The fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, comes to life in real communities across Georgia, where Stranger Things has filmed everything from downtown scenes to schools, homes, laboratories, and other recognizable locations from the series.
I first discovered Georgia’s connection to Stranger Things while exploring Jackson, Georgia, which served as downtown Hawkins. I spent a few hours walking around the square with my brother, photographing filming locations, murals, and buildings I recognized from the show. That experience sent me looking deeper into where else Stranger Things was filmed across the state.
Where Was Stranger Things Filmed in Georgia?
Stranger Things was filmed at multiple locations across Georgia, with communities and sites around the Atlanta area standing in for Hawkins, Indiana, and other settings in the series. Jackson, Georgia, is one of the most recognizable locations because its downtown square was transformed into downtown Hawkins. Other filming locations used throughout the series can be found in communities including Atlanta, Stockbridge, East Point, Douglasville, Fayetteville, Rome, and Stone Mountain.
The locations covered in this guide include Jackson, Atlanta, Duluth, Rome, Powder Springs, Palmetto, and Stone Mountain. They range from recognizable downtown storefronts and private residences to a working farm, college campus, public park, and former shopping mall. The sections below explain the filming connection for each location, whether I’ve visited it personally, and what travelers should know before trying to see it.
Walking Through Downtown Hawkins
Jackson is the one Stranger Things filming destination in this guide that I’ve personally explored, and it’s an especially easy place to experience several recognizable locations in a relatively small area. My brother and I parked near the downtown square and explored on foot with my camera.
The historic courthouse in downtown Jackson appeared as the Hawkins Public Library in Stranger Things.
Finding Hawkins in a Real Georgia Town
This is where the fictional downtown Hawkins comes to life. As I walked around the square, I photographed the storefronts used in the series, the historic courthouse that appeared as the exterior of Hawkins Public Library, the RadioShack storefront associated with Bob Newby, and Bradley’s Olde Tavern, which appeared as the Hawk Theater. I also found several Stranger Things-themed murals around town.
What I liked about Jackson was that it didn’t require driving from one filming location to another once we were downtown. We could walk around the square, look for familiar buildings and details, and photograph the locations at our own pace. For a photographer—and a Stranger Things fan—it made the connection between real-life Jackson and fictional Hawkins much easier to appreciate.
Jackson has embraced its on-screen identity in a wonderfully small-town way. Visitors can book a guided experience with Stranger Tours, whose headquarters is at 101 East Second Street, or explore themed escape rooms at Jackson Escape Games. It is the kind of place where a quick stop can easily become an afternoon of looking more closely at familiar storefronts and streetscapes.
What to Know Before Visiting the Stranger Things Locations in Jackson
If you want to make Jackson part of a longer small-town getaway, my Georgia Lake Country Weekend Guide shows how to combine it with Lake Oconee, Madison and Eatonton.
More of Hawkins Is Hidden Across Georgia
The remaining locations in this guide are places I haven’t personally visited yet. These sections are research-based and include access considerations to help you decide which stops belong on your own filming-locations road trip.
Hawkins National Laboratory
Hawkins National Laboratory was filmed at Building A on Emory University’s Briarcliff Campus in Atlanta. Emory confirms that the building, constructed in the 1960s in the Brutalist architectural style, originally served as a mental health treatment facility before the university acquired the property. Its concrete, steel, and glass exterior became one of the most recognizable locations in Stranger Things.
I haven’t visited this filming location myself yet, so this section is based on research rather than firsthand experience. Because Building A is located on Emory property and the Briarcliff site is undergoing redevelopment, check current access information with Emory before planning a visit. Don’t enter buildings or restricted areas without permission.
Starcourt Mall
Season 3’s Starcourt Mall was created inside Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth, Georgia. The once-busy shopping mall was transformed into the colorful 1980s Starcourt Mall that became one of the most recognizable settings of the season.
I haven’t visited Gwinnett Place Mall myself yet, so this section is based on research rather than firsthand experience. Today, the former mall is mostly vacant and is the focus of a major redevelopment project led by Gwinnett County and its Urban Redevelopment Agency. Because the property is changing, don’t plan a trip expecting to walk through the Starcourt Mall set or find the mall preserved as it appeared in the series.
If seeing this filming location is important to your Stranger Things road trip, check Gwinnett County’s current redevelopment information before visiting. As the redevelopment moves forward, access and what remains at the site may continue to change.
The Creel House and Pennhurst
Rome, Georgia, became an important Stranger Things filming destination in Season 4. The historic Claremont House was transformed into the Creel House, while the Ford Buildings at nearby Berry College stood in for Pennhurst Mental Hospital, where Nancy and Robin visit Victor Creel.
I haven’t visited these Rome filming locations myself yet, so this section is based on research rather than firsthand experience. The Creel House is a private residence and should only be viewed and photographed from the public sidewalk. At Berry College, actual campus spaces—including offices, a dorm common room and gardens—were used for Pennhurst scenes, while the criminal ward was a set constructed for the production.
There’s also a newer stop for Stranger Things fans. In 2026, the original Pennhurst Mental Hospital archway film prop was permanently installed on Jackson Hill in Rome as a public photo opportunity. It’s now part of the official self-guided Stranger Things of Rome tour, along with the Creel House and Berry College.
More Stranger Things Filming Locations in Georgia
From Hopper’s cabin to the quarry connected with the search for Will Byers, these additional Georgia locations show just how many different landscapes and everyday places were transformed for the series.
Sleepy Hollow Farm: Hopper’s Cabin
Sleepy Hollow Farm in Powder Springs is home to one of the more distinctive Stranger Things filming locations: Hopper’s cabin. The property was used during filming for Hopper’s cabin and the surrounding farm landscape seen in the series.
I haven’t visited Sleepy Hollow Farm myself yet, but unlike some filming locations in this guide, this one offers fans a way to experience the location with permission. Hopper’s cabin remains on the private farm and is incorporated into a themed escape-room experience, with tours also offered at scheduled times.
Because this is private property, don’t arrive expecting to explore the filming location independently. Check Sleepy Hollow Farm’s current availability and make a reservation before planning your visit.
Piggly Wiggly: Bradley’s Big Buy
The Piggly Wiggly in Palmetto stood in for Bradley’s Big Buy, the grocery store where Eleven famously steals boxes of Eggo waffles in Season 1. The Georgia Film Office identifies the Palmetto store as the filming location, making this one of the easier Stranger Things locations to recognize in a real-world setting.
I haven’t visited this filming location myself yet, but the Piggly Wiggly is still operating as a grocery store at 506 Center Street in Palmetto. Unlike a preserved movie set or dedicated attraction, this is an active local business, so fans should be respectful of employees and customers if they stop to see the location.
For a Stranger Things road trip, Palmetto offers the chance to see the real location behind one of Eleven’s memorable early scenes while also seeing a piece of everyday Georgia that became part of fictional Hawkins.
Stone Mountain Park: Hawkins Woods and Railroad Tracks
Stone Mountain Park provided the backdrop for several of the wooded scenes around Hawkins, including recognizable scenes along the railroad tracks. In Season 1, the kids walk along the tracks with Eleven, and the location returned for additional scenes in Season 2.
I haven’t explored this Stranger Things filming location myself yet, so this section is based on research rather than firsthand experience. Unlike many of the private homes and restricted properties connected to the series, Stone Mountain Park is a public destination, making it a more practical addition to a Georgia filming-locations trip.
It’s also worth knowing that Stone Mountain Park wasn’t the only outdoor Georgia location used during production. Stranger Things also filmed at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, another location used during the show’s first season.
Bellwood Quarry: Sattler Quarry
Bellwood Quarry in Atlanta became Sattler Quarry in Stranger Things, the dramatic location connected to the search for Will Byers and the scene where Mike is forced toward the quarry before Eleven intervenes.
I haven’t visited this filming location myself yet, and the real-world site has changed considerably since the series filmed there. The former quarry was transformed into a massive emergency drinking-water reservoir surrounded by public parkland. What fans see today is therefore very different from the abandoned quarry shown in Stranger Things.
The transformation actually makes this one of the more interesting filming locations to research before visiting. Rather than trying to access the quarry itself, visitors can experience the surrounding park and designated overlook while seeing how a former industrial filming location has been given an entirely new purpose.
These stops are a reminder that Georgia did not merely provide a backdrop for Stranger Things—it supplied the show with forests, small-town streets, institutional architecture, retail spaces, and eerie rural landscapes.
How to Plan a Stranger Things Filming Locations Road Trip in Georgia
A Georgia Stranger Things road trip is most rewarding when it is treated as more than a checklist. The filming locations are spread across Jackson, metro Atlanta, Rome, and several surrounding communities, so it makes sense to group stops geographically rather than trying to see everything in one day.
Before visiting, check the current status of each location. Some sites are private homes, active college campuses, operating businesses, public parks, or properties undergoing redevelopment. Stay in public areas, respect posted restrictions, and never enter private property simply to recreate a scene or photograph a filming location.
If this is your first Stranger Things filming-location trip in Georgia, Jackson is an especially approachable place to begin because several recognizable downtown Hawkins locations are concentrated around the square and can be explored on foot. That’s also the location I’ve personally visited, and I found it easy to spend a few hours walking around and photographing the different sites.
Planning a stop in Jackson? Read my firsthand guide to exploring the Stranger Things filming locations in Jackson, Georgia, including what I found while walking and photographing the downtown square.
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Planning to photograph filming locations on your next trip? My free Smartphone Travel Photography Cheat Sheet includes simple tips to help you get better travel photos with the camera you already carry.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Stranger Things Filming Locations in Georgia
Was Stranger Things actually filmed in Georgia?
Yes. All five seasons of Stranger Things filmed in Georgia, with locations across the state used to create Hawkins, Indiana, and other settings in the series. Jackson became downtown Hawkins, while other Georgia locations were used for Hawkins National Laboratory, Starcourt Mall, the Creel House, Pennhurst Mental Hospital, Sattler Quarry, wooded scenes, and other recognizable locations.
Can you visit the Stranger Things filming locations in Georgia?
Yes, but access varies considerably by location. Some Stranger Things filming sites in Georgia are public places or operating businesses, while others are private residences, active college campuses, or properties undergoing redevelopment. Jackson’s downtown filming locations are among the easiest to explore on foot, while places such as the Creel House should only be viewed from public areas. Always check current access information before visiting and respect private property and posted restrictions.
Which Stranger Things filming location in Georgia is best for a first-time visitor?
Jackson is a practical choice for a first Stranger Things filming-location visit because several recognizable downtown Hawkins locations are concentrated around the historic square and can be explored on foot. I spent a few hours walking the area with my brother and photographed the storefronts, courthouse square, RadioShack filming location, Hawk Theater building, and Stranger Things-themed murals without having to drive between each stop.
How much time do you need to visit the Stranger Things filming locations in Georgia?
If you’re visiting only the downtown Hawkins filming locations in Jackson, allow a few hours to walk around the square, photograph the buildings and murals, and explore without rushing. That’s approximately how long my brother and I spent there.
Seeing filming locations across Georgia requires considerably more time because the sites are spread among Jackson, Atlanta, Duluth, Rome, Powder Springs, Palmetto, Stone Mountain, and other communities. Rather than trying to visit everything in one day, group locations geographically and build them into a multi-day Georgia road trip.
Continue Exploring Georgia
Keep planning with firsthand Lenses & Latitudes guides to Jackson, Georgia Lake Country, and more road-trip destinations.
About Angela
Angela Addington is the travel photographer and writer behind Lenses & Latitudes. She shares firsthand destination guidance and practical photography advice for independent and solo travelers, women over 50, road-trippers and weekend explorers. Learn more about Angela.
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