The 1955 film Picnic , directed by Joshua Logan and starring William Holden and Kim Novak, was primarily filmed in several small towns across Kansas, USA. This choice captured the authentic Midwestern vibe central to William Inge's story about a drifter shaking up a quiet Labor Day weekend.

Key Filming Spots

Kansas locations dominated the outdoor shoots over six weeks in spring 1955, with interiors later done at Burbank Studios in California.

Location| Scenes Filmed| Dates (1955)
---|---|---
Halstead, KS (Riverside Park)| Labor Day picnic sequences, merry-go-round, footbridge| May 23–June 3 (10 days)15
Hutchinson, KS| Grain elevator rooftops, bath house| May 21–22 (2 days)15
Salina, KS| Train depot (East Iron Ave & S. 4th St), Benson mansion, station| May 10–20 (10 days)15
Nickerson, KS (211 S. Nickerson St)| Owens' house and next-door Potts home| Not specified5
Sterling, KS| Pre-picnic lake swim| Not specified57

Fun production tale : A tornado hit nearby during Halstead picnic shoots, sparing the set but devastating Udall, KS—the crew even helped with cleanup. Torrential rains later forced some picnic reshoots on a Hollywood backlot.

Why Kansas?

These heartland towns mirrored the film's 1950s small-town essence, from dusty streets to community parks. Fans still visit today, as seen in YouTube tours like "Smarty Pance Show."

TL;DR : Mostly Kansas—Halstead for picnics, Hutchinson elevators, Salina depot/mansion, plus Nickerson and Sterling.

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