12 Iconic Filming Locations in the USA

Over many trips around the USA, we have visited (or stumbled upon) some of the most iconic filming locations in the country. From old John Wayne movies to modern classics, you’ll recognise these amazing filming locations with ease. Ready… Set… ACTION!

12 of the most iconic filming locations in the USA:

Monument Valley, Utah / Arizona

Monument Valley is one of the most stunning natural landscapes on earth. It is also the famous backdrop for many movies. Stagecoach (1939), with John Wayne, was filmed here. Making Monument Valley the most famous scenery in Western style movies for years after.

You probably also remember the scene in Forrest Gump (1994) where he finishes his epic run. This iconic scene is shot from further north up Highway 163, on the way to Mexican Hat. The view from ‘Forrest Gump Hill’ is an example of the wide open roads that make American road trips so appealing.

Grafton, Utah

Grafton is a beloved ghost town, not far from the entrance to Zion National Park. The feel of this once vibrant Mormon town has been restored for visitors to enjoy. You may recognise if from the famous movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969); or The Electric Horseman (1979) with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda.

Las Vegas, Nevada

You don’t really need movies to recognise Las Vegas – it is infamous on its own. The iconic Bellagio Fountains have featured in many movies, most famously, in Oceans Eleven (2001) and Oceans Thirteen (2007). Matt Damon returned to the fountains for a chase scene in Jason Bourne (2016) too.

Then there are the movies fully set and filmed in Las Vegas – The Hangover (2009) & The Hangover III (2013), Pay it Forward (2000), and Last Vegas (2013) amongst others. Las Vegas makes for a recognisable and memorable movie backdrop, and it’s fun to visit these places when you visit Vegas!

Deadwood, South Dakota

What movie would be filmed in the historic town of Deadwood, South Dakota? The movie of the same name of course – Deadwood : The Movie (2019). A follow on from Deadwood the TV series, the movie is filmed in the town, which has seen a resurgence in recent years (since the TV show + since gambling was legalised in 1989).

There are many iconic movie locations in South Dakota – Badlands National Park (Dances with Wolves (1990) and Armageddon (1998)) in particular.

Miami Beach, Florida

The Art Deco architecture of Ocean Drive in Miami Beach is about as iconic as you can get. Making for the stylish backdrop to the Bad Boys movies (1995, 2003, 2020), the remake of La Cage aux Folles – The Birdcage (1996), and Baywatch (2017) the movie (also filmed at Tybee Island)!

Juliette, Georgia

Juliette Georgia is famous for one thing, and one thing only. The 1991 movie Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. This little hamlet is just outside of Forsyth, and is just one street really. Using some buildings already on the street, plus some some filmset facades, the world of Idgie Threadgood, Ruth and Buddy came alive. There is enough tourism to keep this lovely little community afloat, and you can even eat fried green tomatoes at the original Whistle Stop Cafe – and delicious they are too!

Savannah, Georgia

The Forrest Gump movie made a point of filming in iconic locations around the USA. One of the best most famous is the bus stop on Chippewa Square in Savannah. The bench was not part of the park before the movie, and is now in the Savannah History Museum. Facing Bull Street, the space is now a planted area. All of the squares in central Savannah are glorious – the Spanish moss and dappled light of the lines of oak trees.

Be sure to visit the Bonaventure Cemetery too; Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil (1997) was filmed there and around Monterey Square in downtown Savannah.

Tybee Island, Georgia

The Georgia coast is breathtakingly beautiful, so no wonder it is a popular filming location. Alongside the Baywatch movie (as above), Tybee was also where The Last Song (2009) was filmed. This coming-of-age story from Nicholas Sparks was made even more romantic by the filming it along the white sands and dunes of Tybee Island.

Other movies filmed on Tybee are: The General’s Daughter (1999) with John Travolta; and Gingerbread Man (1998) with Kenneth Branagh and Robert Downey Jr.

Salem, Massachusetts

Salem is not only known for its witch history, but also its literary and filmic history too. Do you recognise the red brick building below? It’s the high school from the movie Hocus Pocus (1993)! A statue of Samantha from the TV show Bewitched was erected in Salem after episodes were filmed here. Modern movies American Hustle (2013) and Joy (2015) also had scenes filmed in Salem.

You can take walking tours of Salem that not only talk about the fascinating history of the witch trials, but also show off some of the Hocus Pocus filming locations!

Manhattan, New York

Manhattan is home to the most filmed place in all of the USA – Central Park. It is probably the most recognised city on earth. Bethesda Fountain has been in One Fine Day (1996), Ransom (1996), Elf (2003), and Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992).

Some of my favourite New York filming locations are: Katz’s Deli, home to THAT infamous scene from When Harry Met Sally (1989). And of course the marvellous Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), with Audrey Hepburn drinking coffee in the Givenchy dress.

Coney Island, New York

Oh, Coney Island, how I love your crazy kitsch demeanour. Humid summer days; where the stickiness of New York city is replaced with the cool sea breeze. Coney Island is the filming location for such classics as Beaches (1988), Two Weeks Notice (2002), Uptown Girls (2003), and Requiem for a Dream (2000). Almost all scenes centre round the famous Coney Island Boardwalk – lined with amusements, fast food, and buskers. The boardwalk is every bit as colourful as the movies make out.

San Francisco, California

Set on the steep streets of San Francisco, most people will recognise Mrs Doubtfire (1993) with the incredible Robin Williams. Incidentally, I had a lovely encounter with Robin in New York in 2006. Set in the City by the Bay, The Princess Diaries (2001), became a classic teen movie. The tram crash scene was filmed at the intersection of Taylor and Broadway Streets in Russian Hills.

You’ll probably recognise the ‘Painted Ladies’ row of houses in the Fillmore District, from the TV series Full House.

Where are some of the iconic filming locations you’ve visited around the USA? I’d love to hear more ideas for future USA road trips!

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All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.