Stranger Things Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit
Before Demogorgons, before Vecna, before the Upside Down tore Hawkins apart – there was just a quiet town, flickering lights, and bikes racing through empty streets. That is the magic of Stranger Things. The show made ordinary places feel unsettling: a small-town main street hiding secrets a mall that turns into a battleground a government lab that should never have existed What makes this even more exciting is that Hawkins is not entirely fictional. The town, its labs, schools, and streets were filmed across real locations in Georgia, USA – places fans can still visit today. Walking through these locations feels familiar yet eerie: like Mike and Dustin just rode past like Joyce is about to sprint across the street like something strange is watching from the shadows The Tarzan Way will take you through the real Stranger Things filming locations in Georgia, starting with the places that built Hawkins from the ground up. If you have ever wanted to step inside the world of the Party – this is where it begins. IN SHORT Hawkins is real – and it lives across multiple towns in Georgia, USA Downtown Hawkins was filmed in Jackson, Georgia, where storefronts doubled as Melvald’s, Hawk Cinema, and RadioShack Starcourt Mall scenes were filmed at the now-famous Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth The eerie Hawkins National Laboratory exterior is actually Emory University’s Briarcliff Campus in Atlanta Most locations are still accessible today, though some require respectful viewing from outside These spots are perfect for fans interested in Stranger Things real-life places, pop-culture travel, and Hawkins-style nostalgia Ideal to combine with haunted travel experiences or Stranger Things-inspired adventures for a deeper, more immersive trip Hawkins Comes to Life in Georgia, USA Georgia became the backbone of Stranger Things, offering quiet towns, retro architecture, and atmospheric backdrops that perfectly captured the essence of Hawkins. Here are the most iconic filming locations every fan should know. 1. Downtown Hawkins Real-Life Location: Jackson, Georgia This is the heart of Hawkins – the place where Joyce rushes between errands, where Mike and the gang wander aimlessly, and where normal life pretends nothing strange is happening. What you’ll recognize immediately: Melvald’s General Store (Joyce Byers’ workplace) Hawk Cinema RadioShack The town square and surrounding storefronts Jackson’s downtown streets were transformed into a believable 1980s Midwest town, and remarkably, much of it still looks the same today. Why fans love it: Strong small-town America vibe Easy to walk and photograph Several businesses lean into their Hawkins legacy Visitor tips: Many shops sell Stranger Things-themed merchandise Some storefronts retain Hawkins-style signage Visit during weekdays for fewer crowds and better photos Standing here feels like stepping into Season 1 – before the Demogorgon, before the lab secrets, when Hawkins was still pretending to be normal. 2. Starcourt Mall Real-Life Location: Gwinnett Place Mall, Duluth, Georgia Season 3 turned a shopping mall into one of the most iconic battlegrounds in modern TV history. Scoops Ahoy, neon lights, Russian tunnels beneath the food court – Starcourt Mall became central to the Stranger Things universe. What was filmed here: Exterior mall shots Interior mall scenes (including Scoops Ahoy set builds) Parking lot sequences What it’s like now: The mall is partially closed Interior sets have been removed The exterior remains instantly recognizable Why it still matters: One of the most photographed Stranger Things locations Perfect example of retro Americana meeting sci-fi horror Feels especially eerie due to the mall’s semi-abandoned state For fans who enjoy abandoned spaces and unsettling atmospheres, this location pairs naturally with darker travel themes often explored in haunted and abandoned place guides. 3. Hawkins National Laboratory Real-Life Location: Emory University’s Briarcliff Campus, Atlanta, Georgia If any location truly defines Stranger Things, it is Hawkins Lab – the epicenter of secret experiments, government cover-ups, and Eleven’s traumatic past. What you’ll see: The brutalist exterior of the former Georgia Mental Health Institute Long concrete walls and institutional architecture The instantly recognizable lab façade Important visitor information: The building is not open to the public It is gated and actively monitored Photos can be taken only from outside the entrance Why it feels so powerful: The structure perfectly matches the cold, secretive energy of the lab Knowing its real-life history adds an extra layer of unease One of the most authentic “Hawkins” experiences you can have Standing outside Hawkins Lab is a reminder that Stranger Things thrives not just on monsters – but on fear of what humans are capable of when no one is watching. Why Georgia Feels Like Hawkins Georgia was not just a filming convenience – it was a storytelling tool. Quiet towns that feel frozen in time Architecture that fits 1980s America naturally Forests, labs, and suburbs within close distance A visual tone that blends nostalgia with dread It is this balance that makes Georgia such fertile ground for both Stranger Things filming locations and broader cinematic travel experiences. Besides these there are Haunted Places Around the World That Feel Straight Out of Stranger Things The Neighborhoods of Hawkins Some of the most powerful moments in Stranger Things do not happen in laboratories or alternate dimensions. They happen at dinner tables, on front lawns, and in quiet suburban streets where nothing should feel wrong – but does. These real-life neighborhoods in Georgia gave Hawkins its emotional core. The Byers, Wheeler, Sinclair & Henderson Homes Real-Life Location: East Point, Georgia This is where Hawkins truly feels alive. The residential streets of East Point doubled as the homes of the Party – Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin – and became the backdrop for friendship, fear, and growing up under supernatural pressure. What you’ll recognize immediately: The Byers House, where Christmas lights spelled terror and Joyce refused to stop believing The Wheeler House, symbolizing safety, routine, and 80s suburbia Nearby homes used for the Sinclair and Henderson families, all within close proximity Walking these streets feels strangely intimate: Quiet roads Tree-lined sidewalks Houses that look completely normal – until you remember what happened inside them
