Stranger Things Locations — The Real Places Behind Hawkins Indiana and How to Visit Them
My friend Tom watched all five seasons of Stranger Things in about three weeks. By the final episode he had one question that had nothing to do with the plot: “Where is Hawkins actually?”
The answer surprised him. Not Indiana. Not anywhere in the Midwest. The fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana — every Christmas light-strung living room, every dimly lit school corridor, every downtown storefront — was filmed almost entirely in Georgia. Specifically in and around Atlanta, and most notably in a small town about an hour south of the city called Jackson, Georgia, population approximately 5,000.
“I drove down there the next weekend,” Tom told me. “Walked straight into the Papa John’s that used to be Melvald’s General Store. It was the most surreal lunch of my life.”
This guide covers every major Stranger Things location you can actually visit — and a few that won’t be around much longer.
The Real Hawkins — Jackson, Georgia
Jackson, Georgia is the beating heart of the Stranger Things locations story. In 2015, the Duffer Brothers descended upon Jackson’s main street to turn back the clock to 1983, and the town has never quite been the same since.
Stranger Things is Netflix’s third most-watched show of all time, racking up more than 140 million views over its nearly decade-long run.
The town of Jackson — once struggling with economic challenges — found an unexpected lifeline in the show’s tourism pull.
Hannah Thompson and her husband Cameron saw it as an opportunity. They now run daily “Stranger Tours” through Jackson, taking fans to all the key filming spots. Their shop dedicated to 1980s memorabilia has become a destination in itself.
Here’s what you can find on Jackson’s main street today:
Melvald’s General Store — where Joyce Byers bought those iconic Christmas lights — is now a Papa John’s at the corner of 2nd Street and North Mulberry. The building is unmistakable.
The Hawkins Public Library — used throughout the series — is actually Jackson’s welcome center, visible along West 3rd Street.
Bradley’s Olde Tavern — featured in Season 1 as the local movie theater — sits at Oak Street, and the alley just past it is where Steve Harrington and Jonathan Byers had their memorable fight in Season 1.
Most of Jackson’s Stranger Things locations are within walking distance of each other — making it one of the most rewarding film location day trips available anywhere in the Southeast.
Atlanta and Surrounding Areas — The Other Stranger Things Locations
Beyond Jackson, the Stranger Things locations spread across metropolitan Atlanta and its suburbs in ways most fans don’t expect.
Hawkins National Laboratory — perhaps the most iconic structure in the entire show — is actually the former Georgia Mental Health Institute on the Emory University Briarcliff campus in Atlanta. The brutalist architecture was the perfect visual choice for a government facility conducting experiments on children. The building is currently empty and leased for filming — but Emory has announced development plans, so visit sooner rather than later.
Hawkins Middle School and Hawkins High School were filmed at the former Patrick Henry Adult Education Center at 109 South Lee Street in Stockbridge, Georgia. Reports indicate the old school is set to be demolished — another reason to visit these Stranger Things locations while they still stand.
The Hawkins Police Station — where Hopper spent so many memorable scenes — is actually the former town hall of Douglasville, Georgia, at 8485 Courthouse Square West.
The Palace Arcade — where the boys first heard about MADMAX in Season 2 — was a commercial lot in Douglasville, right next to the building that served as Family Video.
South Bend Pool on Lakewood Avenue in Atlanta served as the community pool where Billy Hargrove worked as a lifeguard in Season 3 — one of the most recognizable Stranger Things locations for fans of the show’s summer season.
Bellwood Quarry in Atlanta doubled as Sattler Quarry — the haunting location where Will Byers’ supposed body was found in Season 1.
Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth, Georgia served as Starcourt Mall in Season 3 — the neon-soaked setting for some of the season’s biggest moments. The mall has since closed to retail tenants, which actually makes it more atmospheric to visit, not less.
The Byers House — Now an Airbnb
One of the most remarkable Stranger Things locations discoveries for fans: the Byers family house — famous for the scene where Will communicates with Joyce through Christmas lights strung across the living room wall — is an Airbnb in nearby Fayetteville, Georgia.
Guests have reported booking stays specifically to experience the house firsthand — sitting in the living room where some of Winona Ryder’s most memorable scenes were filmed. For dedicated fans, this is the most immersive Stranger Things location experience available anywhere.
Bradley’s Big Buy — The Eggo Supermarket
One of the most charming Stranger Things locations for fans is the supermarket where Eleven shoplifted frozen Eggos in Season 1. The store was called Bradley’s Big Buy in the show — and when originally filming there, the store had the same name in real life. Located at 504 Center Street in Palmetto, Georgia, it’s now part of the Piggly Wiggly chain. Staff there are reportedly pretty accommodating to visiting fans — just make sure you pay for your Eggos.
Season 4 and Beyond — New Mexico and Lithuania” is available to view online.
As Stranger Things grew, its location for shooting also grew.
The scenes set in California were actually shot in Albuquerque, New Mexico and around its area in Season 4. Filmed in Albuquerque, the roller rink scenes (Rink-O-Mania in the show) were shot at both exterior and interior locations at Skate-O-Mania. Several shots were also taken on the vast New Mexico desert, which also served as Nevada.
The Russian gulag scenes that Hopper was incarcerated in were shot in Lithuania, the most international out of all the Stranger Things locations. The Soviet era architecture of the country was authentic and could not have been built anywhere else.
Planning Your Stranger Things Locations Road Trip
The Georgia Stranger Things locations cluster most naturally into two day trips:
Day One — Jackson and Stockbridge: Start in Jackson for the downtown Hawkins experience — Stranger Tours with the Thompsons, Melvald’s, the library, the alley. Drive 30 minutes north to Stockbridge for Patrick Henry High School. The best time to visit Georgia for outdoor locations is spring (March to May) or fall (September to November) for the most comfortable weather and manageable crowds.
Day Two — Atlanta and Douglasville: Emory University’s Briarcliff campus for the Hawkins Lab exterior, Bellwood Quarry, South Bend Pool, then west to Douglasville for the police station and arcade locations. Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth rounds out the Atlanta-area Stranger Things locations day.
For the Byers House experience in Fayetteville — book it on Airbnb well in advance. It fills up quickly and the wait list is real.
Real Fans, Real Pilgrimages
“I drove from Nashville to Jackson specifically for the Stranger Tours. Cameron and Hannah are extraordinary — they know every location, every scene, every behind-the-scenes detail. Walking through a town that genuinely became Hawkins is different from just reading about it online. I saw the Papa John’s that used to be Melvald’s and actually teared up a little. No regrets.”
— Tom M., Stranger Things fan, Nashville, TN
“We booked the Byers House Airbnb for my daughter’s birthday. She’s obsessed with the show. Sitting in that living room — the actual room where the Christmas lights scenes were filmed — was one of those rare travel experiences where the real thing completely lives up to what you imagined.”
— Karen R., fan traveler, Atlanta, GA
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where are the Stranger Things locations in real life?
The majority of Stranger Things locations are in Georgia — primarily in the town of Jackson (which serves as downtown Hawkins), Atlanta and its suburbs (Emory University campus, Bellwood Quarry, South Bend Pool), and Douglasville (the police station and Palace Arcade). Season 4 added Albuquerque, New Mexico for California scenes, and Lithuania for Russia scenes.
Q: Is Hawkins Indiana a real place?
No. Hawkins, Indiana is entirely fictional. There is no city called Hawkins in Indiana. The real Hawkins is Jackson, Georgia — a town of approximately 5,000 people about an hour south of Atlanta.
Q: Can I visit the Stranger Things filming locations in Georgia?
Yes. Most downtown Jackson Stranger Things locations are within walking distance of each other. Daily Stranger Tours are available through local operators in Jackson. The Emory University Briarcliff campus, Douglasville courthouse, and other Atlanta-area locations are accessible by car.
Q: Where is the Hawkins National Laboratory in real life?
The exterior of Hawkins National Laboratory was filmed at the former Georgia Mental Health Institute on the Emory University Briarcliff campus in Atlanta. The building is currently empty and leased for filming, but development plans have been announced — visit soon.
Q: Can I stay at the Byers house from Stranger Things?
Yes. The Byers family house is available as an Airbnb rental in Fayetteville, Georgia. It books up quickly — plan and reserve well in advance.
Q: Where was Starcourt Mall filmed for Stranger Things?
Starcourt Mall from Season 3 was filmed at Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth, Georgia. The mall has since closed to retail tenants but the building remains.
Q: Where was the Season 4 California setting filmed for Stranger Things?
The California scenes in Season 4 were filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Rink-O-Mania roller rink scenes used Skate-O-Mania in Albuquerque, utilizing both interior and exterior locations.
The Bottom Line
The location of the Stranger Things is not in Indiana — and never was. They’re in a little Georgia town called Jackson where its residents now offer daily tours and a family has turned a passion for ’80s-style nostalgia into a business and in the backyards of Atlanta, where old buildings and shuttered malls have become one of the most recognizable fictional towns to ever be streamed. In a building that used to house Winona Ryder’s shelves and a Papa John’s, Tom found his answers with a slice of pizza. That’s what’s so unique about seeing Stranger Things locations in real life. The Upside Down was a soundstage. But Hawkins? Hawkins was and always will be the state of Georgia.
Keep exploring: Where Was Practical Magic Filmed — The Complete Guide Before the 2026 Sequel Arrives · The Real Story Behind Virgin River — Is It a Real Place and Can You Actually Visit · Where Is Outlander Filmed — The Real Scottish Locations That Make the Show Feel So Authentic · The Obsessive Reader’s Guide to Spuffy Time Travel Fanfiction
Pingback: Where Was Practical Magic Filmed — The Complete Guide Before the 2026 Sequel Arrives - My Travel Tweaks
Pingback: The Real Story Behind Virgin River — Is It a Real Place and Can You Actually Visit - My Travel Tweaks
Pingback: Where Is Outlander Filmed — The Real Scottish Locations That Make the Show Feel So Authentic - My Travel Tweaks