Into the Wild (2007) – Filming Locations
Adventure / Drama · Directed by Sean Penn · Starring Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden
After graduating from Emory University in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity, and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness.
Where was Into the Wild filmed?
- Emeryville, California, United States, Emeryville – Opening scenes establishing Chris's privileged suburban life before his disappearance. Filmed in the actual Emeryville neighborhood where Chris McCandless grew up, establishing his upper-middle-class origins
- Moab, Utah, United States, Moab – Chris travels through southwestern desert landscapes in his van with his new friend Alex. The iconic red rock formations provide the visual backdrop for Chris's early adventure and his encounter with Jan Burres and other travelers
- San Diego, California, United States, San Diego – Chris attempts to cross into Mexico but is stopped by the tide. The Colorado River Delta sequences where Chris experiences a setback in his journey and reflects on his goals
- Slab City, California, United States, Niland – Chris meets Jan and Bob Wells, vagrant travelers who befriend him and offer wisdom. The actual Slab City squatter settlement provides an authentic location where McCandless encountered real counterculture travelers
- Carthage, South Dakota, United States, Carthage – Chris works as a harvest laborer and forms a bond with Wayne Harrison, an elderly farmer. The authentic rural farmland where McCandless worked harvesting wheat and experienced genuine human connection
- Fairbanks, Alaska, United States, Fairbanks – Chris ventures into the remote Alaskan backcountry alone, establishing his camp in the abandoned bus. The actual Alaskan wilderness and the famous bus (the Magic Bus) where McCandless lived for 112 days before his death