12 Iconic Movie Locations in the US You Can Actually Visit

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Are you a movie buff who enjoys hunting down famous movie filming locations? Are you planning a trip to the United States? If you are, you’re in for the adventure of a lifetime. From the palm tree-lined streets of Miami to the rugged landscapes of Yellowstone National Park, the United States is a haven for movie lovers.

For decades, America has been a movie-makers paradise, offering endless spectacular places to film. Therefore, we’re spoiled with hundreds, upon thousands, of epic filming locations to visit. However, deciding where to go first is challenging, with many famous locations to visit. To help you decide, here are 12 iconic movie locations in the US you mustn’t miss.

14 North Moore Street, New York – Ghostbusters

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We could easily make an entire list of iconic movie locations in New York. The Big Apple has served as one of the world’s most iconic filming locations for many years. With vibrant neighborhoods, world-famous landmarks, and diverse locations, it’s not hard to see why the city is so famous with movie makers.

One of the most iconic movie locations in New York is 14 North Moore Street in the Tribeca neighborhood. This address will take you to a beautiful firehouse building. If you’ve watched the Ghostbusters movie franchise, you should instantly recognize it because it was used as the Ghostbusters headquarters. If you haven’t watched the movies yet, you have some catching up.

The Empire State Building, New York – King Kong

Even if it wasn’t featured in many famous movies, the Empire State Building isn’t something you want to miss during your trip to New York. This world-famous building is a sight to behold. Perhaps the original King Kong film is the most iconic movie filmed at the Empire State Building.

While there have been several adaptations of King Kong, the original movie in 1933 saw the Empire State Building climbed by the giant ape. You’ll know things don’t end well if you’ve watched the film. You can visit the Empire State Building at 350 5th Ave. You can even go to the top of it and admire the epic city views King Kong himself enjoyed.

Yellowstone National Park – Yellowstone

Many of America’s impressive natural landscapes have also been used as a backdrop in film, including the iconic Yellowstone National Park. Located mainly in Wyoming but also in Montana and Idaho, this magnificent park can be seen in several famous movies. However, Yellowstone, filmed in 1936, is arguably the most famous.

However, while the national park can be seen throughout the movie, no footage for the movie was filmed in the national park. Instead, the film crew used stock footage and images to portray the national park. During your visit to Yellowstone, you’ll also recognize its landscapes and wildlife from other movies, such as Dante’s Peak and Star Trek: Generations.

The White House, Washington, D.C. – Independence Day

Independence Day is one of the world’s most iconic science fiction movies. One of the film’s most famous scenes is shot at the White House in Washington, D.C. Many apocalyptic, disaster, and war movies have been shot at the White House, but none are as iconic as Independence Day.

In this sci-fi thriller, the world falls victim to a full-scale alien invasion that aims to make the human race extinct. While we don’t want to spoil the movie for you if you haven’t already watched it, we will tell you that the White House suffers immensely in the film, as does much of the United States. Don’t panic, though; we have Will Smith on our side.

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts – Jaws

While the fictional town of Amity in Jaws doesn’t exist, the movie was mostly filmed on Martha’s Vineyard, a Massachusetts island south of Cape Cod with a quintessential New England coastline. While the most iconic shark movie of all time was filmed on the island, you don’t have much to worry about.

Shark attacks in the sea around Martha’s Vineyard are rare, so a great white will unlikely munch you if you go for a swim. Having said that, we’re not sure we want to find out. Besides, the Jaws movies have already put me off going into the sea again. I’ll keep my feet firmly on dry land for now, thank you.

Black Hills, South Dakota – The Revenant

The Black Hills is a remote mountain range in western South Dakota famed for its towering peaks, vast landscapes, and picturesque scenery. As such, it’s no surprise the location was used to film the movie The Revenant. Starring Leonardo De Caprio, the film’s breathtaking landscapes were shot in the Black Hills. If you’re lucky enough to be visiting the Black Hills, we strongly recommend packing bear spray.

Black bears are found within the park, as you’ll already know if you’ve watched The Revenant. We won’t give away any spoilers, but Leonardo De Caprio’s life would’ve been much easier if he had bear spray with him. In all fairness, though, it wasn’t invented in the 1820s, when the film is set.

Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas – The Hangover

Las Vegas, also known as Sin City, is a vibrant city renowned for its bright lights, world-class casinos, luxury hotels, and shotgun weddings. The city’s lively streets and hotels have featured in many famous films, the Hangover being one of the most famous. This hilarious comedy movie was filmed across the city, but Caesar’s Palace is arguably the most recognizable filming location.

In The Hangover, the groom and groomsmen check into the hotel for a night of debauchery. While the suite they stayed in was just a movie set, the exterior of the hotel, its lobby, and the casino are all real, so you can follow in their footsteps if you wish. However, we don’t recommend taking a tiger to your room like in the movie.

Pearl Champagne Lounge, Florida – 2 Fast 2 Furious

The following iconic movie location on our list is Pearl Champagne Lounge in Miami Beach, Florida. Many movies have been shot at Miami Beach, including Bad Boys, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and 2 Fast 2 Furious. Scenes from 2 Fast 2 Furious, a 2003 action movie starring Paul Walker and Tyrese Gibson, were filmed at the Pearl Champagne Lounge.

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In the movie, Pearl Champagne Lounge, an upscale bar and nightclub, was the setting for scenes starring Paul Walker and Eva Mendes. The Pearl Champagne Lounge is at 1 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139. Sadly, it’s no longer open, so you can’t go inside. However, you can still see it from the outside.

Chippewa Square, Georgia – Forrest Gump

One of the greatest things about the Forrest Gump movie is how its directors made a conscious effort to film in iconic filming locations across the United States. However, one of the film’s best scenes was shot in Chippewa Square. Before Forrest Gump, Chippewa Square was an unassuming but charming park. Now, it’s one of America’s most iconic filming locations.

Chippewa Square is seen in the movie when Forrest Gump sits on a park bench waiting for a bus. The park bench wasn’t part of the park then, so it now sits in the Savannah History Museum. The space is now a beautiful planted area, but the area is still well recognizable.

Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps, Philadelphia – Rocky

The Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps might be the United States’ most iconic movie location. Dubbed the Rocky Steps, the 72 stone steps leading up to the East entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia gained international attention when featured in a famous scene in the Rocky film.

In the movie, world-famous actor Sylvester Stallone can be seen running up and down the steps before raising his hands in triumph. This shot quickly became one of American film’s most famous scenes—so much so that there is even a Rocky Balboa statue near the steps. Make sure you recreate the shot during your visit.

Ohio State Reformatory, Ohio – Shawshank Redemption

Ohio State Reformatory, or Mansfield Reformatory, is a historic prison in Mansfield, Ohio. To many people, this impressive site is nothing but a prison building with an interesting history. However, keen movie buffs will likely recognize it immediately as the filming location for Shawshank Redemption, one of the most famous movies of all time.

While the entire movie wasn’t filmed at Ohio State Reformatory, large portions of the film were located at the prison. As a result, the prison, which has been closed since 1990, now operates a Hollywood Meets History Tour that takes movie lovers to all the prison locations used in the movie.

Golden Gate Bridge, California – San Andreas

Like the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is somewhere you don’t want to miss, whether you like movies or not. This iconic structure is one of the most famous landmarks in the United States. Therefore, you won’t be surprised to hear it has been featured in many movies.

The Golden Gate Bridge plays a vital role in the famous natural disaster movie San Andreas, starring Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson, Carla Gugino, and Alexandra Daddario. We don’t want to spoil the film, so we won’t tell you what happens, so make sure you watch it. The Golden Gate Bridge also appears in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Vertigo, and Pacific Rim.