The original Overboard (1987) was filmed mainly in coastal Northern California, with some key work in Oregon and on studio stages.

Main filming locations (1987)

  • Mendocino County, California – Much of the “Elk Cove, Oregon” small‑town setting was actually shot around Fort Bragg and Mendocino.
  • Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg, California – Harbor and boat scenes, including the famous final love‑declaration jump into the water, were filmed here.
  • Road 409, Caspar, California – Dean Proffitt’s rural house and homestead scenes used locations along this road near Caspar.
  • Newport, Oregon, USA – Select exterior scenes used the real Oregon coast to sell the story’s “Elk Cove, Oregon” setting.
  • San Pedro Bay, California – Some yacht and ocean material was shot here.
  • Raleigh Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles – Interior and controlled scenes were done on soundstages.

Simple location table

[5][1] [1] [3][1] [9][5] [3][5] [5][3]
On-screen placeReal filming location
Elk Cove, Oregon townMendocino & Fort Bragg, California
Dean’s house & woodsRoad 409, Caspar, California
Harbor/boat scenesNoyo Harbor, Fort Bragg, California
Oregon coastal feelNewport, Oregon
Yacht/ocean shotsSan Pedro Bay, California
Interior setsRaleigh Studios, Hollywood

Quick note on the 2018 remake

The 2018 Overboard remake was shot largely around Vancouver, British Columbia, with places like Steveston and Fort Langley standing in for the Oregon coastal town.

So if you ever feel like stepping “on set,” a real‑life Overboard tour would mostly take you up and down California’s North Coast, with a side trip to Newport, Oregon.

TL;DR: When people ask “where was Overboard filmed,” they’re usually talking about those Mendocino/Fort Bragg (CA) and Newport (OR) coastal spots that doubled as Elk Cove, plus a few yacht and studio locations in California.

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