Viewers searching for where is 11 from Stranger Things often want to pinpoint the exact filming locations and understand how each site was transformed into the Hawkins key scenes. This guide maps those places and explains why they became iconic.
The show blends small-town nostalgia with supernatural dread, and many of the most memorable moments were shot in carefully chosen locations around Georgia and elsewhere. The following sections break down the main settings, production details, and practical information for fans and travelers.
| Show Setting | Primary Filming State | Key Location Examples | On-Screen Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawkins, Indiana | Georgia | Jackson, Monroe, downtown Covington | Streets, schools, and neighborhoods stand in for the fictional town |
| Upside Down Forest | Georgia | Jackson County old-growth areas | Used for eerie woodland sequences and creature scenes |
| Hawkins Lab | Georgia | Various warehouses in Jackson and surrounding counties | Industrial corridors and underground sets for experiments |
| Starcourt Mall | Georgia | Shopping centers and retail complexes in metro Atlanta | Modern retail set pieces and action set-pieces |
Jackson County as Hawkins
Much of the small-town feel for where is 11 from Stranger Things comes from Jackson County, where Georgia stood in for Indiana. The county courthouse square and surrounding streets created the familiar downtown backdrop used across multiple seasons. Filming wrapped local storefronts and parking lots into long-running exterior shots that anchor the supernatural drama to a recognizable main street.
Specific Towns and Building Exteriors
Within Jackson County, the city of Jackson supplied key facades, while Monroe contributed other downtown blocks that doubled for Hawkins locations. Local churches, schools, and municipal buildings were dressed with period signage and temporary architecture to resemble the Midwest. These choices helped maintain visual continuity from season to season without requiring permanent changes to the real sites.
Forest and Location Lookouts
Upside Down Woods
Production designers treated Georgia forest areas as the portal to the Upside Down, adding controlled lighting and fog to create an oppressive canopy. Crews pruned trees and built narrow paths to guide cameras and actors through dense scenes while preserving safety and access for equipment.
Urban and Highway Chase Spots
Highway stretches around Jackson and carefully selected urban corners enabled fast-moving sequences and the van escape scenes tied to where is 11 from Stranger Things. These stretches were closed temporarily to traffic, allowing stunt driving and camera rigs that would be impossible in an active downtown.
Planning a Hawkins Location Visit
If you are following where is 11 from Stranger Trips to experience the show in the real world, focus on key streets and preserved landmarks that still evoke the production design. Many fans find that combining a visit to central Jackson with a drive through nearby countryside captures the series’ mood most effectively.
- Check local event schedules for walking tours that focus on filming sites in Jackson and Monroe.
- Respect private property and municipal rules when exploring streets and exterior sets.
- Bring a map that highlights both downtown facades and forest access points used during principal photography.
- Prepare for varied weather, since many outdoor sequences were captured in Georgia’s summer humidity and occasional rain.
FAQ
Reader questions
Which real town stood in for Hawkins in the show?
The primary stand-in for Hawkins is Jackson County, Georgia, with downtown Jackson and nearby Monroe providing the main street and neighborhood shots.
Where were the Upside Down forest scenes filmed?
Upside Down forest sequences were shot in controlled Georgia woodland locations that were modified with lighting, fog, and set dressing to look otherworldly.
Did production build permanent sets for Hawkins Lab?
No permanent sets were built; instead, warehouses and existing structures in Jackson and surrounding counties were dressed and lit to serve as Hawkins Lab interiors and corridors.
What urban locations created the Starcourt Mall setting?
Several modern retail complexes in metro Atlanta were adapted to look like a 1980s-style American mall, providing the bright, consumer-space contrast to the darker woods and lab scenes.