventurous eaters a nod to the wide-open prairie heritage of the Upper Midwest. Add-ons like tomato and onion typically cost only a small extra charge.
Opinions do vary. A few guests have found the seasoning not to their liking or the patties cooked past their preference.
Most, however, leave satisfied, and several say these burgers easily hold their own against fancier spots in the Twin Cities.
Floats, Malts, and Golden Cheese Curds
Save room. Seriously.
The dessert and side menu might be the sneakiest highlight of the whole trip.
Root beer floats get rave attention, with one guest praising the ideal ratio of homemade root beer to ice cream. Malts are a crowd favorite too, from strawberry to butterscotch, and one dad called them excellent without hesitation.
Root beer freezes and shakes round out the frosty lineup.
Then come the cheese curds, a true Midwest essential. Visitors say they are good and satisfying, though heads up, they are cheddar, which might surprise anyone expecting a different style.
Crinkle fries, onion rings, and chicken tenders fill out the snack side of things. Kids especially seem to love the ice cream cones, which can arrive impressively large.
Pair a malt with curds on a warm afternoon, and you have a meal that feels like pure Minnesota summer in a paper basket.
Mini Golf Right Next Door
Here is a fun twist most burger joints cannot match: a mini golf course sits right on the property. It is actually one of the most talked-about features, with families often planning their whole visit around a round on the greens.
Outdoor tables overlook the course and a pleasant water feature, so even non-golfers can relax and watch the putting. One guest described a calm Tuesday evening spent eating while others played nearby, calling it deeply relaxing.
Better yet, ordering a kids meal often comes with a buy-one-get-one deal on mini golf. Parents call that a genuine bargain.
And the staff gets into the spirit. One family shared that their children landed holes in one and earned giant ice cream cones, and when the youngest sibling felt left out, a worker hurried off to bring him a little cone of his own.
Moments like that stick with kids for years.
Who Feels Right at Home Here
Families with little ones top the list. Clean surroundings, a kid-friendly menu, and that mini golf course make it an easy win for parents trying to keep everyone happy.
Hikers and day-trippers love it too. One group stopped after a trail outing nearby and said the meal hit the spot after working up a big appetite.
Lake-goers and wedding guests swing through as well.
Staff members earn warm praise for their kindness. One parent shared how a server carefully checked every menu item for her toddler’s dairy allergy and caught a hidden ingredient, a level of care that left the family deeply grateful.
Even dog owners can bring something for their pups, as pup cups are available for about two dollars.
Visitors from as far away as Syria and Texas have left feeling welcomed. That friendly small-town hospitality is something Minnesota does better than just about anywhere.
Summer Crowds and Smart Timing
Popularity comes with a price, and here it usually means a line. On warm weekends, the car stalls often fill quickly, and dine-in waits can stretch, with one couple reporting around 45 minutes.
Plenty of guests say it moves faster than expected, though. A group arriving during a parade waited about ten minutes for a table and got food within roughly 15 to 20 minutes.
Another visitor summed it up simply: busy, but worth it.
Got patience but not time? Try ordering to go.
One clever couple carried their food to shaded picnic tables across the street and called it the best decision of their day.
Weekdays tend to be calmer, so a Tuesday or Wednesday visit may give you better odds at a car-side spot. Service can feel stretched during peak rushes, but staff members are often seen hustling hard to keep up with the crowds.
Hours, Prices, and Planning Your Stop
Doors typically open at 11 am every day of the week. From Sunday through Thursday, service usually wraps up at 7:30 pm, while Friday and Saturday stretch until 8 pm.
Keep the season in mind, too. Regulars mention that the drive-in closes during the winter months, so this is best saved for a warm-weather road trip.
Calling ahead at 651-465-7831 or checking taylorsfallsdrivein.com is a smart move before you go.
Price-wise, most guests find the food fairly priced for the portions, which many describe as large. Kids meals are often called a great deal.
A few visitors feel certain items run a bit high, so expectations may vary.
One practical tip: paying with a credit card may come with a fee of around 4.9 percent. Bringing cash could save a little money, leaving more room in the budget for an extra float.
A Road Trip Minnesota Can Brag About
Some places feed you. Others give you a story to tell on the drive home.
The Drive In Restaurant manages both.
Not every visit is flawless. Busy nights can mean waits, and tastes differ on the burgers.
Yet the heart of the place, from homemade root beer to carhops at your window, keeps people coming back year after year.
Out-of-staters drive hours for it. Locals bring their grandkids.
One family even experienced a stranger quietly covering their entire bill, a reminder of the kindness that seems to flow through this little corner of the state.
So gas up the car, round up the crew, and point it toward the St. Croix Valley on a sunny afternoon. Grab a float, try a round of mini golf, and soak in a slice of old-fashioned Minnesota that big cities simply cannot copy.
Tag the friend who needs this trip.
Share this story
