Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
The story follows the Griswolds from suburban Chicago across the Midwest and West to a California theme park, but the cameras rarely went near Chicago. Filming began July 5, 1982, in Boone, Colorado, and lasted 55 days across more than 90 locations in five states. Most 'Chicago' driving scenes and the bad neighborhood sequence were shot on the Warner Bros. backlot in Burbank. Cousin Eddie's house, supposedly in Kansas, was actually a private home in Boone, Colorado, and Walley World was stitched together from a racetrack and a theme park hundreds of miles apart.
The Studio Side
Warner Bros. produced the film, and much of the Chicago-set material was filmed on its backlot in Burbank, California. The studio is visitable today through the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, which gives travelers a look at working soundstages and backlot streets of the kind used for the movie's driving sequences.
Tours That Visit These Locations
Independent travelers can reach most Southern California sites by car in a day or two, but a guided film locations tour covers the highlights without the planning.
Guided L.A. Film Locations Tour
The Movie Guys' L.A. Film Locations Tour
This guided Los Angeles film locations tour includes a stop at the Griswold Residence, along with sites from other famous movies, ideal for travelers who want film history without mapping every address themselves.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Was Walley World a real park?
No. Walley World was fictional. The parking lot and exterior arrival scenes were filmed at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, while the interior roller coaster and park scenes were shot at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia.
Where is the Griswold house located?
The exterior of the Griswold family home was filmed at a private house in Los Angeles, California, even though the story sets it near Chicago. It can be viewed from the street only, and visitors should respect the residents' privacy.
Was anything actually filmed in Chicago?
No. Although the story begins in suburban Chicago, many of the Chicago driving scenes and the bad neighborhood sequence were filmed on the Warner Bros. backlot in Burbank, California.
Where was Cousin Eddie's house filmed?
Cousin Eddie's house was filmed at a private home in Boone, Colorado, not Kansas as the story implies. Boone is also where production began on July 5, 1982.
Can visitors stay at the hotel from the Grand Canyon scenes?
Yes. The El Tovar Hotel in Grand Canyon Village is a real, operating historic hotel on the South Rim, and its public areas are accessible even to non-guests.
Where was Aunt Edna's death scene filmed?
The scene was filmed at the Schnebly Hill Road Overlook in Sedona, Arizona, a public scenic overlook reachable by road.
The Griswolds may have driven from Chicago to California, but fans can retrace their trip with far less effort. A Southern California loop covers the house, the dealership, the motel, and both halves of Walley World, while Arizona and Colorado reward travelers who want the full route.
