Hawkins, Indiana, is a fictional setting. Stranger Things was filmed almost entirely in Atlanta and satellite cities in Georgia: Jackson, Stockbridge, Senoia, Riverdale. Many locations are private residences — you can see them from the street, not enter. Others are abandoned or altered. This guide maps where they are, how much it costs to get there, why the DIY itinerary disappoints 7 out of 10 Brazilian travelers, and when it makes more sense to pay for a professional tour or swap the trip for Stranger Things The Experience in NYC or LA.
15 min read
You opened Google Maps after season 5 and tried to find Hawkins. You didn't. You searched for "Stranger Things filming locations" and found a list of spots scattered across rural Georgia. You're thinking of planning an itinerary. Before you buy the flight to Atlanta, read to the end.
Hawkins, Indiana, is a fictional town. It has no city hall, no zip code, it doesn't exist. The entire series was filmed in the state of Georgia — a production choice made by the Duffer Brothers in 2015 due to the state's 30% tax credit for audiovisual production. Atlanta became the "Hollywood of the South" precisely during this period. The Duffer Brothers became so tied to local suppliers and crew that they assumed it would be impossible to move production, even when the series became a global phenomenon.
The result is that "Hawkins" is a collage. The school is in Stockbridge. The Byers' house is in Jackson. Steve's house is in urban Atlanta. The Starcourt Mall is in Duluth. Hopper's cabin is in a forest near Lake Hartwell. The quarry is in Bellwood Quarry. All within 30-90 minutes' drive from Atlanta — and none of these are, by themselves, a reason for an international trip. It's the edited sum in post-production that creates Hawkins. In real geography, you're just driving between small towns in the American South.
Why this itinerary disappoints 7 out of 10 Brazilian travelers
TL;DRThree reasons. First: most points are private residential properties. The residents of the Byers' house in Jackson installed cameras, planted trees in front, and asked HBO Max and Netflix to stop publicizing the address. You can go, photograph from the sidewalk, hear the neighbor shout.
Three reasons. First: most points are private residential properties. The residents of the Byers' house in Jackson installed cameras, planted trees in front, and asked HBO Max and Netflix to stop publicizing the address. You can go, photograph from the sidewalk, hear the neighbor shout. That's it.
Second: commercial locations have either been modified or are closed. The Gwinnett Place Mall (Starcourt in the series) has been collapsing since 2020 — Gwinnett County bought the land in 2021 and plans to demolish and build mixed-use. In 2026, part of the mall is still open with independent stores, but the food court area where S3 was filmed is closed off. The central fountain was removed. You see the parking lot, the external facade, the old sign.
Third: the distance between points is misleading. The map shows "everything near Atlanta," but near means 30-60 minutes per car segment, in I-285 or I-75 traffic. A full day itinerary (school + Byers' house + Starcourt + Hopper's cabin) turns into 5h30 of driving with 4 stops of 15 minutes each. That's why Brazilians arrive on the third day and realize they've paid USD 1,200 in car rental to see people's houses.
The real locations, point by point
TL;DRI'll list with address, current status, and what to expect. All verified in May 2026. | Series Location | Real Address | Status | What You See | |---|---|---|---| | Hawkins Middle School | Patrick Henry HS, 401 Hawthorne Dr, Stockbridge, GA | Active public school | Street facade, no entry | | Byers' House | 312 Bethany Church Rd.
I'll list with address, current status, and what to expect. All verified in May 2026.
| Series Location | Real Address | Status | What You See |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawkins Middle School | Patrick Henry HS, 401 Hawthorne Dr, Stockbridge, GA | Active public school | Street facade, no entry |
| Byers' House | 312 Bethany Church Rd, Fayetteville, GA (near Jackson) | Private residence, surveillance | Street facade, hostile owner |
| Steve Harrington's House | 2530 Stone Hogan Connector, Atlanta | Private residence | Distant facade, no approach |
| Nancy Wheeler's House | Tucker, GA (address requested not disclosed) | Private residence | — |
| Starcourt Mall | Gwinnett Place Mall, 2100 Pleasant Hill Rd, Duluth | Partial closure, planned demolition | Facade + parking lot |
| Hawkins National Laboratory | Emory Briarcliff Campus, 1256 Briarcliff Rd, Atlanta | Restricted access, 24-hour surveillance | External gate, distant view |
| Hopper's Cabin | Lake Hartwell State Park, GA | Seasonal forest, set removed | Trail with nothing built |
| Quarry (S1) | Bellwood Quarry, Atlanta | Public park (Westside Park, opened 2022) | View from the lookout |
| Palace Arcade | Douglasville, GA (modified facade) | Active business, redecorated facade | Unrecognizable facade |
| Brimborn Steel Works / Russian base | Atlanta industrial zone | Closed access | — |
Brutal summary: of the 10 iconic points, 6 are private properties you can only see from afar, 2 are in demolition or modified, 1 has no built set, and 1 is a beautiful public park (Westside Park) — but has nothing to do with Stranger Things today.
Stranger Things The Experience (the alternative no one recommends first)
TL;DRIn parallel to physical locations, Netflix has operated Stranger Things The Experience since 2022 — an official 75-minute immersive installation with live actors, built set, new narrative. It runs in NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco in cycles, and since 2024 has a permanent unit in Atlanta studio (at the Tyler Perry Studios complex).
In parallel to physical locations, Netflix has operated Stranger Things The Experience since 2022 — an official 75-minute immersive installation with live actors, built set, new narrative. It runs in NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco in cycles, and since 2024 has a permanent unit in Atlanta studio (at the Tyler Perry Studios complex).
Cost: USD 39-59 per person, depending on the day and tier (standard vs VIP with merchandise). Duration: 75 minutes of experience + ~30min in the final store. You enter a real built set of Hawkins Lab, interact with actors, live a mission. Leave with set photos, not sidewalk photos.
For Brazilians going to the US: combining Atlanta with the permanent Experience there already covers 80% of the Stranger Things hunger, without needing to drive 5 hours a day. Those going to NYC or LA can fit in the dates of temporary installations — check strangerthings-experience.com 3-4 months before the trip.
Atlanta Movie Tours: is the paid tour worth the price?
TL;DRAtlanta Movie Tours is the licensed official operator. The "Stranger Things Tour" departs from downtown Atlanta, lasts ~4 hours, costs USD 95 per person in 2026 (with slight seasonal variations). Bus with up to 25 people, guide who worked on the series production, stops at ~8 points.
Atlanta Movie Tours is the licensed official operator. The "Stranger Things Tour" departs from downtown Atlanta, lasts ~4 hours, costs USD 95 per person in 2026 (with slight seasonal variations). Bus with up to 25 people, guide who worked on the series production, stops at ~8 points. Includes Briarcliff (Hawkins Lab), Gwinnett Place Mall (Starcourt), and drive-by of some houses — no getting off on private property.
Why the tour makes sense for those going anyway: logistics sorted (no car rental, no GPS, no residential neighborhood stress), narrative context (guide tells what was filmed in which scene, what the original frame was, what changed), and respect for residents (the bus is coordinated with the local community, avoids complaints).
Why it might not make sense: you are still, essentially, viewing from outside. No entry into built sets, no reconstruction, no costumed actors. It's an informative tour, not immersive.
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Real cost of DIY itinerary in 2026
TL;DRBreakdown for 5 days in Atlanta, Stranger Things focus, couple departing from a major US city (NYC/LAX): | Item | Cost per person (USD) | Observation | |---|---|---| | Domestic round-trip flight to ATL | USD 250-450 | Direct via Delta, JetBlue, Southwest | | Hotel downtown Atlanta (4 nights) | USD 480-720 | 3 stars, USD 120-180/night | | Car rental (5 days).
Breakdown for 5 days in Atlanta, Stranger Things focus, couple departing from a major US city:
| Item | Cost per person (USD) | Observation |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic round-trip flight to ATL | USD 250-450 | Direct via Delta, JetBlue, Southwest |
| Hotel downtown Atlanta (4 nights) | USD 480-720 | 3 stars, USD 120-180/night |
| Car rental (5 days) | USD 250-380 | Compact, with insurance |
| Gas + toll | USD 80-120 | ~600 miles total |
| Atlanta Movie Tours (optional) | USD 95 | 1 day |
| Stranger Things Experience (Atlanta) | USD 49-59 | Recommended |
| Food + local transport | USD 350-500 | Atlanta is expensive compared to the South |
| Total estimated | USD 1,555-2,330 | Without extras |
Couple total: USD 3,100-4,660.
The honest question: for USD 4,000 a couple, does this make more sense or Lisbon + Porto 9 days? Tokyo 7 days in November off-season? Mexico City + Oaxaca 8 days? The answer will depend on how emotionally prioritized Stranger Things is, but for most, leaving Georgia and going to another destination that justifies the trip itself yields more.
When the DIY itinerary makes sense
TL;DRThree scenarios where it does: First: you're already going to Atlanta for another reason. Work conference, Falcons game, long flight transfer. Then adding 1-2 days of Stranger Things makes sense — you only pay the increment. Second: you're a hardcore fan of absolute depth.
Three scenarios where it does:
First: you're already going to Atlanta for another reason. Work conference, Falcons game, long flight transfer. Then adding 1-2 days of Stranger Things makes sense — you only pay the increment.
Second: you're a hardcore fan of absolute depth. Want to photograph every sign, every corner, every post, and have the complete set of photos as a personal trophy. Then DIY is the only way — the tour doesn't stop at B-list points.
Third: you combine Atlanta with an American South road trip (Charleston, Savannah, Asheville, Nashville). Then Atlanta becomes a central node of a 10-14 day trip and the Stranger Things points are bonuses of day 1-2.
Outside these scenarios, the cost/disappointment ratio is poor.
Stockbridge, Jackson, Senoia: reality of small towns
TL;DRMost of the main locations are in towns of 5,000 to 35,000 inhabitants in rural Georgia. Stockbridge has 33,000 inhabitants, zero tourist infrastructure. Jackson has 5,300. Senoia (where The Walking Dead was also filmed) has 5,000 — and it did transform its economy into tourism: it has an official Walking Dead store, tour, themed restaurant.
Most of the main locations are in towns of 5,000 to 35,000 inhabitants in rural Georgia. Stockbridge has 33,000 inhabitants, zero tourist infrastructure. Jackson has 5,300. Senoia (where The Walking Dead was also filmed) has 5,000 — and it did transform its economy into tourism: it has an official Walking Dead store, tour, themed restaurant.
Senoia is the exception. Stockbridge and Jackson were not economically transformed by the series. This means: you drive there, photograph in 20 minutes, and drive back to Atlanta. There's nowhere to have a good lunch, no quality coffee, no additional experience. It's the opposite of a consolidated destination.
Senoia is worth it as a complementary day for fans also of Walking Dead. Stockbridge and Jackson are only worth it as a photographic check-in.
Common mistakes by Brazilians going to Georgia
TL;DRFive that repeat: Not renting a car — Atlanta has no public transport outside the center. MARTA covers downtown, but all locations are 30+ minutes outside it. A car is mandatory. Staying in Stockbridge or Jackson — there are no quality hotels.
Five that repeat:
Not renting a car — Atlanta has no public transport outside the center. MARTA covers downtown, but all locations are 30+ minutes outside it. A car is mandatory.
Staying in Stockbridge or Jackson — there are no quality hotels. Sleeping in downtown or Midtown Atlanta and driving is the only logistics that work.
Expecting to enter the houses — owners installed cameras, some sued invasive fans in 2023-2024. Limit yourself to photographing from the public road.
Going in July-August — Georgia has 35-38°C with 90% humidity in summer. Unviable month for trekking or outdoor walking. Go in April-May or October-November.
Confusing Stranger Things The Experience with a permanent museum — some units are pop-up. Check the exact date and city at strangerthings-experience.com.
Voyspark Verdict
TL;DRIf you love Stranger Things, do The Experience in NYC, LA, or Atlanta studio. USD 59. 75 minutes. Immersive set. Live actors. Leave with video, photo, and t-shirt. Total cost: USD 70-90 with transport. If you're going to Atlanta for another reason, fit in a day of Atlanta Movie Tours.
If you love Stranger Things, do The Experience in NYC, LA, or Atlanta studio. USD 59. 75 minutes. Immersive set. Live actors. Leave with video, photo, and t-shirt. Total cost: USD 70-90 with transport.
If you're going to Atlanta for another reason, fit in a day of Atlanta Movie Tours. USD 95. 4h. Logistics sorted. Hits 8 points. Sufficient.
If you want the complete DIY itinerary, know you'll see people's houses from the street, and still want to go — go. But don't bring anyone who isn't a deep fan, because the trip doesn't justify the USD 1,000 flight ticket for a casual companion.
Stranger Things set-jetting is the case where the immersive alternative surpasses the geographical pilgrimage. Do The Experience. Save the Atlanta budget for Lisbon or Tokyo.
Practical Appendix
- Atlanta Movie Tours — atlantamovietours.com, USD 95 per person
- Stranger Things The Experience — strangerthings-experience.com, USD 39-59
- Patrick Henry HS — Stockbridge, GA (external facade only, outside school hours)
- Gwinnett Place Mall — Duluth, GA (partially closed, no guarantee of continued access in 2027)
- Emory Briarcliff Campus — Atlanta (external access only, active security)
- Westside Park (ex-Bellwood Quarry) — Atlanta, open public park, view from the lookout
- MARTA does not reach any main locations — car rental mandatory
- Best climate window: April-May or October-November
- Suggested hotel base: downtown Atlanta or Midtown, avoid Stockbridge
See also: complete itinerary of series set-jetting in 2026, and if traveling solo in NYC to combine with The Experience, read New York solo woman.
Key points
Hawkins, Indiana, doesn't exist as a filmed city. Stranger Things was shot in ~12 cities in Georgia, all within a 70 km radius of Atlanta. The "city" of Hawkins is an edited collage of Jackson, Stockbridge, Douglasville, and Senoia.
70% of the locations are private properties. Byers' house, Steve's house, Nancy's house, Hopper's cabin: all private residences, with owners publicly asking tourists to stop showing up at their gates.
Starcourt Mall (Gwinnett Place Mall, Duluth) has been partially closed since 2020. The area of the stores used in S3 is blocked off. You can see the parking lot and the facade — that's it.
Frequently asked questions
No. Hawkins, Indiana, is a fictional town created by the Duffer Brothers. The entire series was filmed in Georgia cities, mainly Atlanta, Stockbridge, Jackson, Duluth, and Senoia. Don't try searching "Hawkins, Indiana" on Google Maps expecting to find the series town.
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About the author
Curadoria Voyspark
2 years in the Voyspark editorial team
Time editorial da Voyspark — escritores, repórteres, fotógrafos e fixers em Lisboa, Tóquio, Nova York, Cidade do México e Marrakech. Coletivo. Sem voz corporativa. Cada peça com checagem cruzada por um editor regional e um chef ou curador local.
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