ActionAdventureSci-Fi

🎬 Where Was Jurassic World Filmed? Complete Hawaii & Louisiana Location Guide

2015

Colin Trevorrow

Added January 15, 2024

5 Locations

Step into Isla Nublar and experience where dinosaurs roamed! Explore Hawaii's epic landscapes and Louisiana's hidden gems from Universal's Jurassic World.

About 🎬 Where Was Jurassic World Filmed? Complete Hawaii & Louisiana Location Guide

🎬 Where Was Jurassic World Filmed? Complete Hawaii & Louisiana Location Guide

Ready to trade your couch for a wild adventure? 🦖 Jurassic World brought the awe and terror of dinosaurs back to the big screen, but did you know many of its most iconic scenes were filmed in breathtaking real-world locations? These aren't just sets; they're travel destinations waiting for film fans like you!

This blockbuster didn't just rebuild a theme park; it leveraged the stunning natural landscapes of Hawaii and the industrial vastness of Louisiana to create Isla Nublar. From lush jungles hiding prehistoric beasts to high-tech control rooms managing chaos, the film’s authenticity is rooted in its incredible choice of filming spots.

Imagine standing where Owen Grady trained his raptors or where the mighty Indominus Rex wreaked havoc. These places hold movie magic in every corner, offering unique experiences for both cinephiles and adventurous travelers. They blend Hollywood fantasy with real-world beauty.

Join us as we embark on an epic journey to uncover every major filming location from Jurassic World. Get ready for bite-sized insights, practical travel tips, and stunning visuals that will inspire your next cinematic escape! 🌴🚀

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🗺️ Major Filming Locations

🎬 Kualoa Ranch, Oahu, Hawaii, USA - The Dino-Sized Playground 🏞️

Scenic view of Kualoa Ranch showing vast green valleys with dramatic mountains

🏛️ The Location

Kualoa Ranch is a sprawling 4,000-acre private nature reserve and working cattle ranch located on the northeastern shore of Oahu. Known as Hawaii's "backlot," its dramatic mountains, lush valleys, and pristine coastline have served as the backdrop for countless films and TV shows. It's a truly spectacular place that feels prehistoric even without CGI dinosaurs.

🎥 In the Film

This iconic ranch depicted vast stretches of Isla Nublar, including the infamous Gyrosphere Valley where visitors got up close with herbivorous dinosaurs. Many of the thrilling chase scenes and wide-open landscapes where dinosaurs roamed freely were also filmed here, making it central to the park's visual identity.

📍 Visitor Info

📍 Address: 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA

🕒 Hours: Daily, exact hours vary by tour; generally 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM.

💰 Admission: Tours are ticketed; prices vary by package (e.g., Movie Sites Tour, ATV, Zipline).

🌐 Website: kualoa.com

💡 Pro Tip: Book your tours well in advance, especially during peak season, as they sell out fast! The Hollywood Movie Sites Tour is a must for Jurassic World fans. 🎬 Fun Fact: Kualoa Ranch has been a key filming location for every Jurassic Park movie, offering a consistent visual bridge across the franchise.

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🎬 NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA - The Research Hub 🔬

Stunning architecture of NASA Michoud Assembly Facility featuring large industrial buildings

🏛️ The Location

The NASA Michoud Assembly Facility is a massive industrial plant owned by NASA, primarily used for manufacturing large-scale space structures. Located in New Orleans East, its expansive, high-ceilinged buildings provide ideal, controlled environments for constructing large sets and stages. It's an unexpected but vital piece of the Jurassic World puzzle.

🎥 In the Film

This facility transformed into the high-tech, enclosed environments of Jurassic World. The impressive control room, the labs where the dinosaurs were bred, and large sections of the park's visitor center and main street were meticulously built and filmed within these vast soundstages. It was crucial for depicting the operational heart of the park.

📍 Visitor Info

📍 Address: 13800 Old Gentilly Rd, New Orleans, LA 70129, USA

🕒 Hours: Not accessible to the public for tours; it's a working NASA facility.

💰 Admission: N/A

🌐 Website: nasa.gov/centers/marshall/michoud

💡 Pro Tip: While you can't enter, driving by might give you a sense of the scale that attracted the filmmakers. Capture the atmosphere of a modern industrial giant. 🎬 Fun Fact: The facility's immense size allowed the production team to build multiple large-scale sets concurrently, streamlining the filming process for interior scenes.

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🎬 Blue Hole, Kauai, Hawaii, USA - The Untamed Wilderness 🌿

Beautiful view of Blue Hole showcasing lush, remote Hawaiian jungle with waterfalls

🏛️ The Location

Blue Hole is an extraordinarily remote and pristine area within the Wailua River State Park on Kauai, often referred to as the "wettest spot on Earth" due to extreme rainfall. It's characterized by lush, almost impenetrable jungle, towering cliffs, and gushing waterfalls, creating a truly untouched wilderness. Access is challenging, adding to its mysterious allure.

🎥 In the Film

The dense, untouched jungle of Blue Hole provided the perfect backdrop for the more remote, dangerous areas of Isla Nublar. Scenes involving tracking the rogue Indominus Rex through seemingly endless, unexplored wilderness were filmed here, emphasizing the primordial and untamed aspects of the island.

📍 Visitor Info

📍 Address: Located deep in the interior of Kauai, near Mt. Waialeale. Access is via a challenging, often muddy, unmaintained trail from the end of Kuamoo Road.

🕒 Hours: Daylight hours recommended (very remote).

💰 Admission: Free, but extreme caution is advised for hiking.

🌐 Website: No official visitor website due to its remoteness; research local conditions and safety warnings.

💡 Pro Tip: This is NOT a casual hike. Only experienced, well-prepared hikers should attempt to reach Blue Hole due to treacherous conditions and unpredictable weather. Consider a helicopter tour for an aerial view of this stunning, remote location. 🎬 Fun Fact: The extreme rainfall at Blue Hole meant that filming crews often contended with muddy conditions, adding to the realism of a wild, untamed island environment.

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🎬 Honolulu Zoo, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA - Park Entrance Grandeur ☀️

Impressive facade of Honolulu Zoo displaying a grand entrance with tropical vegetation

🏛️ The Location

The Honolulu Zoo is the only zoo in the United States to be established by grants from a monarch, King David Kalakaua. Located within Kapiʻolani Regional Park, it houses a diverse collection of tropical plants and animals, providing a lush, accessible urban oasis. Its public spaces and pathways offered a recognizable structure for key film scenes.

🎥 In the Film

The walkways and public areas of the Honolulu Zoo were ingeniously utilized to represent sections of the main visitor plaza and general park grounds of Jurassic World. Though digitally enhanced with more advanced architecture and bustling crowds, the underlying layout of the zoo provided the ideal foundation for these busy park environments.

📍 Visitor Info

📍 Address: 151 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA

🕒 Hours: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM daily.

💰 Admission: Adults $19, Children (3-12) $11.

🌐 Website: honoluluzoo.org

💡 Pro Tip: While you're there, look for familiar angles and imagine the digital overlays that transformed this peaceful zoo into the bustling Jurassic World main street. It’s a great family-friendly stop! 🎬 Fun Fact: Filming took place early in the mornings before the zoo opened to the public, allowing the production team to have exclusive access to the pathways and grounds.

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🎬 Manoa Falls Trail, Oahu, Hawaii, USA - The Deep Jungle Path 🚶‍♀️

Authentic street scene of Manoa Falls Trail capturing a lush, verdant rainforest pathway

🏛️ The Location

The Manoa Falls Trail is a popular, relatively easy hiking trail located just minutes from downtown Honolulu. It winds through a dense, lush rainforest, characterized by towering banyan trees, bamboo groves, and a persistent misty atmosphere, leading to a stunning 150-foot waterfall. Its accessible jungle environment makes it a favored spot for visitors and filmmakers.

🎥 In the Film

This verdant trail lent its incredibly rich foliage and mystical ambiance to several key jungle scenes in Jurassic World. It provided the perfect setting for the characters to navigate through dense, prehistoric-looking vegetation, particularly during moments of suspense and dinosaur encounters in the deeper parts of Isla Nublar's wilderness.

📍 Visitor Info

📍 Address: 3104 Manoa Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (Parking lot at end of Manoa Road)

🕒 Hours: Accessible during daylight hours; unofficial opening 6:00 AM, closing 6:00 PM.

💰 Admission: Parking fee usually $5 for cars. The trail itself is free.

🌐 Website: Find information on local Honolulu tourism sites or park guides.

💡 Pro Tip: Wear sturdy, waterproof shoes as the trail can be very muddy and slippery, especially after rain. Bring insect repellent, and hydrate well! 🎬 Fun Fact: Due to its close proximity to Honolulu, Manoa Falls Trail is a frequently used location for productions seeking easy access to a dense jungle aesthetic without extensive travel.

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🎬 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets

Curious about how the magic of Isla Nublar truly came to life? Jurassic World was a colossal undertaking, blending cutting-edge technology with practical effects and a deep respect for natural beauty. It’s fascinating to see how the filmmakers brought dinosaurs back to life.

🎭 Director's Vision

🎯 Location Strategy: Colin Trevorrow strategically chose locations that could genuinely convey the scale and wonder of a fully operational dinosaur theme park, from vast open landscapes to meticulously crafted controlled environments. He aimed for spaces that felt lived-in and real.

🎨 Visual Style: The goal was to infuse the film with a sense of awe and nostalgia while pushing boundaries. Filming in places like Kualoa Ranch paid homage to the original films, while using advanced facilities like NASA Michoud allowed for unprecedented set builds and digital integration.

🎪 Production Highlights

🎬 Grand Scale Sets: Over 100 different sets were crafted for the film, including large sections of the park's main street and visitor's center, requiring massive logistical coordination.

🎭 Practical & Digital Mix: While CGI was prominent, the filmmakers also utilized practical effects and human-sized stand-ins on set to give actors something tangible to react to, enhancing their performances.

🎨 Whispers of the Past: The iconic jeep from the original Jurassic Park was found on location and digitally enhanced for its cameo, a purposeful nod to the franchise's roots.

🎯 Dino-Training Challenges: Chris Pratt's raptor training scenes involved extensive pre-visualization and unique motion-capture techniques to accurately portray the interaction between human and creature.

🌟 Cast & Crew Stories

😄 Running in Heels: Bryce Dallas Howard famously did most of her intense running scenes in high heels, a decision she made to reflect her character's unpreparedness for the unfolding chaos.

😮 Louisiana's Summer Heat: Filming in New Orleans, especially during the summer, meant dealing with extreme heat and humidity, which added its own set of challenges for both cast and crew.

🎉 Gyrosphere Realism: The gyrosphere sequence, while heavily reliant on visual effects, used real, custom-built gyrospheres on a track to give the actors a genuine sense of movement and perspective.

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🗺️ Plan Your Visit

Ready to step into the world of Jurassic World? Planning your expedition to Hawaii and potentially Louisiana can be an adventure in itself. Here's a guide to help you navigate:

🏨 Where to Stay

💰 Budget: Ohana Waikiki East by Outrigger - $150-200/night - Close to Honolulu Zoo and offers good value, making it ideal for those keeping an eye on their budget while exploring the area.

🏛️ Mid-Range: Kualoa Beach Park (Camping) - $30-50/night - For the adventurous, camping near Kualoa Ranch offers an immersive, budget-friendly experience right by a pivotal filming location.

✨ Luxury: Turtle Bay Resort - $400-700+/night - Located on Oahu's North Shore, it provides luxurious comfort with stunning ocean views, making it a perfect splurge after a day of cinematic exploration.

🚗 Getting Around

🚇 Metro: Public transport is limited on Oahu (no metro, but extensive bus system called 'TheBus'), and nonexistent for remote locations like Blue Hole. It's best for within Honolulu.

🚗 Car: Renting a car is highly recommended for exploring Oahu and absolutely essential for reaching Kualoa Ranch, Manoa Falls, and considering a trip to Kauai. New Orleans is also best explored by car for Michoud (though not publicly accessible).

🚶 Walking: You can easily walk around the Honolulu Zoo area once there, but reaching most Jurassic World locations on foot from central hubs is not feasible. The Manoa Falls Trail is a walking-only trail, of course!

📸 Photo Tips

🌅 Best Times: Early mornings at Kualoa Ranch offer softer light and fewer crowds. For waterfalls like Manoa, overcast days can enhance the lush greenery.

📱 Instagram Spots: Kualoa Ranch's "Jurassic Valley" offers endless photo ops. Look for the iconic fallen tree log from the first film! At Manoa Falls, capture the dense, misty rainforest atmosphere.

🎬 Movie Moments: Recreate iconic scenes! Pose like you're staring up at a gigantic dinosaur in Kualoa Valley, or imagine trekking through the dense undergrowth at Manoa Falls.

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❓ Quick Answers

🎬 Is this based on a true story?

No, Jurassic World is a work of science fiction, based on the concepts created by Michael Crichton's novels.

🗺️ Can I visit all locations in one day?

No, it's virtually impossible. The locations span Oahu and Kauai in Hawaii, and also Louisiana. You'd need at least a few days for Oahu, additional time for Kauai, and a separate trip for Louisiana.

💰 How much should I budget?

Expect to budget roughly $100-$200 per person per day in Oahu for activities, food, and transport, excluding flights and accommodations. Tours at Kualoa Ranch can add $50-$150. Visiting Louisiana would be a separate budget.

📱 Are there guided tours?

Yes, Kualoa Ranch offers excellent guided tours, including a specific Hollywood Movie Sites Tour that highlights Jurassic World and other film locations. Many general Hawaii tours also pass by locations seen in the film.

🎭 When was this filmed?

Principal photography for Jurassic World took place from April to August 2014, making use of Hawaii's consistent tropical climate and Louisiana's studio facilities.

🌍 Is Hawaii safe for tourists?

Hawaii is generally very safe for tourists. However, like any travel destination, it's wise to be aware of your surroundings, secure valuables, and follow local advisories, especially when hiking in remote areas.

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🎬 Ready for Your Cinematic Adventure?

From the lush, cinematic valleys of Oahu to the remote, untamed wilderness of Kauai, and even the unassuming industrial heart of New Orleans, Jurassic World left its giant footprint on a diverse array of real-world locations. These places don't just provide pretty backdrops; they embody the film's thrilling spirit and grand scale.

So, whether you're a die-hard fan dreaming of seeing the "Gyrosphere Valley" with your own eyes, or just seeking an extraordinary adventure to stunning places, these Jurassic World filming locations offer an unforgettable journey. Pack your bags, charge your camera, and prepare to step into a world where cinema meets reality. Make sure to share your incredible journey with us! Which film location inspires your travel bug the most?

Year Released

2015

Director

Colin Trevorrow

Filming Locations

5 locations

Behind the Scenes

Director Colin Trevorrow aimed to create a modern blockbuster while honoring the original *Jurassic Park*'s legacy. The production team meticulously blended exotic natural landscapes with incredibly detailed practical sets and cutting-edge visual effects. Their commitment to realism, from the vastness of the gyrosphere valley to the intricate details of the control room, allowed them to transport audiences directly into the thrilling world of Isla Nublar.

Chris Pratt's character, Owen Grady, was written specifically for him after Trevorrow saw him in 'Guardians of the Galaxy'.
Original animatronics were used as reference points for the CGI dinosaur design, blending old-school charm with new technology.
The iconic gyrosphere valley was filmed at Kualoa Ranch, a location rich with cinematic history from previous 'Jurassic' films.
Many interior scenes, including the Jurassic World control room and main street areas, were constructed within the vast NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana.
The sound design team specifically modulated the famous T-Rex roar to make it feel more guttural and primal for the modern audience.
The film consciously included nods to the original 'Jurassic Park', like the discovery of the dilapidated Visitors Center and the use of the classic Jeep.
The Indominus Rex's camouflage ability was inspired by real-world cuttlefish.
Bryce Dallas Howard performed many of her running scenes in high heels, a practical choice she made for her character.
Over 100 sets were built, including a partially completed main street for the park, which added to the grand scale.
To ensure the jungle felt as authentic as possible, filming took place in remote, untouched parts of Hawaii, like Blue Hole in Kauai.
The filmmakers utilized cutting-edge motion-capture technology for the raptors, allowing actors to interact with the digital creatures more realistically.
The final battle sequence was one of the most complex to choreograph, involving multiple species and extensive visual effects coordination.

Location Gallery

Kualoa Ranch

NASA Michoud Assembly Facility

Blue Hole, Kauai

Honolulu Zoo

Manoa Falls Trail

Travel Tips

Best time to visit most of these locations is during spring or fall for mild weather.
Consider booking accommodations in advance, especially during tourist season.
Guided tours are available that cover Kualoa Ranch, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, Blue Hole, Kauai in one day.