Where was The Last of Us filmed? Discover The Last of Us filming locations – from Alberta’s quarantine zones to Vancouver’s streets.
If you’ve ever shouted “That’s not Boston!” at your TV, welcome to the club. The Last of Us fans are obsessed with uncovering the real-world locations behind HBO’s hit post-apocalyptic series.
The series may have taken us across a post-apocalyptic United States, but the cameras rolled across some of Canada’s most breathtaking (and cleverly disguised) landscapes.
Table of Contents
The Last of Us Filming Locations
Whether you’re a diehard fan or just planning your next cinematic road trip, here’s your travel guide to every major filming location from Seasons 1 and 2.
From deserted malls to snow-covered bridges, each backdrop is as gripping as the storyline. Let’s retrace Joel and Ellie’s journey – one breathtaking location at a time.
🚧 Fort Macleod, Alberta – 2003 Austin, Texas
Episode 1 kicks off in Fort Macleod, where downtown streets transform into Austin during outbreak day. Sarah’s final moments unfold along 24th Street, which was dressed with American flags, vintage trucks, and chaos.
The town’s western charm and flat terrain made it perfect for doubling as a Texas town. With drone shots and a few digital tweaks, the illusion is seamless.
The courthouse and gas station scenes? All local buildings, redressed. If you visit, you’ll be walking through one of the series’ most heartbreaking sequences.
🚧 Calgary, Alberta – Boston QZ
Much of early Season 1 was shot in Calgary, where downtown towers and alleyways were transformed into the militarized Boston Quarantine Zone. Fourth Avenue underpass served as a dramatic patrol checkpoint.
You can practically hear FEDRA guards yelling orders as you stroll past today. The Calgary Film Centre also served as a base for interior sets, including the Firefly hideouts and underground tunnels.
Despite its snowy winters, Calgary convincingly recreated the gritty East Coast atmosphere with the help of clever set design and a generous use of sandbags.
🚧 High River, Alberta – Bill & Frank’s Quiet Utopia
In The Last of Us (Season 1 Episode 3), High River, Alberta, doubled as Lincoln, Massachusetts, in Bill and Frank’s tender, post-apocalyptic love story.
Quiet streets, rustic storefronts, and leafy suburban vibes set the perfect stage for what might be the most emotional episode of the series.
Fans will instantly recognize the vintage boutique and the front yard where strawberries stole the show. It’s peaceful, poignant, and proof that even in a zombie-ridden world, love finds a way.
🚧 Edmonton, Alberta – Rebel-Controlled Kansas City
Kansas City in Episodes 4 and 5? That’s Edmonton, and the Alberta Legislature Building doubled as FEDRA headquarters. Rice Howard Way was reimagined as chaotic, rebel-controlled streets.
The series took over the downtown core, bringing in derelict cars, barbed wire, and barricades. Edmonton’s skyline added urban scale, while nearby tunnels served as escape routes for Ellie and Joel.
Most memorably, the neighborhood scenes with sniper shootouts and infected hordes were filmed here, giving Alberta a taste of Hollywood-style destruction.
🚧 Canmore, Alberta – Jackson, Wyoming
Canmore wins the title of most wholesome apocalyptic location. Featured in Episode 6, it doubles as Jackson, the fortified settlement where Joel reunites with Tommy.
The real town’s quaint charm, snow-dusted streets, and mountain views required almost no set dressing. Locals were thrilled to spot actors riding horses down Main Street.
The hydroelectric dam? Also local. Canmore offered a rare moment of peace and community in the show’s otherwise brutal journey, and became a fan-favorite stop for its warm vibes amid the cold.
🚧 Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta – Montana Wilderness
In Episode 6, the snowy trek from Jackson to the Fireflies’ last known location was filmed in Waterton Lakes National Park. Located in Alberta’s southern Rockies, the park delivers those wide, moody landscapes that feel both haunting and majestic.
Sharp cliffs and icy rivers set the tone for Joel and Ellie’s tension-filled travels. It’s a remote and pristine area – perfect for filming scenes that needed to feel isolated, cinematic, and slightly unnerving.
If you’re into nature, this one’s worth the hike (but maybe leave your backpack flamethrower at home).
🚧 Mount Royal University, Calgary – Eastern Colorado University
That quiet, almost eerie university from Episode 6? Mount Royal University in Calgary. Dressed with American flags and overgrowth, it becomes Eastern Colorado University – home of the Firefly base that never was.
The monkey scene was filmed outside the Bissett School of Business. Interiors were also shot on-site, including the lab where Joel is injured. It’s surprisingly intact for an apocalypse setting, thanks to subtle VFX and practical effects.
Students were reportedly thrilled that their campus doubled as the epicenter of Season 1’s major turning point.
🚧 Northland Village Mall, Calgary – The Abandoned Mall
In Episode 7 of Season 1, Ellie and Riley sneak through an eerily lit, long-abandoned mall filled with relics of the old world – photo booths, arcades, and a carousel.
This unforgettable sequence was filmed at Northland Village Mall in Calgary, Alberta, a now-closed shopping center transformed into a post-apocalyptic playground. Production designers built most of the set practically, including the iconic carousel.
The mall became a character in itself, framing one of the show’s most tender and heartbreaking moments. If escalators, Halloween masks, and exploding Mortal Kombat II machines are your thing, this is the filming location to remember.
🚧 Downtown Calgary, Alberta – Salt Lake City
Episode 9’s emotional climax takes us to Salt Lake City’s hospital – except it’s really Calgary again.
The downtown hospital interior and exterior scenes were filmed at the former Calgary General Hospital site, redressed to match Salt Lake’s fictional hospital layout.
The giraffe scene? A blend of CGI, green screen, and a real giraffe from the Calgary Zoo. It created one of the most tender and surprising moments of the season, offering rare beauty amid the devastation.
🚧 Nanaimo, British Columbia – Pacific Coast
Season 2 opens with a shift to British Columbia, beginning with the coastal wilds of Nanaimo. Rocky beaches and towering evergreens replace the dry wastelands of Season 1.
The coastline near Neck Point Park and Pipers Lagoon serves as a backdrop for quieter, pensive scenes. The natural light and overcast skies added cinematic atmosphere, hinting at the emotional depth Season 2 explores.
The area’s rugged terrain matched the evolving tone: more personal, more psychological, and equally beautiful.
🚧 Vancouver, British Columbia – Seattle Safe Zone
In Season 2, Vancouver steps in for post-apocalyptic Seattle. You’ll spot familiar landmarks like the Georgia Viaduct and Victory Square, reimagined with overgrowth and wreckage.
Filmmakers even recreated iconic Seattle signage and skyline elements through VFX and practical props. The hospital scene where tensions boil over? Shot near Vancouver’s downtown core.
Granville Street doubled for Seattle’s overrun commercial districts. The city’s blend of coastal modernity and urban sprawl gave it the right feel for Ellie’s journey – intense, reflective, and dangerous.
🚧 Burnaby, British Columbia – Seraphite Territory
Later in Season 2, Burnaby’s dense forests and industrial edges become the eerie domain of the Seraphites. Scenes filmed in the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area and nearby tunnels gave the show an unsettling, secluded atmosphere.
Production used natural mist and rain to heighten the tension. It’s here that we see some of the most suspenseful confrontations of the season.
Fun fact: Burnaby’s quiet neighborhoods had to be artificially aged with moss, vines, and grime to reflect years of abandonment.
🚧 North Vancouver, British Columbia – Firefly Base
The climax of Season 2 leads Ellie to North Vancouver’s industrial zones, where a dilapidated shipping yard and warehouse complex represent the new Firefly base.
The production team utilized real decommissioned facilities to lend authenticity to the gritty, rain-soaked scenes. High-angle shots from Lynn Canyon Park create a dramatic perspective for Ellie’s final choices.
The area’s overgrown rail lines and rusting structures make it a visual feast for fans – and a symbolic full circle to where her story might end, or begin again.
From Fort Macleod to North Vancouver, The Last of Us transforms familiar Canadian landscapes into unforgettable apocalyptic landmarks.
Whether you’re a fan retracing Joel and Ellie’s footsteps or a traveler hunting for striking backdrops, these locations offer immersive, cinematic beauty with a side of cordyceps-free adventure.
This article is a fan-created guide for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not affiliated with or endorsed by HBO or Naughty Dog.
- Where Was The Wheel of Time Filmed? A Breathtaking Locations Guide - September 14, 2025
- Where Was Outlander Filmed? Top Outlander Filming Locations - September 12, 2025
- Spy, Love, Action: Must-See NCIS Tony and Ziva Filming Locations - September 10, 2025
Discover more from Ahoy Matey Blog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.