North American Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit

The best places in America and Canada for a screen buff’s holiday

We all have those films or TV shows that live rent-free in our heads – the sweeping landscapes, the city skylines, and the hidden corners where iconic scenes play out. And while the magic of the movies is often crafted on a soundstage, plenty of those memorable backdrops are real places you can actually explore.

Imagine road-tripping through the USA desert heat or standing beneath Canada’s icy peaks – everywhere that has provided a backdrop for your favourite big-screen adventures.

We’ve crunched the numbers to find the most filmed states and provinces across North America. Think of it as your ultimate set-jetting checklist where every stop comes with a bit of Hollywood sparkle. 

The U.S. states with the most filming credits

Lights, camera, road trip! The U.S. is filled with filming locations that movie fans can actually explore, from famous city streets to wild, open landscapes. 

Using IMDb data, we’ve counted every movie and TV show shot in each state to reveal the most star-studded places and the scenes that make them worth adding to your travel list.

Coastal highways, sprawling wilderness, and the canyon country, the U.S. is full of places you’ll recognise from the screen.

California takes the top spot with over 50,000 productions, from Baywatch on the surf-ready beaches of Malibu to Star Wars in the snowy Sierra Nevada. 

New York’s skyline is pure cinema, with more than 20,000 films and TV shows filmed there – with scenes from The Avengers to When Harry Met Sally – while Texas offers everything from Austin’s indie streets – immortalised in films like Dazed and Confused and Boyhood – to sweeping desert highways with almost 9,000 productions.

Journeyscape’s top set-jetting destinations in the U.S.

Go for the movie moment… leave with dusty boots, a camera roll full of canyon light, and a new respect for America’s wild places. 

Monument Valley

If you’ve ever watched Forrest Gump, you’ll instantly recognise the long, open road where he finally stops running. That scene was filmed in Monument Valley, straddling the Utah-Arizona border. While plenty of travellers come just to snap the ultimate “Gump Point” photo, the valley offers much more than a quick picture.

This is Navajo Nation land, home to a rich Indigenous heritage deeply tied to the sandstone buttes and mesas rising from the desert floor. Guided tours with Navajo guides can take you to sacred sites, while hiking trails let you soak up views that have starred in countless Westerns.

How to visit: 

Fly into Salt Lake City or Flagstaff and rent a car for the scenic drive. The best light for photography is early morning or late afternoon. The Navajo Nation manages entry to the park, so check visitor information before you go.

Yellowstone National Park

It’s not just the hit TV series Yellowstone that draws people here. America’s first national park is cinematic all on its own. Imagine horseback riding through wide-open meadows with peaks on the horizon, or following a winding trail to spot bison, elk, and even bears.

Whether you’re here for a day or a week, Yellowstone’s landscapes change constantly. You can see steaming geysers and rainbow-coloured hot springs one hour and deep canyons and roaring waterfalls the next. 

For a truly film-worthy moment, saddle up with a local outfitter and ride out at sunrise, when the light casts a golden glow over the valleys.

How to visit: 

Head to Jackson Hole Airport or Yellowstone Regional Airport (this will need a connecting flight). Summer offers the easiest access to all areas, while autumn brings fewer crowds and golden foliage. Book horse-riding tours in advance to secure your spot.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite’s granite giant, El Capitan, has starred in documentaries, climbing films, and some of the biggest TV shows out there – most famously in Free Solo and Star Trek. 

You don’t have to be a world-class climber to experience it, though.

Hiking trails lead to viewpoints where you can watch climbers inch their way up the rock face, or you can trek to the top yourself via more accessible routes. Along the way, you’ll pass waterfalls, meadows scattered with wildflowers, and wildlife. In the evening, the granite walls can turn pink in the setting sun.

How to visit: 

Most visitors fly into San Francisco or Fresno (the latter typically via a connecting US flight) before driving into the park (entrance reservations may be required in peak season). Spring and early summer bring spectacular waterfalls, while autumn offers cooler hiking weather.

Pacific Crest Trail

Running from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington, the Pacific Crest Trail has earned cult status among hikers and film-lovers alike. Especially after Wild, the Reese Witherspoon film based on Cheryl Strayed’s memoir.

While few have the time (or stamina) to hike all 2,650 miles, you can still tackle shorter sections for a taste of its beauty. Think alpine lakes, forests thick with evergreens, and remote ridgelines with views that stretch for miles. It’s one of the best ways to see a side of America that most road-trippers miss.

How to visit: 

Popular day-hike sections include the Sierra Nevada in California and Mount Hood in Oregon. Check trail conditions before you go, as snow can linger well into summer at higher elevations.

Hanapepe Valley

Kaua‘i’s lush Hanapepe Valley might look familiar, it’s one of the unforgettable backdrops in Jurassic Park. While no dinosaurs roam the island (thankfully), the valley’s sheer cliffs and emerald-green trees feel otherworldly.

You could take a helicopter tour for the full cinematic effect, swooping past waterfalls and hidden valleys, or explore on foot through nearby trails that wind through the island’s tropical interior. Between the scenery and the island’s relaxed pace of life, it’s no wonder filmmakers keep coming back here.

How To visit: 

Līhu‘e Airport is the main entry point to Kaua‘i. Helicopter tours depart from Līhu‘e or Princeville, while guided hiking tours offer a more grounded – but equally breathtaking – view of the valley.

Canada’s most filmed provinces

Canada has a knack for stealing the scene, whether doubling as another country or showing off its jaw-dropping scenery. 

We’ve delved into IMDb’s filming records again to uncover the provinces that appear most on screen and the real-world spots that give them their cinematic magic.

Canada’s film locations range from big-city skylines to wilderness that feels truly untamed.

Ontario leads the way with over 6,000 productions, with Toronto often standing in for cities worldwide. Suicide Squad and The Shape of Water were shot here, while even Thornhill Square Shopping Centre became a zombie fortress in Dawn of the Dead. 

Quebec has the second-highest number of films and TV shows, though still far behind Ontario’s figure. Old Quebec doubled as Paris in Catch Me If You Can, and Montreal has hosted everything from X-Men: Days of Future Past to Oscar-winning dramas.

British Columbia takes third, with nearly 3,900 films and TV shows. Vancouver, in particular, is a master of disguise – the backdrop for Deadpool, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, and countless sci-fi and superhero blockbusters.

Visit Canada’s most iconic on-screen destinations

Here are some perfect places you can go to recreate the shot everyone knows, then paddle, bike, and meet local guides who share the land’s deeper meaning.

Kananaskis Country and Bow Valley

The Revenant and Brokeback Mountain might tell very different stories, but they share one stage – Alberta’s Kananaskis Country and Bow Valley. While the scripts place these moments in the United States, the peaks, crystal-clear rivers, and wild forests you see belong entirely to the Canadian Rockies.

In winter, the snow transforms the valleys into a film-perfect wilderness, while summer reveals alpine meadows and turquoise lakes. It’s a place where you can hike, ride, and camp just like the characters… minus the Hollywood drama.

How to visit: 

Fly into Calgary and drive west along Highway 40 for Kananaskis or the Trans-Canada Highway for Bow Valley. Summer offers the best hiking weather, while winter is ideal for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Canmore Engine Bridge

If Canmore looked familiar in HBO’s video game turned TV series The Last of Us, you weren’t imagining things. The mountain town stood in for Jackson, Wyoming, with the Canmore Engine Bridge and the Three Sisters mountain range all featured on screen.

Filmed in early 2022, the bridge’s rustic design provided a perfect match for the game’s post-apocalyptic aesthetic. Walk through downtown Canmore today, and you might find yourself standing where Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey filmed some of the series’ most heartfelt scenes.

The bridge itself is a great starting point to explore the surrounding town or embark on a hike along the Grassi Lakes Trail as you soak up every view the area has to offer. 

How to visit: 

Driving to Canmore from Calgary usually takes under two hours, making it an easy day trip or weekend getaway if you rent a car. The Engine Bridge is accessible by foot or bike via the Bow River pathways.

Stanley Park

Vancouver’s Stanley Park has been featured in a number of productions, but fans of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse will recognise its forests and misty trails from several key scenes. The park’s mix of evergreens, quiet beaches, and city skyline views makes it a versatile filming location and an easy escape for visitors wanting to step into the world of their favourite films.

Beyond its screen appearances, Stanley Park is a destination in its own right. The famous Seawall, totem poles, and panoramic viewpoints are all within a short walk or cycle.

How to visit: 

Stanley Park sits at the tip of downtown Vancouver and is best explored by bike or on foot. Spring and summer bring the most vibrant greenery, while autumn adds a warm palette to the forest scenes.

Squamish

Get ready to lace up your boots and step into frames seen in your favourite shows and films. Just north of Vancouver, Squamish’s dramatic cliffs, ocean vistas, and ancient forests have doubled for all sorts of cinematic landscapes.

The coastal roadscapes and Howe Sound shores have been featured in thrillers like Insomnia, Westerns like McCabe & Mrs. Miller, and Netflix shows like Virgin River.

This town is full of possibilities for adventure seekers. You can hike or climb the Chief for panoramic views, paddleboard on Howe Sound, or ride the Sea-to-Sky Gondola.

How to visit:

The town is a scenic hour’s drive from Vancouver via the Sea-to-Sky Highway. There are plenty of places to stay nearby, too. If you want a cosy spot, opt for a cabin with a log-burning fire, or – if you’re more about the luxury – there are boutique hotels for you to lounge at. 

Tofino

Ready for a coastal escape that’s as cinematic as it is wild? Tofino, on Vancouver Island’s west coast, delivers. 

You’ve seen its iconic landscapes in Lou and The Big Year. It even featured in War for the Planet of the Apes, where its misty shores and lush forests created an atmospheric backdrop for the story’s climactic scenes.

But there’s far more to Tofino than its on-screen credits. Spend your days hiking through the rainforest, chasing surf on Long Beach, or paddling the glassy waters. Whale-watching trips, hot springs, and storm-watching only add to this unforgettable destination.

How to visit: 

Tofino is about a 45-minute flight from Vancouver Airport. Or, you could opt to rent a car and take on the four to five-hour drive (plus ferry) and add a few stops along the way. See old-growth forests in Cathedral Grove, explore the charming coastal town of Ucluelet, or see goats on a roof in Coombs.

Methodology

Journeyscape is a leading travel company that helps people create their perfect tailor-made and private journeys to the USA and Canada. 

Always looking to provide inspiration for people’s next getaways, we collected film and TV data looking at filming locations. 

We wanted to find the best cities in the United States and Canada for screen tourism. We used IMDb to collect the total number of movies and TV shows made in each US state and Canadian province/territory.

All data was collected in July 2025 and is correct as of then.