Albuquerque hosted Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and El Camino, and most of the famous locations are real places visitors can see today.
Albuquerque is the primary filming location for Breaking Bad (2008-2013), Better Call Saul (2015-2022) and El Camino (2019). Fans visit Walter White's house, the Twisters restaurant used as Los Pollos Hermanos, and many other real sites. Several productions filmed here, helped by a 25-35% refundable tax credit and Albuquerque Studios.
Albuquerque is one of America's most distinctive screen-tourism cities. The Breaking Bad series ran from 2008 to 2013 and was filmed almost entirely in and around the city, using real homes, restaurants and businesses for its exteriors. Its prequel Better Call Saul followed from 2015 to 2022, and the sequel film El Camino arrived in 2019, reusing many of the same spots.
The city's role as a production hub goes well beyond one franchise. The Avengers shot scenes here in 2012, Transformers filmed in the area in 2007, and MovieMaker Magazine ranked Albuquerque the #1 big city for filming in 2025, its sixth consecutive year in the top five. New Mexico's 25-35% refundable tax credit keeps cameras rolling, which means visitors keep finding recognizable locations.
Most of the locations below appear across multiple productions. Breaking Bad used real Albuquerque addresses for nearly every exterior, Better Call Saul returned to many of the same neighborhoods and added new sites such as the Cinnabon at Cottonwood Mall, and El Camino revisited familiar ground. Access varies: some sites are operating businesses you can enter, while others are private homes to view only from the street.
| Title | Year | Type | What was filmed here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breaking Bad | 2008-2013 | TV | Entire series primarily filmed in and around Albuquerque using real locations for exteriors and Albuquerque Studios for interiors. |
| Better Call Saul | 2015-2022 | TV | Prequel series filmed extensively in Albuquerque locations including homes, offices, malls, and courthouses. |
| El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie | 2019 | Film | Sequel film shot in Albuquerque using many of the same locations as the series. |
| The Avengers | 2012 | Film | Some scenes filmed in Albuquerque. |
| Transformers | 2007 | Film | Filmed in Albuquerque area. |
13 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
New Mexico, Albuquerque Outside only
Filmed here: Exterior of the White family home throughout the series.
The exterior of the White family home appears throughout Breaking Bad. It is a private residence, so viewing is strictly from the public street. Owners have asked visitors not to trespass or recreate scenes from the show, and tour groups generally keep visits brief and respectful.
New Mexico, Albuquerque Free to see
Filmed here: Exterior and some interior as Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant.
This operating burger and burrito spot served as the exterior and some interiors of Gus Fring's Los Pollos Hermanos. It appears in Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and El Camino. Fans can dine in, photograph the memorabilia on site and ask staff about the restaurant's screen history.
New Mexico, Albuquerque Free to see
Filmed here: Exterior of Walter White's workplace and money laundering front.
The exterior of Walter White's part-time workplace and money laundering front, seen in Breaking Bad. It remains an operating car wash, so the polite approach is to arrive as a customer. The exterior is viewable and there may be memorabilia inside.
New Mexico, Albuquerque Outside only
Filmed here: Exterior of Jesse's house.
Jesse's house exterior features in several Breaking Bad storylines. Like many stops on the trail, it is a private residence. Visitors should view it from the street only and respect the owners' privacy, which keeps the location accessible for future fans.
New Mexico, Albuquerque Outside only
Filmed here: Exterior of Chuck's home.
Better Call Saul fans know this home as Chuck McGill's house. The exterior appears throughout the prequel series. It is a private residence, so viewing is limited to public areas, and a short stop from the sidewalk is the expected etiquette.
New Mexico, Albuquerque Free to see
Filmed here: Cinnabon scenes as Gene Takavic's workplace.
The Cinnabon scenes that open Better Call Saul were filmed in the food court here, as Gene Takavic's workplace. Cottonwood Mall is a regular operating mall, so visitors can browse the shops, grab a bun and picture the black-and-white Omaha sequences.
New Mexico, Albuquerque Free to see
Filmed here: Jesse's favorite diner exterior and scenes.
A favorite Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul location, this operating diner served as Jesse's go-to spot, with scenes shot around its exterior and its distinctive neon sign. Fans can simply dine in and take in the atmosphere that appeared on screen.
New Mexico, Albuquerque Free to see
Filmed here: Mike's toll booth scenes.
Better Call Saul used the Albuquerque Convention Center for Mike's toll booth scenes. It is a public area, and the exterior is easy to view. The building sits downtown at Civic Plaza, close to other central locations and the Albuquerque Film Office.
New Mexico, Albuquerque Outside only
Filmed here: Exterior of Gus's laundry front for the superlab.
This former industrial laundry served as the exterior of Gus's laundry front concealing the superlab, appearing in both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. The building is still present for exterior viewing, and it is one of the more atmospheric stops for fans.
New Mexico, Albuquerque Outside only
Filmed here: Exterior and some interior of Gus's home.
The exterior and some interior scenes of Gus Fring's home were filmed at this private residence in Breaking Bad. As with the other homes on the trail, viewing is from the street only. It makes a quick photo stop on most guided itineraries.
New Mexico, Albuquerque Outside only
Filmed here: Exterior of Saul's law office.
The strip mall exterior of Saul Goodman's law office appears in both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. It is a commercial property, so viewing from public areas is straightforward. Fans often pair it with other east-side stops such as Walter White's house.
New Mexico, Albuquerque Outside only
Filmed here: Motel scenes.
The Crossroads Motel appeared in both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul for its motel scenes. It remains an operating motel, so the exterior is viewable from the parking area and street. Passing by is generally enough to recognize it.
New Mexico, Albuquerque Free to see
Filmed here: Tuco's headquarters exterior.
This coffee shop exterior stood in for Tuco's headquarters in Breaking Bad. It is a public, operating business, so the simplest way to see it is to stop in as a customer, grab a drink and look around.
Beyond street-level locations, Albuquerque supports its film industry through dedicated infrastructure. The Albuquerque Film Office at 1 Civic Plaza NW provides resources, permits and filming information, and actively supports screen tourism. ABQ Castle Studios at 8610 President Pl NE is a newer studio featuring virtual sets, with tours available by appointment for travelers curious about how modern productions are built.
Guided tours are the easiest way to cover the scattered locations, and the RV format is the most popular choice, echoing the show's most famous vehicle. Options range from group RV and van tours to self-guided driving itineraries with audio commentary, at very different price points. Ratings across the board are strong, with the RV tours scoring highest.
Breaking Bad RV Tours
The best-reviewed option at 4.8 from 510 reviews, riding between locations in a party-style RV.
Albuquerque: Breaking Bad RV Filming Locations Tour
A 4.8-rated RV tour visiting the key filming sites, priced at $102.36 per person.
Breaking Bad Filming Locations Tour (Self-Guided, Driving)
A self-guided driving itinerary for $10, letting travelers set their own pace at 4.1 stars.
Albuquerque: Breaking Bad SUV/Van Filming Locations Tour
An SUV and van tour of the same core locations at $102.36, rated 4.6 by past guests.
Breaking Bad Filming Locations Audio Driving Tour in Albuquerque
A $10 audio driving tour with commentary between stops, rated 4.5 from 10 reviews.
No. The house is a private residence and can only be viewed from the public street. The owners have asked visitors not to trespass or recreate scenes, and respectful behavior keeps the site viewable for everyone.
Several filming sites are operating businesses. Twisters Burgers & Burritos, the Dog House Drive-In, Java Joe's, Cottonwood Mall and Mister Car Wash are all public venues, though the car wash and coffee shop are best visited as paying customers.
The restaurant used for Los Pollos Hermanos is a real Twisters Burgers & Burritos location in Albuquerque. It appears in Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and El Camino, and it displays memorabilia on site.
The group RV tours carry the strongest ratings at 4.8. Travelers who prefer independence can choose a self-guided driving itinerary or an audio driving tour, both priced at $10, while van tours offer a similar guided experience in a smaller vehicle.
Beyond the Breaking Bad universe, The Avengers filmed scenes here in 2012 and Transformers shot in the area in 2007. Albuquerque Studios handled interior work for the series, and the city ranked #1 big city for filming by MovieMaker Magazine in 2025.
Albuquerque's locations are viewable year round since most are street exteriors and open businesses. Downtown stops such as the Convention Center and the Albuquerque Film Office cluster together, while homes like Walter White's and Jesse's require short drives between neighborhoods.
Albuquerque offers something most screen-tourism cities cannot: the actual places, largely unchanged, where the story happened. A guided RV or van tour bundles the highlights efficiently, while a $10 self-guided option suits independent travelers with a car. Whatever the choice, respecting the private homes along the route keeps this trail open for the fans who come next.
Before You Go
The tours travellers book most for Albuquerque.
