If you associate the word «motor» not only with the valley and cars, and if you love travelling, we hope you’ll be lucky enough to visit the USA and compare scenes from famous films and TV series with the real places where they were filmed.
Welcome to Hollywood!For maximum convenience while travelling, we recommend renting a car. The USA is known for its expansive road network and unique routes, allowing for comfortable travel between filming locations.
» READ MORE – P.S. I Love Food: New York City
Why the USA?
The question is rhetorical. Modern mass culture was born here, with the best studios and the most famous actors. And, of course, this is the home of Hollywood. To make navigation easier, we’ve grouped the filming location clusters by state.
California: the heart of Hollywood
In all fairness, this is a real treasure trove for any film buff. California is home to Warner Bros, Universal Studios, 20th Century Fox and other industry giants responsible for countless masterpieces.
The state can confidently be called the epicentre of America’s cinematic world.
Los Angeles: a ticket to the movie academy museumTomorrow’s plans: come to California and not visit Los Angeles — and regret it for the rest of your life. You don’t want that, do you?
- Then the first thing to do after watching Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is to head to Hollywood Boulevard. In Quentin Tarantino’s film, it was styled to evoke the 1960s
- Next, walk along the Venice Canals, where characters from Miami Vice often wandered
- And although you’ve probably seen the famous prison on screen many times (Birdman of Alcatraz, Escape from Alcatraz, and others) — now you have the chance to visit it in person. Since Alcatraz Prison has been closed for almost a century, guided tours are available
- By the way, Birdman of Alcatraz features another structure that appears in dozens of films: the Golden Gate Bridge, the most famous suspension bridge in the world
Nevada: From Las Vegas to Desert Wonders
Las Vegas needs no introduction. It’s famously the city of entertainment, temptation, and casinos.
In the USA, around the heist of gambling houses in Las Vegas, the plot of Ocean’s Eleven unfolds – and filming took place right here, including in the Bellagio casino. There, you can enjoy a fountain show, search for a secret bar, and catch a performance by Cirque du Soleil. An iconic scene from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas features the destruction of another nearby casino – the Flamingo Las Vegas.
That’s also a hotel where you can book a stay today.
A popular location for photo shoots is the dried-up Jean Dry Lake, which appears both in this film and in Bachelor Party in Vegas.
Arizona: sci-fi and desert horizons
For science fiction fans, particularly fans of Doctor Who, there’s something special here. Some of the series was filmed around Lake Powell, located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Antelope Canyon photo tour by small boatYou can also spot the cliffs surrounding the lake in both the 1968 and 2001 versions of Planet of the Apes. There’s even an option to fly over the area in a rented helicopter and enjoy a bird’s-eye view.
And if you make it to the Yuma Desert, you’ll find the filming location of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. This is where the Great Pit of Carkoon — the site of the planned execution of Luke, Chewbacca, and Han Solo — was created.
New York: the city that never sleeps
Ah, New York, New York! Unlike many productions set in this metropolis, Sex and the City was actually filmed on its streets and in its establishments.
- We suggest visiting Magnolia Bakery, considered an iconic spot for fans of the series. There, you can try the «Carrie» cupcake, named after the main character
- Nearby, at 66 Perry Street, is one of Ms. Bradshaw’s apartments. And the New York Public Library serves as a cinematic crossroad in both Sex and the City and Breakfast at Tiffany’s
- It’s entirely possible your next stop will be the Tiffany & Co. store – where you really can have breakfast
- Speaking of meals – fans of Friends may want to visit the café where their favourite characters used to gather. Luckily, that’s possible. The interior is recreated in another important location from the show – Bloomingdale’s department store, where Rachel began her career. And if you buy something from the Ralph Lauren collaboration, you’ll be treated to a cup of coffee
Washington: history on the screen
The White House. On screen, fictional presidents often wrestle with difficult decisions in the Oval Office. In Independence Day, the entire residence is destroyed by an alien attack.
Later, director Roland Emmerich made on-screen destruction of the White House a signature. In real life, though, it’s still standing — and tours are available, typically lasting 15–20 minutes.
Note: during your visit, restroom use is not permitted, and you’ll need to refrain from using your mobile phone.
Union Station is where a scene from Hannibal was filmed. Its elegant arched vaults appear during Clarice Starling’s surveillance of Dr. Lecter.
Pennsylvania: dark secrets and underground worlds
One of the most intriguing destinations for film lovers – especially fans of the Hannibal Lecter series – is the town of Perryopolis, Pennsylvania. The house used in The Silence of the Lambs was bought and turned into the Buffalo Bill’s House Hotel. You can not only stay overnight in the recreated interiors, but also celebrate New Year’s Eve or Valentine’s Day there, themed accordingly.
A chase scene from The Avengers film series was filmed at Creekside Mushrooms Farm – or rather beneath it. It holds a Guinness World Record as the only underground mushroom plantation in the country.
A private tour of «Rocky» movie filming locations in PhiladelphiaUnderground chases always bring suspense and thrills. But perhaps the biggest chill awaits at Monroeville Mall – the filming site of the original Dawn of the Dead. Fans can visit a museum located directly in the mall. Each year in early June, the mall hosts a real festival of the living dead.
Florida: Art Deco Miami
The main character – the serial killer hunter Dexter – in the series of the same name, often rode his boat through Miami’s Biscayne Bay. You too can rent a boat and recreate these scenes. Hopefully without discovering a submerged graveyard, as happened with the divers.
While we’re on the topic of detectives and crime, consider continuing your exploration at the filming locations of Miami Vice. Head to South Beach in Miami Beach. Many buildings featured in the series were done in the Art Deco style. In fact, the production team repainted and restored some coastal buildings, helping preserve the city’s architectural heritage.
This same architectural uniqueness made it necessary for the Scarface crew to shoot some scenes directly in Miami – it couldn’t be convincingly replicated elsewhere. One of the most impressive locations you can visit is Star Island.
Hawaii: Hollywood’s tropical islands
Hawaii has become one of the most popular filming locations in the US, thanks to its stunning natural scenery. As you may know, part of The Hunger Games sequel was filmed here. One of the main locations was the island of Oahu — a true star of the franchise. A well-loved route for fans is the Manoa Falls Trail. Even beginners will find it manageable, but the experience is exhilarating. You might even hear the distant echo of mockingjay calls.
Film tour around the island: filming locations of Hollywood blockbustersThe island has hosted many other productions. Rancho Kualoa offers organised tours to several film locations in the area. For example, scenes from Jurassic Park were shot here. Meanwhile, the lush tropical beauty of Kauai served as the setting for the legendary opening of Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark.
The US is a country where filmmaking has evolved into an art form, and shooting locations have become cultural landmarks. We hope your plans work out and that you find yourself immersed in the spirit of your favourite movies. And who knows — maybe you’ll stumble upon the set of a new masterpiece?
Happy travelling!
VOO QQQ / unsplash.com 
Michael Schirmann / Pixabay 
Sára Pračková / Pixabay 
Wolfmann / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0
Jonathan Reichel / Pixabay
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