Small volcanic island with jungle slopes, white sand beach and turquoise lagoon, Fiji.

Where Was Cast Away Filmed?

The real desert island from Cast Away sits in Fiji's Mamanuca group, and most other locations are visitable too.

Check availabilitySee every location

The Short Answer

Cast Away was mainly filmed on uninhabited Monuriki Island in Fiji's Mamanuca Islands, where the beach, cave, and jungle survival scenes were shot after the fictional plane crash. Additional photography took place in the Texas Panhandle, Memphis, Red Square in Moscow, and on backlot sets at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Robert Zemeckis's 2000 survival drama sent Tom Hanks to a remote island for what became one of the most famous castaway stories on film. The production travelled far and wide, from Fiji to Russia, and famously halted for a full year so Hanks could lose 55 pounds for the role.

Most of the filming locations still exist and several can be visited, including the island itself, which became a major tourist attraction after release. Here is where the film was shot and how to see each spot.

Every Location At A Glance

LocationWhereWhat was filmedAccess
Monuriki Island (Monu-Riki)Mamanuca Islands, FijiMain survival scenes on the island after the plane crash, including beach, cave, and jungle sequencesTicketed
Arrington Ranch House LodgeCanadian, United StatesBettina Peterson's ranch house and gateway scenes at beginning and endTicketed
FM 48 and FM 1268 intersectionMobeetie, United StatesOpening and closing crossroads scenes where Chuck decides his future directionFree to see
Red SquareMoscow, RussiaOpening scenes of Chuck lecturing FedEx employeesFree to see
74 Devon WayMemphis, United StatesKelly and Jerry Lovett's house reunion scenePrivate property
Namotu IslandMamanuca Islands, FijiRaft escape sequence ocean and movement footagePrivate property
Universal Studios Hollywood backlot (Brownstone Street)Universal City, United StatesSome interior and street scenes including Moscow exteriorsTicketed
FedEx World HeadquartersMemphis, United StatesFedEx hub and return scenes after rescuePrivate property

Filming Locations Map

8 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

Monuriki Island (Monu-Riki), Mamanuca Islands
Location 01

Monuriki Island (Monu-Riki)

Fiji, Mamanuca Islands, Fiji Ticketed

Filmed here: Main survival scenes on the island after the plane crash, including beach, cave, and jungle sequences

This uninhabited island in Fiji's Mamanuca group hosted the core survival sequences: the beach, jungle, and cave scenes that define the middle of the film. It remains largely unchanged since 2000 and draws day tours by boat from Denarau and nearby resorts that stop at the exact filming spots. One note for fans, the dramatic cave is really a shallow rock overhang, made to look deeper with lighting and camera angles. Access is via ticketed boat tours.

Arrington Ranch House Lodge, Canadian
Location 02

Arrington Ranch House Lodge

Texas, Canadian, United States Ticketed

Filmed here: Bettina Peterson's ranch house and gateway scenes at beginning and end

Bettina Peterson's ranch house, seen at the beginning and end of the film, is a working bed and breakfast in Canadian, Texas, in the Panhandle. Guests can stay overnight in the actual property. The sculptures Chuck leaves at the end were removed after production, but the wing motif from the story still appears on the ranch sign. It is best reached by car, pairing naturally with the nearby crossroads site in Mobeetie.

FM 48 and FM 1268 intersection, Mobeetie
Location 03

FM 48 and FM 1268 intersection

Texas, Mobeetie, United States Free to see

Filmed here: Opening and closing crossroads scenes where Chuck decides his future direction

The quiet crossroads near Mobeetie, Texas, where Chuck stands at the film's close and chooses his future direction, is a real rural intersection of public roads. Visitors can drive there freely and park safely nearby. The vistas look a little different today, with wind turbines now visible on the horizon. The surrounding land is privately owned, so travelers should stay on public roads and respect fences and property boundaries.

Red Square, Moscow
Location 04

Red Square

Moscow, Russia Free to see

Filmed here: Opening scenes of Chuck lecturing FedEx employees

The opening scenes, in which Chuck lectures FedEx employees, were shot in Moscow's Red Square. It is a public square and one of the most accessible locations in the film, easy to reach on foot from anywhere in central Moscow. Visitors typically pair the stop with nearby St. Basil's Cathedral. No tour or ticket is required for the square itself, making it a simple add-on to any Moscow itinerary.

74 Devon Way, Memphis
Location 05

74 Devon Way

Tennessee, Memphis, United States Private property

Filmed here: Kelly and Jerry Lovett's house reunion scene

The emotional reunion scene between Chuck and Kelly takes place at this private house on Devon Way in Memphis, Tennessee, in the rain. It is a private residence with people living in it, so there is no access beyond the sidewalk. Fans sometimes drive past for a photo from the street, but trespassing is not acceptable. The house looks much as it did on screen, set in an ordinary Memphis neighborhood.

Namotu Island, Mamanuca Islands
Location 06

Namotu Island

Fiji, Mamanuca Islands, Fiji Private property

Filmed here: Raft escape sequence ocean and movement footage

The ocean footage for Chuck's raft escape sequence was shot around Namotu Island, another of the Mamanuca Islands near Monuriki. Unlike its famous neighbor, Namotu is a private island resort with access limited to guests and approved tours. Travelers who want to see these waters can book a stay at the resort or join excursions that pass through the surrounding reefs and channels featured in the escape scenes.

Universal Studios Hollywood backlot (Brownstone Street), Universal City
Location 07

Universal Studios Hollywood backlot (Brownstone Street)

California, Universal City, United States Ticketed

Filmed here: Some interior and street scenes including Moscow exteriors

Not all of the film's Moscow was really Moscow. Some Moscow street exteriors and assorted interior and street scenes were filmed on the Brownbone Street backlot at Universal Studios Hollywood, in Universal City, California. The backlot sets are visible on the park's guided Studio Tour, which is included with theme park admission. Film buffs can spot the facades that doubled for Russia just minutes from Los Angeles.

FedEx World Headquarters, Memphis
Location 08

FedEx World Headquarters

Tennessee, Memphis, United States Private property

Filmed here: FedEx hub and return scenes after rescue

The FedEx hub scenes, including Chuck's return after his rescue, were filmed at the company's actual World Headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. It is a corporate facility with limited public access and active security, so there is no tour or visitor program. The building can be viewed from public roads nearby. It rounds out a Memphis locations loop for dedicated fans, alongside the Devon Way house a short drive away.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The story is primarily set on a fictional remote South Pacific island and in Memphis, Tennessee, with scenes in Moscow and rural Texas. In reality, the island footage came from Monuriki in Fiji, the ranch and crossroads scenes were shot in the Texas Panhandle near Canadian and Mobeetie, Memphis locations stood in for themselves, and some Moscow exteriors were recreated on a Universal Studios backlot in California.

The Studio Side

Universal Studios Hollywood served as the film's studio home, with interior and street work, including the Moscow exteriors, shot on the Brownstone Street backlot. The backlot remains an active production area and is viewable on the park's Studio Tour, which passes working sets on a guided tram ride.

Tours That Visit These Locations

For travelers who want to stand on the actual island, one excursion stands out.

Full-Day Monuriki Boat Cruise

Cruisin’ Fiji: Monuriki, Mana Sand Bar & Snorkelling Day Cruise

This day cruise from Fiji visits Monuriki itself, plus the Mana Sand Bar and snorkelling stops, and carries a 4.9 rating from 2,691 reviews, the strongest track record among options for reaching the island.

4.9 out of 5 · 2,691 reviews

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you visit the island where Cast Away was filmed?

Yes. Monuriki Island in Fiji is uninhabited but reachable on day tours by boat from Denarau and nearby resorts, which stop at the exact filming spots. It has been a popular tourist site since the film's release in 2000.

Is the cave in Cast Away real?

The cave exists but is a shallow rock overhang in reality. Production lighting and camera angles made it appear far deeper and more dramatic on screen.

Where is the crossroads at the end of Cast Away?

The final scene was shot at the intersection of FM 48 and FM 1268 near Mobeetie, Texas. It is on public rural roads, so anyone can drive there, though wind turbines now appear in the views and the surrounding land is private.

Were the Moscow scenes actually filmed in Russia?

Partly. Red Square scenes were shot in Moscow, but some Moscow street exteriors were filmed on the Brownstone Street backlot at Universal Studios Hollywood, visible today on the park's Studio Tour.

Can you stay at the ranch house from Cast Away?

Yes. The Arrington Ranch House Lodge in Canadian, Texas, operates as a bed and breakfast, so guests can sleep in the house used for Bettina Peterson's ranch scenes.

Did Tom Hanks really lose weight for Cast Away?

Yes. Production halted for a full year so Hanks could lose 55 pounds and portray Chuck's physical transformation on the island.

Fiji offers the headline experience: a boat trip to Monuriki, the island that carried the whole film. Texas Panhandle travelers can cover the ranch house and crossroads in a single scenic drive, Memphis fans can view two exterior locations from public streets, and Moscow and Universal Studios Hollywood round out the list for completists.

Keep Exploring

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