where did they film jurassic park
Most of Jurassic Park (1993) was filmed on the Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Oahu, with additional scenes shot at California locations and on studio soundstages.
Where Did They Film Jurassic Park?
Quick Scoop
If you’ve ever watched Jurassic Park and thought “Where is this magical dinosaur island?”, you’re basically asking: where did they film Jurassic Park in real life. The answer is: lush Hawaiian valleys, dramatic waterfalls, and some very un-tropical California deserts.
Main Filming Locations (The Short Answer)
Here’s the quick breakdown of where they filmed Jurassic Park:
- Kauai, Hawaii – Primary “Isla Nublar” exteriors (jungles, valley shots, waterfall arrival, visitor center exterior).
- Oahu, Hawaii – The famous dinosaur stampede valley at Kualoa Ranch.
- California, USA – Desert “Montana” dig area, various outdoor spots, and studio soundstages for interiors and night scenes.
If you just needed the fast factual answer to “where did they film Jurassic Park,” that’s it.
Key Jurassic Park Spots (With Examples)
1. Kauai – Heart of “Isla Nublar”
Most of the island jungle and iconic arrival visuals came from Kauai , one of Hawaii’s most scenic islands.
Notable locations:
- Na Pali Coast & Hanapepe Valley – Helicopter fly-in views of Isla Nublar and the waterfall approach.
- Manawaiopuna Falls (Hanapepe Valley) – The dramatic waterfall where the helicopter lands.
- Jurassic Kahili Ranch & Valley House Plantation – Jungle scenes and the exterior “Visitor Center” façade.
- Limahuli Garden & nearby areas – Early prologue and jungle shots.
These real-world places give the movie its wild, prehistoric feel, even though they’re all modern Hawaii.
2. Oahu – The Dinosaur Stampede
For the Gallimimus herd sequence (where Grant and the kids hide behind a log as dinosaurs stampede past), they filmed at Kualoa Ranch on Oahu.
- Kualoa Ranch is now a popular filming and tour site, used in many other movies and shows.
- Fans can still visit the valley and see where the stampede scene and other shots were staged.
3. California – “Montana” Dig & Studio Work
Not everything was shot in Hawaii. Parts of Jurassic Park were filmed on the U.S. mainland, mainly in California.
Examples:
- Red Rock / desert-style areas & Tehachapi Pass – Used to portray the “Montana” paleontological dig site.
- Studio soundstages (Universal / Burbank area) –
- T. rex paddock at night.
- Many interior sets and controlled environment shots.
This mix of real landscapes and controlled studio builds made the dinosaur world feel grounded but cinematic.
Mini Table: Main Jurassic Park Filming Areas
| Area | Real Location | In-Movie Use |
|---|---|---|
| Isla Nublar jungles | Kauai, Hawaii | [1][7]Jungle treks, jeep scenes, general island landscapes | [7][1]
| Waterfall arrival | Manawaiopuna Falls, Hanapepe Valley, Kauai | [3][1]Helicopter landing near the park entrance | [1][3]
| Dinosaur stampede valley | Kualoa Ranch, Oahu | [5][3][1]Gallimimus herd chase scene | [3][5][1]
| Visitor Center exterior | Valley House Plantation, Kauai | [7][1]Iconic Visitor Center façade shots | [1][7]
| “Montana” dig site | California desert areas (e.g., Tehachapi Pass / Red Rock) | [3][7][1]Opening dig scenes with Dr. Grant and Ellie | [7][1][3]
| Night T. rex paddock | Studio soundstages in California | [1][3]Rainy T. rex breakout and attacks | [3][1]
Little Story Angle
When Jurassic Park was filming on Kauai, Hurricane Iniki hit the island and damaged sets, but some real storm footage ended up being used in the movie’s storm scenes. That’s one reason the oncoming hurricane in the film feels so intense: a bit of it really was.
Is This Still a Trending Topic?
Even in the 2020s, “where did they film Jurassic Park” remains a frequent search because:
- Hawaii tourism promotes Jurassic Park tours (especially Kualoa Ranch and Kauai sites).
- The franchise keeps getting revived, sending new fans back to the original film.
- Travel and movie-location blogs regularly update guides to these spots.
TL;DR
They filmed Jurassic Park mainly in Hawaii (Kauai and Oahu) for the jungles and island vistas, plus California deserts and studios for the Montana dig and large interior/night scenes.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.