8 Famous Filming Locations in the USA for Iconic Movies
Have you ever wanted to visit a filming location to see where your favorite movie was produced?! It’s one of my favorite things to explore in new cities to see if I can recognize the landmarks that were featured in my favorite movies.
Throughout this post, I’m going to share some of the most iconic movie filming locations around the United States. See how many you can check off your list?!
Related Post: Famous Filming Locations for TV SHOWS
Sleepless In Seattle Filming Location
Movie: Sleepless in Seattle
City: Seattle, Washington
Submitted By: Disha Discovers
If you’re looking for a city that has it all, Seattle is the place to be. With its vibrant culture, stunning scenery, and endless list of things to do, Seattle is one of the best getaways on the West Coast.
In fact, Seattle is so incredible that several movies were filmed there including Sleepless in Seattle.
Sleepless in Seattle is a classic romantic movie featuring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Tom Hanks plays a widower who moves to Seattle after his wife passes away. His son calls into a radio station in hopes of finding a wife for his dad. He hesitantly talks to Meg Ryan, the radio show host. She falls for him and asks him to meet her at the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day. You’ll have to watch it to see if they end up together – no spoilers here.
This movie was filmed in several prominent locations throughout Seattle and you’ll feel like you’re traveling around the Emerald City while watching it.
Top 5 Filming Locations for Sleepless in Seattle:
Pike Place Market (85 Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101)
Gas Works Park (2101 N Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103)
Alki Beach (1702 Alki Avenue, Seattle, WA 98116)
Famous Floating Home (2640 Westlake Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109)
Space Needle (400 Broad St, Seattle, WA 98109)
Hocus Pocus Filming Locations
Movie: Hocus Pocus
City: Salem, MA
Submitted by: Natasha Karcz from Planes, Trains and Karcz
Hocus Pocus is a cult classic. Brimming with nostalgia and adding a fun (albeit cheesy) twist to the events of the Salem witch trials, the movie tells the tale of a young teen who somehow manages to bring three mischievous sisters back from not only their era – but the dead.
Many of Hocus Pocus’ most integral scenes take place around Salem, Massachusetts, and are nearly as recognizable today as they were when the film was shot nearly 30 years ago. While many of the filming locations have since been repurposed, they’re all within relatively close walking distance of one another.
Stroll through Salem’s vibrant downtown core, and uncover the American epicenter of Halloween!
Top 5 Filming Locations for Hocus Pocus
1. Allison’s House | 318 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970
2. Halloween Party | 32 Derby Square, Salem, MA 01970
3. Jacob Bailey High School | 86 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970
4. Max & Dani’s House | 4 Ocean Ave, Salem, MA 01970
5. Salem Common | N Washington Square, Salem, MA 01970
Mrs. Doubtfire Filming Locations
Movie: Mrs Doubtfire
City: San Francisco, CA
Submitted By: Aimee of Snap Happy Travel
Mrs. Doubtfire is a funny, lighthearted movie that is bound to make you smile! It became even more popular after Robin William’s death in 2014 (the star of the movie). Today, you can visit some of the filming locations in San Francisco to reminisce on the movie.
The Mrs Doubtfire House, where the Hillard family lived in the movie, is located at 2640 Steiner Street in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. It’s an easy 40+ minute walk from downtown San Francisco and is also easily reachable by public bus.
Worth noting, the Mrs Doubtfire house is privately owned so you cannot tour inside, but you can take photos outside – just be respectful! You can take photos on the steps leading to the front door, the very same steps where Robin Williams, Pierce Brosnan and Sally Field stood during filming.
Top 3 Mrs Doubtfire Filming Locations to Visit
1. Mrs Doubtfire House | 2640 Steiner Street,Pacific Heights, San Francisco
2. Daniel’s Apartment (Robin Williams character) | 520-522 Green Street in the Telegraph Hill district
it is here that with the help of his brother (a makeup artist) they transform him into Mrs Doubtfire
3. Mrs. Doubtfire’s Bike Rides & Baseball Scenes | Crissy Field — 1199 Easy Beach, San Francisco
Jurassic Park Filming Locations
Movie: Jurrasic Park
Destination: Oahu, Hawaii
Submitted By: Globeblogging
Known as Hollywood’s Hawaii set, with a long list to its name, most movie and TV fans will have seen the scenery of Kualoa Ranch popping up in the background of a film. A visit to the Ranch will delight any movie fan!
The Ranch is located approximately 45 minutes drive away from Waikiki, visitors who don’t have access to a car can take the Ranch bus service from Waikiki. Tickets can be purchased at the time of booking a tour.
The list of blockbusters filmed at The Ranch includes the original Jurassic Park, and the more recent follow up Jurassic World. The Ranch has added a dedicated Jurassic Adventure tour to their lineup, and the Movie Sites tours also include.
Top 5 Filming Locations from Jurassic Park
*all locations are at the Kualoa Ranch*
1. The field which Sam Neill and the children run away from the dinosaurs in the original Jurassic Park
2. A photo opportunity at the log they shelter in front of
3. Visiting the beautiful inland lake which was the setting for the Mosasaurus feeding show in Jurassic World
4. A drive through the enclosure where the Indominus Rex was kept in Jurassic World
5. Seeing movie memorabilia in the Bunker
Ghostbusters
Movie: Ghostbusters
City: New York City, NYC
Submitted by: Bernadette of Explorer Chick
Ghostbusters was one of the first films to combine science, the supernatural, and comedy into one movie. The blockbuster movie is set in New York City and opens in Columbia University.
Their headquarters is based in Tribeca and the building is still a working firehouse today. One of the ghost hunting scenes is set in the Central Library and its famed Rose Room which is still open now for visitors to sit and read a book.
Other film sites are also popular tourist spots like the Metropolitan Opera, Rockefeller Center, Columbus Circle, Times Square, City Hall area.
Top 3 Filming Locations for Ghostbusters
1. Firehouse, Hook and Ladder #8 | 14 N. Moore Street, New York, New York
2. New York Central Library | 135 E. 46th Street, New York, New York
3. Columbia University | 116 St and Broadway, New York, New York
La La Land Filming Location
Movie: La La Land
City: Los Angeles, CA
Submitted By: Lauren at Freedom Not Fate
Los Angeles is home to the film industry and the heart of Hollywood. The Oscar winning film, La La Land was filmed across different parts of this beautiful city. You can visit a lot of those filming locations such as the Griffith Park Observatory, Grand Central Market in downtown LA, Colorado Street Bridge and Angels Flight.
A rental car is highly recommended to get around Los Angeles since it’s a sprawling city and all of these are easily accessible with one.
Top 5 Filming Locations for La La Land:
1. Mia and Sebastian’s Romantic Stroll | Colorado Bridge in Pasadena — Colorado Blvd Pasadena, CA 91105
2. City of Stars Scene/Dance | Griffth Park Observatory — 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027
3. Mia & Sebastian Date montage | Angels Flight — 351 S. Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
4. Sebastian Playing Piano | Lighthouse Café — 30 Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
5. Downtown Los Angeles Scenes | Grand Central Market — 317 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Filming Locations
Movie: The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
City Name: Montauk and New York
Submitted by: Kelly of Girl with the Passport
The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 romance/sci-fi film that is set in NYC. A memorable line from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is, “Meet me in Montauk.” It is the place where Joel and Clementine meet and start their tumultuous love affair.
Unfortunately, a lot of the locations in the film are closed now like the Plaza Restaurant in Montauk where the lovers first started to fall in love and Tien Fu Guong in New York City where their relationship starts to unravel. However, there are 2 iconic film locations provided below that are both super easy to visit!
Filming Locations for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
1. Montauk Lighthouse | 2000 Montauk Highway, Montauk, New York
2. Grand Central Station | 89 East 42nd Street, New York, New York
Rocky Filming Locations
Movie Name: Rocky
City: Philadelphia, PA
Submitted by Victoria Maria
City Name: Philadelphia TV Show/Movie: Rocky
Rocky might just be one of the most iconic movies of all times and the filming locations are actually easier to visit than you might think. The iconic Rocky Steps are actually located at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and visitors can recreate the popular training scene here if they wish.
Rocky’s Apartment can also be seen, although only from the outside since it’s of course private property and residents need to be respected. The Independence Hall is another iconic training location from the movie and located right in the heart of Philadelphia.
Top 3 Rocky Filming Locations to Visit
1. Rocky’s Apartment | 1818 Tusculum Street, Philadelphia, PA, US
2. Independence Hall, Rocky’s training | Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th Streets, Philadelphia, PA, US
3. Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rocky Steps | 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA, US
Seeing filming locations from my favorite movies is one of my favorite past times when traveling! How many of these locations can you check off your list?
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Read More: Best TV Show Filming Locations in the USA
