Where was The Mandalorian filmed? Discover the desert worlds and high-tech sets used to film the scenes that brought Grogu and Din Djarin’s world to life.
If you’ve ever hit pause on The Mandalorian right as Din Djarin strolls into a dusty cantina, Grogu snacks in hand, and thought, “Okay… which planet is that really?”- welcome, fellow bounty hunter.
Between Krayt Dragon showdowns, Bo-Katan throne rooms, pirate ports, and Jedi seeing stones, the show makes it feel like we’re jumping hyperspace every ten minutes.
But here’s the twist worthy of a plot reveal: most of that galaxy far, far away was built inside one California studio using tech so wild it fooled even seasoned Star Wars nerds.
We’re talking glowing LED worlds, clever backlot deserts, and a few real locations where stormtroopers actually tripped over real rocks.
So grab your jetpack, cue the Ludwig Göransson score in your head, and let’s track down the real filming locations behind every blaster duel, Grogu coo, and “This is the way” moment.
Table of Contents
🚀 Where Was The Mandalorian Filmed?
Whether you’re curious about Mandalorian Season 1, 2, or 3, or the new movie, here’s the full guide to the real filming locations that provide the footage used in The Mandalorian that fans can travel to today. This is the way!
🪵 Death Valley, California – Arvala‑7’s Desert Planet
One of the most unforgettable planets in The Mandalorian, Arvala‑7, is a dusty, windswept world where Din Djarin first lands and meets Kuiil.
The barren desert vistas were inspired by Death Valley National Park, the Mojave Desert, and the unique Trona Pinnacles. These locations provided the dramatic ridges, badlands, and sun-bleached valleys that made the planet feel alien.
🎯 What Was Filmed Here
- Razor Crest Landing – Din Djarin arrives on Arvala‑7
- Kuiil Encounter – First meeting in the desert
- Exterior Landscapes – Wide shots of alien terrain
⭐ What To See Here
- Zabriskie Point – panoramic desert views
- Mosaic Canyon & Golden Canyon – rock formations
- Trona Pinnacles – otherworldly spire formations
🤓 Fan Trivia
- Landscape plates were filmed here, but the actors were mostly on LED Volume sets
- The rocks and valleys look like real Star Wars planets
- Fans hike the areas for a cinematic experience
Travel Tip: Carry plenty of water and sun protection – Death Valley can get extremely hot. Sunrise offers the most dramatic lighting.
🪨 Rocky Peak Park, California – Grogu’s Force Beacon Planet
One of the few real outdoor filming locations used was Rocky Peak Park in Simi Valley, California. It’s the place where Grogu sat on the seeing stone, and Boba Fett wrecked stormtroopers.
This dramatic hiking area doubled as the Jedi planet Tython in Season 2, where Grogu reached out through the Force. It’s one of the rare places you can actually stand where the show was filmed.
The location was chosen because it already looked alien without needing much CGI. Fans who hike there still recognize the rocks from the episode.
🎯 What Was Filmed Here
- Grogu Seeing Stone Scene – Grogu contacting the Jedi
- Boba Fett Return Fight – Jetpack chaos and stormtroopers flying
- Dark Trooper Arrival – Dramatic cliffside moments
⭐ What To See Here
- The rocky plateau used as the seeing stone site
- Hiking trails with recognizable cliffs
- Great sunset photo spots
🤓 Fan Trivia
- It’s a popular LA hiking trail.
- Minimal CGI was used – the rocks are real.
- Fans visit and pose like Grogu on the stone.
- It’s only about an hour from Los Angeles.
Travel Tip: Bring water. It’s hotter than Tatooine in summer.
🌋 Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii – Nevarro’s Volcanic World
Nevarro, home to the Bounty Hunters’ Guild, features volcanic terrain with blackened rocks and lava-like fields. These were inspired by Kīlauea Volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island for the show’s LED backgrounds.
🎯 What Was Filmed Here
- Exterior shots of Bounty Hunters’ base surroundings
- Volcanic landscapes for establishing shots
- Dramatic volcanic terrain for digital environments
⭐ What To See Here
- Crater Rim Trail – volcanic views
- Thurston Lava Tube – walking through lava formations
- Kīlauea Overlook Points – panoramic volcanic scenery
🤓 Fan Trivia
- Footage was used digitally; no actors were on location
- The lava formations inspired the planet’s harsh aesthetic
- Kīlauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes
Travel Tip: Always check park alerts – volcanic activity can affect access.
🌴 O’ahu, Hawaii – Morak’s Jungle Planet
Morak is a jungle-dense planet where Mando and allies undertake covert missions. The show drew inspiration from Oʻahu’s Tetsuo Harano Tunnels and winding highways in the Koʻolau Mountains, which helped shape the planet’s dense forests and cliffside roads.
🎯 What Was Filmed Here
- Exterior jungle roads and cliffside action sequences
- Establishing shots of dense forests and mountains
- Pathways around Imperial facilities
⭐ What To See Here
- Pali Highway (Route 61) for twisting roads and tunnels
- Tetsuo Harano Tunnels – iconic mountain tunnel views
- Pali Lookout – panoramic misty valley scenes
🤓 Fan Trivia
- Used only as visual references for LED backgrounds
- Inspired the dense and dangerous feel of Morak
- Early mornings provide misty, cinematic views
Travel Tip: Drive carefully on the Pali Highway; the roads are narrow, but the scenery is breathtaking. Morning mist gives the best “Morak” look.
🌄 Alabama Hills, California – Classic Star Wars Landscape
Near Lone Pine, Alabama Hills, California, provided sweeping desert visuals used for background plates and inspiration.
The rock arches and open terrain have appeared in hundreds of Western films, making them perfect for Star Wars’ cowboy-in-space aesthetic.
These shots were blended into digital environments inside the Volume, helping planets feel more real without full location shoots. It’s proof that Star Wars still loves classic Western scenery.
🎯 What Was Filmed Here
- Wide Desert Establishing Shots
- Tatooine-Style Background Plates
- Landscape References for Virtual Sets
⭐ What To See Here
The iconic rock formations near Lone Pine inspired many desert environments.
- Movie Road scenic drive
- Mobius Arch Loop Trailhead
- Wide desert landscapes
Travel Tip: Sunrise lighting looks straight out of Star Wars.
🤓 Fan Trivia
- The area appears in many old Westerns and sci-fi films.
- Mount Whitney often hides in the background.
- The terrain inspired multiple Mandalorian planets.
- Hundreds of Westerns have been filmed here.
- Star Trek and Iron Man scenes, too.
- Used for Mandalorian background plates.
🌊 Lake Powell, Utah – Armorer’s Planet
Some of the series’ tranquil planets with lakes and shorelines were inspired by Lake Powell in Utah, a reservoir on the Colorado River. Its cliffs and calm waters helped digital artists recreate serene lakeside planets, like the helmet ceremony scene.
🎯 What Was Filmed Here
- Helmet ceremony with the Armorer (Season 3)
- Lakeside scenic establishing shots
- Reflections and water-based planet environments
⭐ What To Do Here
- Lake Powell kayak or boat tours
- Hiking along scenic overlooks
- Sunset photo opportunities on sandstone cliffs
🤓 Fan Trivia
- Reference photography was used for LED backgrounds
- Fans recognize the lake’s cliffs and reflections in the show
- Contrasts with the harsher desert and volcanic worlds
Travel Tip: Sunset is perfect for photos. Bring water and sun protection when exploring the cliffs and lake trails.
🌌 Manhattan Beach Studios – The Real Heart of the Galaxy
When people ask where The Mandalorian was filmed, this is the biggest answer. Manhattan Beach Studios in California hosted most of the show using the famous StageCraft “Volume.”
Instead of green screens, actors performed in front of a giant LED wall that displayed real-time environments. This let Pedro Pascal ride across fake deserts that looked completely real – and made lighting reflections accurate on Beskar armor.
The technique helped create dozens of planets without leaving Los Angeles, which is why most scenes across Seasons 1-3 were shot here.
🎯 What Was Filmed Here
- Tatooine Interiors – Cantinas, mechanic shops, bounty hunter hideouts
- Nevarro City – Streets with Greef Karga and Cara Dune
- Mandalore Scenes – Bo-Katan throne rooms and cave sequences
- Luke Skywalker Finale – Grogu’s emotional goodbye
⭐ What To See Here
You can’t tour inside the Volume, but you can visit Manhattan Beach and the surrounding area, where most filming happened.
- Manhattan Beach Pier
- Studio exterior area
- Local Star Wars filming landmarks
Travel Tip: Combine with a beach day – Din Djarin would approve.
🤓 Fan Trivia
- Almost every planet was filmed here.
- StageCraft changed Hollywood filmmaking.
- Same tech used for Marvel shows.
- The LED screens are 20 feet tall and wrap around actors.
- Reflections on Mando’s helmet are real, not CGI.
- This filming technique changed how Hollywood makes sci-fi.
🏜️ El Segundo Backlot – The Desert Without Leaving LA
Some fans assume that all desert scenes were shot in Tunisia, as in the original Star Wars films. Nope. Many iconic dusty scenes were filmed on a huge outdoor set in El Segundo, California.
So yes, many Tatooine scenes were filmed a short drive from LAX. Production built entire Western-style towns with real sand, props, and buildings.
This gave actors sunlight, wind, and shadows that looked authentic on camera. It also explains why so many gunfights feel like classic cowboy movies.
🎯 What Was Filmed Here
- Mos Pelgo Town – Cobb Vanth’s showdown episode
- Tusken Raider Camps – Cultural scenes from Season 2
- Speeder Bike Chases – Early bounty hunter missions
- Saloon Interiors – Western-style cantina duels
🤓 Fan Trivia
- Truckloads of sand were imported for realism.
- The Krayt Dragon skeleton used practical effects.
- Directors wanted a Sergio Leone Western vibe.
🤠 The Book of Boba Fett Filming Locations
Fans call The Book of Boba Fett “The Mandalorian Season 2.5” because Din Djarin and Grogu showed up, stole the plot, and left Boba wondering whose show it was. So, where was it filmed?
This show was filmed on the same sets as The Mandalorian, mainly at Manhattan Beach Studios, home of the magical LED “Volume,” because apparently, bounty hunters prefer Southern California weather and good catering.
Like Mando’s adventures, Boba’s return to crime-lord glory – Jabba’s Palace, Mos Espa streets, and starship interiors – were all built on soundstages. At the same time, giant screens showed digital deserts so convincing that even a Jawa would try to sell you parts there.
⭐ What Was Filmed Here
- Jabba’s Palace Throne Room – Boba’s new office with fewer rancors (at first)
- Mos Espa Cantinas & Streets – Where Boba negotiates like Din… but with more scowling
- Starship Interiors – Slave I / Firespray scenes
- Tusken Raider Camps – Flashbacks with Boba’s desert training arc
The Tusken Raider camp was filmed on backlot sets in El Segundo and even in a converted Carson parking lot. Because in true Mandalorian style, nothing says “life-changing desert training arc” like sand trucks rolling in next to parked Toyotas while bounty hunters learn gaffi-stick etiquette. 😄
🤓 Fan Trivia
- COVID travel rules kept filming in California – same as Mando Season 2.
- The same StageCraft tech from The Mandalorian was reused.
- Din Djarin literally walked onto Boba’s set – helmet first, stealing the spotlight like a true co-star.
So if Boba’s palace looks familiar, that’s because it’s practically down the hall from Mando’s cantina. In the Star Wars universe, even bounty hunters share studio space. This is the way!
You may be watching Star Wars “The Book of Boba Fett” and imagining the exotic locales they must have filmed it in. But… “parking lot in Carson, California” probably wasn’t your first guess. Took this flying over the set in March 2021. #StarWars #BobaFett pic.twitter.com/iqdisrTxqj
— John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 12, 2022
🎬 The Mandalorian and Grogu Filming Locations
The upcoming movie, The Mandalorian & Grogu, will continue to use Manhattan Beach Studios and upgraded StageCraft tech. Reports suggest filming started in California with new backlot builds and possible outdoor plates captured for digital environments.
Expect familiar production tricks: real puppetry for Grogu, practical sets for close-ups, and digital worlds for huge space scenes. The movie will likely reuse the same locations that powered Season 3 while expanding into new planets built virtually.
🎯 What We Know So Far
- Manhattan Beach Studios remains the main filming location
- New California desert sets built for action scenes
- Limited outdoor shoots for realism
- Upgraded LED tech for better reflections
So the galaxy keeps expanding – without leaving California. If outdoor scenes are confirmed later, fan tours will definitely follow. Stay tuned, bounty hunter 👀
Possible visitable areas in the future:
- California desert sets
- Rocky Peak-style locations
- Studio exterior landmarks
🤓 Fan Trivia
- Grogu is still a puppet in most shots.
- Directors said the movie will feel bigger than the show.
- StageCraft has improved since Season 1.
🛣️ 6-Day Mandalorian Road Trip
Pack your Mandalorian cosplay and cue the theme song. This 6-day road trip (Google map link) takes you from Disney’s Hollywood Studios to Grogu’s Force beacon rock to iconic desert vistas every fan should see.
Day 1-2 – Anaheim
- Meet Din & Grogu at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
- Ride Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and explore Black Spire Outpost
- Shop for Mandalorian gear and collectibles
Day 3 – Los Angeles
Day 4 – Rocky Peak Park
- Hike the Rocky Peak trail
- Take photos with a Grogu plush toy
- Have a sunset picnic
Day 5 – Lone Pine & Alabama Hills
- Visit the Museum of Western Film History
- Hike to the Mobius Arch Loop trailhead
- Get spectacular arch photography at sunset
Day 6 – Death Valley & Trona Pinnacles
- Drive to Death Valley National Park
- Drive to the Trona Pinnacles in San Bernardino County
- Take spectacular sunset photos
Optional: Drive to Lake Powell via Las Vegas
Attractions:
- Las Vegas
- Antelope Canyon
- Horse Shoe Bend
- Lake Powell
- Rainbow Bridge National Monument
- Vermillion Cliffs National Monument
You’ll feel like part of the Mandalorian cast without dodging blaster fire.
❓ The Mandalorian & Boba Fett Filming FAQ
⭐ When does The Mandalorian take place?
Five years after Return of the Jedi.
⭐ Where was The Mandalorian filmed?
Mostly at Manhattan Beach Studios and California backlots, with a few outdoor scenes in places like Rocky Peak Park.
⭐ Where was The Mandalorian filmed in Season 1?
Primarily, Manhattan Beach Studios and the El Segundo desert set.
⭐ Where was The Mandalorian filmed in Season 2?
Same studios plus Rocky Peak Park for the Tython battle scenes.
⭐ Where was The Mandalorian filmed in Season 3?
Mostly Manhattan Beach Studios with new backlot builds.
⭐ Where were The Mandalorian desert scenes filmed?
El Segundo backlot and landscape plates from Alabama Hills.
⭐ Is The Mandalorian over?
No. The story continues with The Mandalorian and Grogu movie and potential future seasons.
⭐ Will there be a Season 4 of The Mandalorian?
Lucasfilm has hinted that the story may continue after the movie.
⭐ Who plays the Mandalorian?
Pedro Pascal is Din Djarin, supported by stunt performers.
⭐ What is Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett about?
It follows Boba Fett trying to rule Jabba’s old territory on Tatooine while facing rival crime families.
⭐ When does The Book of Boba Fett take place?
It happens shortly after The Mandalorian Season 2, about five years after Return of the Jedi.
⭐ Who are the main Book of Boba Fett characters?
Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, Cad Bane, Krrsantan, Drash, and Din Djarin.
⭐ Who is Sophie Thatcher in The Book of Boba Fett?
Sophie Thatcher plays Drash, one of the cyberpunk speeder-bike riders loyal to Boba.
⭐ Who is Drash in The Book of Boba Fett?
Drash is the mod gang leader with cybernetic enhancements working for Boba in Mos Espa.
⭐ How old is Boba Fett in The Book of Boba Fett?
Boba is roughly in his early 40s during the series timeline.
⭐ How old is Cad Bane in The Book of Boba Fett?
Cad Bane is over 70 years old, thanks to Duros longevity.
⭐ Will there be The Book of Boba Fett Season 2?
There’s no official Season 2 announcement yet, but the character may return in future Star Wars stories.
⭐ Who is in The Book of Boba Fett cast?
The main cast includes Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett, Ming-Na Wen as Fennec Shand, and Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin.
⭐ Who voices Matt Berry in The Book of Boba Fett?
Matt Berry voices the sarcastic torture droid 8D8.
⭐ How many episodes are in The Book of Boba Fett?
There are 7 episodes in total.
⭐ Is there a Book of Boba Fett DVD or Blu-ray?
Yes, the series has been released on Blu-ray and DVD in select regions.
⭐ Where can I watch The Book of Boba Fett?
The series streams on Disney+.
From glowing LED worlds to real desert rocks under California skies, The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett prove you don’t need hyperspace to build a galaxy – you just need imagination, great tech, and a tiny green co-pilot stealing snacks between takes.
Next time Din Djarin walks into a cantina, or Grogu reaches out through the Force, you’ll know exactly where that magic came from… and maybe even plan a fan pilgrimage of your own.
This is the way. 🪖
Disclaimer: This fan guide is not affiliated with or endorsed by Lucasfilm Ltd., Disney, or any related companies. Star Wars and The Mandalorian are trademarks of their respective owners. Images are used under license, in the public domain, or under fair use for commentary and education.
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