The television phenomenon Stranger Things is set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, using this small Midwestern town as a gateway to supernatural mysteries. Many viewers also associate the show with real locations in Georgia and New England, where forests, streets, and municipal buildings double as Hawkins and surrounding areas.
Below is a structured overview that connects the fictional setting, production design, and real world filming spots into a single reference point for exploring where Stranger Things takes place and how it was brought to screen.
| Setting Layer | Key Location | Primary Real World Filming State | Atmospheric Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fictional Town | Hawkins, Indiana | Georgia, New Mexico, Washington | Quaint 1980s Midwest backdrop hiding supernatural threats |
| Exterior Streets | Downtown Hawkins | Jackson, Georgia | Main Street nostalgia with hidden practical effects |
| Forest Portal | The Upside Down / Creel House woods | Jackson, Georgia, Atlanta area, Tennessee | Oppressive pine forests as liminal space between worlds |
| School & Interiors | Hawkins Middle & High | Atlanta, Georgia soundstages | Controlled lighting for period authenticity and creature work |
| Nostalgic Icons | Byers house & local landmarks | Washington (cabin), Georgia & New Mexico (mall, pool) | Layered homage to 1980s genre films and small-town USA |
The Fictional Heart: Hawkins Indiana
Stranger Things builds its mythology around Hawkins, a fictional Midwestern town framed as an unremarkable place hiding extraordinary danger. The show leans into small-town Americana—quiet streets, modest homes, and a central high school—then punctures that calm with government secrets, parallel dimensions, and monsters. By rooting the supernatural in a recognizable setting, the series makes every shadow in a suburban backyard feel ominous.
Production Design & Filming Locations
Street and downtown sets
Most outdoor downtown Hawkins scenes are filmed in Jackson, Georgia, where historic brick storefronts and wide sidewalks are dressed with period signage and props to resemble 1980s Midwest main streets. Georgia’s controlled climate and supportive local government help maintain consistent looks across multiple seasons.
Woods and the Upside Down
The forest surrounding Hawkins draws on pine stands near Atlanta and further afield in Washington and New Mexico, using dense tree lines and practical fog to create the show’s signature liminal space. Production designers layer practical effects, sound design, and lighting so the woods feel both familiar and alien.
Geographic Inspiration and Real World Counterparts
While Hawkins is imaginary, its geography echoes familiar Midwestern towns, and production designers blend influences from locations across the United States. Washington’s misty evergreens, Georgia’s adaptable streetscapes, and New Mexico’s wide horizons come together to suggest a placid place that could exist anywhere, making the Upside Down’s intrusion more unsettling.
Key Production Insights
- Jackson, Georgia acts as the primary exterior downtown hub, minimizing location swaps for street scenes
- Soundstage work in Atlanta supports school interiors, lab sets, and controlled monster interactions
- Pacific Northwest forests provide the layered greenery and moody lighting for Upside Down sequences
- Small towns across the Midwest inspired street layouts, porch designs, and period signage details
- Strategic use of fog, lighting, and practical effects unifies disparate real locations into one coherent town
Planning a Stranger Things Inspired Visit
Explorers interested in following the show’s geography can treat Hawkins as a creative framework that blends real streets, forests, and soundstages into a cohesive world where the ordinary and the extraordinary collide.
- Research Jackson, Georgia for downtown Hawkins street photography and local production insights
- Visit Pacific Northwest state parks to capture the moody forest atmosphere associated with the Upside Down
- Study production design features in Atlanta soundstages through behind-the-scenes materials
- Map period details such as signage, cars, and fashion to deepen appreciation for the show’s 1980s authenticity
FAQ
Reader questions
Is Hawkins, Indiana a real town in Stranger Things?
No, Hawkins is fictional, created to serve as a nostalgic, small-town setting that grounds the supernatural story in familiarity.
Where are most exterior street scenes filmed for Stranger Things?
Jackson, Georgia stands in for downtown Hawkins, with its brick storefronts and period-correct signage providing an authentic 1980s Main Street look.
Which forests represent the Upside Down in the series?
Production uses pine forests in Washington, around Atlanta, and in New Mexico, enhanced with fog and lighting to create the eerie parallel realm.
Are any interior sets built on location or all on soundstages?
Most interior sets, including Hawkins Middle, are built on soundstages in Atlanta to control lighting, safety, and creature effects.