Maps of Movies
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Where Thelma & Louise says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
The road from Arkansas to the Grand Canyon was filmed in California, Colorado and Utah, and the canyon edge is not in the Grand Canyon at all
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Scenes and places
Thelma's morning at home (1991)
Thelma makes breakfast for her controlling husband Darryl, then phones Louise to plan a weekend at a mountain cabin.
Set in Thelma's neighborhood, Arkansas — The home where Thelma makes breakfast for her husband and plans a weekend away. The film never names the town.
Filmed at Tarzana, Los Angeles — Tarzana stood in for Thelma's Arkansas neighborhood. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The diner where Louise works (1991)
Louise handles regulars and orders, and takes Thelma's call about the trip between customers.
Set in Louise's diner, Arkansas — The busy diner where Louise works the floor. The film never names the town.
Filmed at DuPar's Restaurant, Thousand Oaks — The Arkansas diner was filmed at DuPar's. The point is the city, not the restaurant. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The first stretch of road (1991)
Thelma asks to stop somewhere for a drink on the way to the cabin; Louise warns they will arrive after dark, then gives in.
Set in Country road toward the cabin, Arkansas — The two drive toward the cabin and Thelma asks to stop for a drink.
Filmed at Gorman, California — Gorman stood in for Arkansas. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Lockwood Valley, California — Lockwood Valley also stood in for Arkansas. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The honky-tonk bar (1991)
Thelma dances and drinks while Harlan flirts with her; in the parking lot the evening turns violent and the two leave in a hurry.
Set in The Silver Bullet bar — A roadside bar where Thelma dances and drinks.
Filmed at Silver Bullet Saloon, Long Beach — The Silver Bullet Saloon doubled as the honky-tonk. Coordinates are the city. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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A roadside stop by an oil field (1991)
After the bar the women drive on through the night and stop to work out how to get money and where to hide.
Set in Roadside on the way to Oklahoma — The women stop at the side of the road to decide how to get money and where to hide.
Principal photography ran from 11 June to 31 August 1990.
Filmed at San Joaquin Valley near Bakersfield — A roadside stop near an oil field was filmed outside Bakersfield. Coordinates are the city. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The Oklahoma City motel (1991)
Louise arranges for her boyfriend Jimmy to bring money using a code word, while police back in Arkansas question the bar waitress.
Set in Motel in Oklahoma City — The motel where Louise arranges to have her boyfriend Jimmy bring money. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Vagabond Inn, South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles — The Vagabond Inn served as the Oklahoma City motel. No coordinates found. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The argument over the map (1991)
Thelma wants the shortest way to Mexico, but Louise refuses to cross one particular state.
Set in On the road in Oklahoma — The women plan routes toward Mexico and argue over a map.
Filmed at Rural Bakersfield area — Rural areas around Bakersfield were the main filming location. The exact stretch for this scene is unknown. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Hal's phone call (1991)
Investigator Hal tells Louise they are wanted for questioning and that Thelma is now wanted for armed robbery.
Set in Phone call from the road — Investigator Hal reaches Louise by phone.
Filmed at Unaweep Canyon, Colorado — Unaweep Canyon is named as a filming location by one source. Which scene it matches is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The state trooper stop (1991)
A state trooper stops the car; Thelma and Louise take his gun and lock him in the trunk of his own patrol car.
Set in Roadside in New Mexico — A state trooper stops the car.
The scene is set in New Mexico but was filmed in Utah, according to one source. The Utah Film Commission says about half the film was shot within 50-60 miles of Moab in summer 1990.
Filmed at La Sal Mountains, Utah — Utah's La Sal area is listed as a filming location. Which scene it matches is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Grand Junction, Colorado — Grand Junction and Paradox Valley stood in for Arizona and New Mexico. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Paradox Valley, Colorado — Paradox Valley stood in for Arizona and New Mexico. Coordinates are the valley from Wikipedia, not a scene spot. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The desert road and the warrants (1991)
Radio dispatch broadcasts warrants naming both women in New Mexico and Arizona while they keep driving across open desert.
Set in Desert road in Arizona — Radio dispatch names both women in warrants while they drive across open desert.
Filmed at Cisco, Utah — The Utah ghost town of Cisco, used for a chase scene according to the Utah Film Commission. The commission does not say where that scene falls in the story, so this stop is placed here by film order only. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Arches National Park, Utah — Arches is a listed filming location. Which scene it matches is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The edge of the canyon (1991)
The long road finally leads toward the Grand Canyon, the place the story names as its destination.
Set in The Grand Canyon — The place the road leads to. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The crew reached the spot by Shafer Trail on the Canyonlands side, according to the Utah Film Commission (no coordinates found).
Filmed at South of Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah — The Grand Canyon scenes were filmed just south of Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah. The spot inside the park is now called Thelma & Louise Point. Coordinates are the park, not the exact spot. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Filmed at Moab, Utah — Desert driving scenes Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at La Sal Mountains road, Utah (opening credits) — Opening credits Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Thompson Springs, Utah — 18-wheeler scene Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Courthouse Towers, Arches National Park, Utah — Squad-car scene Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Shafter, California — Train sequence Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Taft, California — Road toward Oklahoma Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Tehachapi Mountains road, California — Road scene Google Maps · Apple Maps
Characters
- Thelma — A housewife who gets away from her controlling husband for a weekend trip.
- Louise — A diner waitress who plans the trip with her friend.
- Hal — An Arkansas State Police investigator who tracks them by phone.
Questions answered on the map
- Where was the Grand Canyon scene in Thelma & Louise really filmed?
- Where is the Arkansas of Thelma & Louise really?