“National Lampoon’s Vacation” (1983) was filmed across multiple U.S. states, mainly in California, Colorado, and Arizona, plus a few other scattered spots along the Griswolds’ “route.”

Main filming locations

  • California was a primary base, with suburban scenes and Walley World shot in the Los Angeles area.
  • Colorado provided many of the highway and desert–style road trip sequences, including stretches near Durango, Avondale, and La Plata County.
  • Arizona was used for the Grand Canyon stop and Sedona overlook scenes, including Aunt Edna’s death sequence.

Notable specific spots

  • Walley World : Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California, doubled for the park, while some parking‑lot views used Santa Anita Park in Arcadia with matte work.
  • Griswold house : Exterior shots were done at 2310 North Vermont Avenue in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles.
  • Aunt Edna scenes and desert mishaps : Shot around Schnebly Hill Road Overlook in Sedona and roadways in Colorado and on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation near Cortez.

Quick road-trip table

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Scene / Setting Real filming location
Walley World park Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California
Walley World parking lot views Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California (with scenic tricks)
Griswold family home exterior Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California (2310 N. Vermont Ave.)
Aunt Edna’s death overlook Schnebly Hill Road Overlook, Sedona, Arizona
Grand Canyon stop Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Various highway / desert scenes Rural Colorado and nearby reservation roads (e.g., La Plata County, Ute Mountain Ute Reservation)
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.