Stranger Things: Top 5 Filming Locations & Fun Facts About Them

Where Was Stranger Things Filmed?

Although the story takes place in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, Stranger Things was primarily filmed in Georgia, USA, particularly around Atlanta and surrounding small towns. Local schools, malls, forests, and abandoned institutional buildings were transformed into key series locations. Some additional scenes were shot in New Mexico and California for later seasons, but Georgia remains the heart of the show’s visual identity. Fans visiting the area can still walk through real filming sites that look almost unchanged from the series.

1. Hawkins National Laboratory (Georgia) – Emory University’s Briarcliff Campus

The infamous Hawkins Lab is one of the darkest and most iconic locations in the series. The exterior shots of the research facility were filmed at Emory University’s Briarcliff Campus in Atlanta, Georgia, a property with history, architecture, and atmosphere fitting for top-secret experiments. You won’t find Demogorgons here (hopefully), but you will find eerie hallways, fenced perimeters, and instantly recognizable building shapes.

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Best for: Fans of Eleven, lab mysteries, dark corridors photography

Fun Fact: The building was originally part of a real psychiatric research center, making the Hawkins Lab scenes feel even more unsettling. Crew members have said the eerie atmosphere needed almost no extra set dressing—the location was already creepy enough.

2. Hawkins Middle School & Hawkins High – Patrick Henry High School

Two of the most nostalgic settings in Stranger Things—Hawkins Middle School and Hawkins High—were filmed at the former Patrick Henry High School in Stockbridge, Georgia. Walking through the outdoor corridors feels like stepping into 1980s Hawkins, and you can almost hear the boys racing to their next D&D session or planning how to fight the Mind Flayer.

Location: Stockbridge, Georgia

Best for: Photos with the famous Hawkins school entrance sign

Fun Fact: The school still features the original Hawkins Tigers logo painted for filming. Locals say students would sneak into the set area just to touch the lockers Jonathan, Nancy, and the boys leaned against in early seasons.

3. Starcourt Mall – Gwinnett Place Mall

Season 3 fans know the Starcourt Mall as the center of chaos—shopping, neon lights, secret underground tunnels, and interdimensional problems. The real filming site, Gwinnett Place Mall, once a buzzing retail hub, still holds the recognizable exterior, while the interior is no longer operating publicly. Many visitors still go for photos and nostalgia, especially since it’s one of the most memorable Stranger Things locations.

Location: Duluth, Georgia

Best for: Retro 80s snapshots + mall core aesthetics

Fun Fact: The entire third season mall set took over 6 months to build inside a mostly abandoned real mall. Stores like Gap, Orange Julius, and Jazzercise were recreated down to authentic 80s receipts, price tags, and food wrappers—most never even seen on camera.

4. The Byers House – Fayetteville, Georgia

Few places are as emotionally tied to the series as the modest Byers home. Joyce’s frantic Christmas-light alphabet wall became a cultural phenomenon—and yes, you can still visit the real house. Located in Fayetteville, Georgia, the property looks just as it appeared on screen and remains a fan pilgrimage site. Remember to be respectful—this is a private residence.

Location: Fayetteville, Georgia

Best for: Dedicated fans and iconic photo moments

Fun Fact: In Season 1, the Christmas lights were actually fully wired to work during filming. Winona Ryder improvised several emotional lighting-wall scenes after discovering she could control flashes in real time.

5. The Forest & The Upside-Down Feel – Stone Mountain Park

Much of the dark atmospheric forest footage—where bikes disappeared, creatures lurked, and Walkie-Talkies crackled—was filmed around Stone Mountain Park, one of Georgia’s largest natural areas. You can hike or bike the same wooded trails the kids rode through as they searched for Will. With fog and sunset, it feels very Hawkins.

Location: Stone Mountain, Georgia

Best for: Outdoor explorers & cinematic travelers

Fun Fact: The bike-through-the-woods chase scenes were shot along public trails, and fans sometimes re-ride the same paths. The production team hid small fake vines and slime props between takes to create the “creeping Upside-Down” feel.

Planning Your Own Stranger Things Tour? Go With a Local Guide

Visiting these filming locations becomes even more exciting when explored with someone who knows the hidden details, best angles, and behind-the-scenes stories.

With FindGuide, you can connect with private local guides anywhere in the world—including Georgia and upcoming Stranger Things filming destinations. A local guide can build a customized Stranger Things tour for you, help with navigation, and share exclusive spots many tourists miss.