where was dawson's creek set

Dawson’s Creek is set in the fictional coastal town of Capeside, Massachusetts , which is portrayed as a small New England community on the water.

Where the show is “set”

• The story takes place in Capeside, Massachusetts , a made‑up town meant to evoke a Cape Cod–style seaside community.

• Later seasons also move parts of the action to Boston , where characters attend the fictional Worthington University.

Where it was actually filmed

• In reality, most of the series was filmed in and around Wilmington, North Carolina , including EUE/Screen Gems Studios and locations along the Cape Fear River.

• Additional filming spots included Southport and Wrightsville Beach (standing in for Capeside’s waterfront and beaches), with some later Boston‑set scenes shot in Durham, North Carolina.

Quick comparison

Aspect| On‑screen “setting”| Real‑world filming base
---|---|---
Main town| Capeside, Massachusetts 49| Wilmington, NC 57
Coastal vibe| New England‑style cape town 19| Cape Fear River & nearby beaches 57
College scenes| Boston / Worthington University 59| Durham, NC (for Boston‑set shots) 5

If you’re planning a fan trip, Wilmington is the go‑to spot to “walk through” Capeside in real life.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.