where was groundhogs day filmed
“Groundhog Day” is set in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, but it was filmed primarily in Woodstock, Illinois, a small town northwest of Chicago. Several additional scenes were shot in nearby Illinois locations such as Algonquin and Rockford.
Quick Scoop: Where was Groundhog Day filmed?
- The town you see as “Punxsutawney” is actually Woodstock, Illinois.
- Filmmakers chose Woodstock because of its timeless town square and classic Midwestern look.
- The real Punxsutawney never appears on screen, even though the story takes place there.
Key filming spots (in real life)
- Woodstock Town Square – Used as the main town center and festival area (including the Groundhog Day celebration scenes).
- 344 Fremont St, Woodstock, IL – Exterior of the “Cherry Street Inn,” Phil’s bed-and-breakfast.
- Woodstock Opera House – Stands in for the Pennsylvania Hotel where Phil refuses to stay.
- Wayne’s Lanes (Wayne’s City Lanes), Woodstock – Bowling alley scenes with Phil and the locals.
- Woodstock Theatre, 209 Main St – The cinema where they see the movie within the movie (“Heidi II”).
- Algonquin, Illinois – Used for the “Welcome to Punxsutawney” sign and some driving shots.
- Loves Park / Rockford area – Limestone quarry where Phil drives off the cliff with the groundhog.
Mini timeline & fun context
- Early 1990s: Location scouts considered dozens of towns before settling on Woodstock for its classic square and ready-made “pothole” gag spot.
- 1993: The film releases and gradually becomes a cult favorite and cultural shorthand for endlessly repeating days.
- Today: Woodstock actively embraces its Groundhog Day fame with tours and local markers at many of these filming spots.
Simple HTML table of main locations
| On-screen location | Real filming location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Punxsutawney town center | Woodstock Town Square, Woodstock, Illinois | [1][5][9]Main festival scenes, daily loop walks, background shops. |
| Cherry Street Inn (Phil’s B&B) | 344 Fremont St, Woodstock, Illinois | [3][5][9]Iconic exterior where Phil wakes up every morning. |
| Pennsylvania Hotel | Woodstock Opera House, Woodstock, Illinois | [9][1]Elegant theater building used as a hotel facade. |
| Bowling alley | Wayne’s Lanes / Wayne’s City Lanes, Woodstock, Illinois | [1][3]Late-night scenes where Phil talks with townies. |
| Movie theater | Woodstock Theatre, 209 Main St, Woodstock | [6][9]Used as the cinema showing “Heidi II.” |
| “Welcome to Punxsutawney” area | Algonquin, Illinois | [5][3]Opening drive-in and sign shots. |
| Cliff / quarry scene | Limestone quarry near Loves Park, Rockford area, Illinois | [9]Phil’s dramatic truck plunge. |
Why this is still a trending topic
Every year around February 2, fans search “where was Groundhog Day filmed” and rediscover that the movie town is actually in Illinois, not Pennsylvania. Woodstock leans into the attention with events and tours, so the filming locations keep showing up in travel vlogs, fan videos, and forum threads.
TL;DR: It looks like Punxsutawney, but Groundhog Day was filmed mainly in Woodstock, Illinois, with extra shots in a few other Illinois towns like Algonquin and the Rockford area.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
