Kalama High School used as the setting for Forks High School Twilight movie filming locations
My daughter’s 13th birthday was marked by a “Twilight Movie Road Trip” that was all about finding Twilight movie filming locations. It was so much fun that even my husband had a good time, but don’t let that get out. I’ve received a lot of questions about our itinerary, so here it is. Have fun!
Originally posted 2014, locations updated September 2024 for the Twilight Movie Road Trip Guide To Filming Locations eBook.
Twilight movie filming locations Day 1: Port Angeles, Bella’s house and the exterior School of Dance and Forks High School
We left the Seattle-area Friday afternoon, our first stop was Bella’s house located in St. Helens, Oregon, about 2 hours 45 minutes from Seattle and 40 minutes from Portland. In addition to Bella’s house, the “Port Angeles” scenes were filmed here, which included “Petite Jolie,” the shop where Bella helps Jessica and Angela find their prom dresses, the parking lot where Edward rescued Bella from a group of boys, the Bloated Toad restaurant where Edward revealed his mind-reading abilities, and Thunderbird & Whale bookstore.
As we turned the corner toward Bella’s house, we strained to look up the road, not knowing what to expect. We drove past the house and turned around at the end of the road, then snapped a few photos drive-by style, never getting out of our car. It looked just like it did in the movie, with the exception of a friendly note on the tree in front of the house, reminding us that it is a private residence, not to peek in windows. Visiting a film location like this is a lot different than visiting a studio set; people actually live here, which kind of made us feel like the paparazzi. At first this made us all a little uneasy, but honestly it didn’t take long for us to all really get in to it.
Stalkers! Here we are in front of Bella’s house, the first stop on our Twilight road trip.
After seeing the Twilight sites in St. Helens, Oregon we retraced our path up to the Lewis and Clark Bridge and crossed back into Washington. Bridges across the Columbia are few and far between, and after doing some research I found that is was indeed faster to double back 30-ish minutes to cross the Columbia River the same way we came to continue to Portland. An added bonus, Kalama High School, used for the outside scenes of Forks High School, was an easy stop right on the way.
Kalama High School used as the setting for Forks High School.
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With the sun beginning to set, we headed into Portland for our final stop of the day, the site of Mimi’s School of Dance. The scene in Twilight with the final confrontation between Edward and James takes place at the ballet studio from Bella’s childhood.
Twilight Movie Road Trip : Mimi’s School of Dance
A few short minutes later we pulled up the Portland Hotel Monaco, our accommodations for the night. The Hotel Monaco is a luxury hotel with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. The Monaco is kid-friendly, pet-friendly, and located in the center of Downtown Portland. We found out that the cast of “Twilight” stayed there during the filming of the movie.
Welcome to the Hotel Monaco Portland – Street entrance
Twilight movie filming locations Day 2: Café, prom and Cullen’s house
After a restful night of sleep and a relaxing morning, we were back on the road to our next stop: the Carver Café, where Bella and her dad ate dinner a couple of times. It looked exactly like it did in the movie, but don’t expect to order Charlie’s favorites, those items aren’t on the menu.
Carver cafe – where Bella and Charlie ate during 2 scenes in “Twilight”.
Back on the road, we were headed to the View Point Inn, the scene of Bella and Edward’s prom. Unfortunately the View Point Inn had a fire last year, but the stunning views of the Columbia Gorge remain.
Sadly, the View Pint Inn had a fire last year.
After exploring the View Point Inn and some of the Columbia Scenic Highway, we made our way back to Portland to see the Cullen’s house, home to Edward and his vampire family. Driving through the idyllic hillside neighborhood consisting primarily of Craftsman and Old Portland-style homes, the Cullen’s house was a stark contrast with its sleek, modern design. There is a family that lives here, they welcome Twilight fans to take photos, but ask that you stay at the end of their drive way.
Twilight Cullen house – side view
Now mid-afternoon, we had enjoyed seeing the sites, but were ready to head to the last destination on our list, and one of our favorite places to visit: Cannon Beach. Located an hour and a half from Portland, Canon Beach is beautiful, relaxing and a welcome way to wrap up our Twilight Road Trip. We pulled up next to the lovely Ocean Lodge at Cannon Beach where we were staying and soaked in the fresh salt air, warm sunshine and incredible views.
Beautiful view! I wrapped up in a blanket and sat out watching the waves.
Twilight movie filming locations Day 3: La Push surfing and beach scene
Another surprise when doing my research for our “Twilight” movie filming locations road trip – the La Push beach scenes were actually filmed over 200 miles away at Indian Beach just north of Cannon Beach.
After a late lunch and a little shopping in Cannon Beach, we stopped by Bruce’s Candy Shop for road trip sustenance – our family tradition. Then we headed back home, full of conversation for a memorable 13th road trip birthday finding Twilight movie filming locations.
Disclaimer: Hotel Monaco Portland and Ocean Lodge at Cannon Beach provided accommodations for our hotel review. The opinions and experiences are my own.
21 Comments
I am SOOOOOOOO jelly but i am trying to save up to do the same
Wow that’s awesome! I am interested in the movies but more interested in the places where the movies were filmed!!! Ahhh they all are beyond beautiful and magical!!!!! Thanks for the mini tour. I totally want to live in one of these areas someday!
[…] Also along the way was the town of Forks, WA, where the Twilight books were set. We checked to see if the movies were actually filmed here, but it turned out that Oregon got the honors. This did not deter Twilight fans – Forks and Port Angeles saw tens of thousands more visitors after the books came out. For the actual filming locations in Oregon, check out this blog post. […]
[…] 14. Take a Twilight Movie Road Trip […]
Waah!! Thanks for posting this and I feel jelous like a freak fan of Twilight!! I wish someday I could also make a Twilight Road Trip. I’m really amazed on the places that Twilight shooted their scenes. ❤❤❤
Loved reading this! We are looking at doing a roadtrip next summer from Seattle to San Francisco (with my husband and two kids) and I’m going to have to put some Twilight visits on our itinerary!!
Thank you SO much for this blog! My husband and I are traveling this year to do the Twilight Tour. We recently retired and this is on my bucket list. Thanks, thanks, thanks!!
Thanks – have fun!
I wish my parent did this for me, the problem is I don’t live in America and my parents are divorces. *sigh* But dang that road trip is goals!
i wanna know the exact adress of the of the cullen house, pleaseee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s in my post on this page -> http://www.specialneedstravelmom.com/northwest-road-trips/twilight-movie-road-trip-the-cullens-house/ Have fun!
SAMEEEEEEEEEE BRO SAME I WANNA GO THERE IT SOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE I WOULD LIVE THERE WIT ME BFF JAZZY WE R TWILIGHT FREAKS!!!!!!!!
Yeaaah!! I feel the same!! Geez..
hi first i want to thank you for sharing your experience and more twilight locations
which i had no clue. i am planning a trip with my daughter however we are
from Texas so a road trip would be out of the question. Do you have any suggestions
as to what would be the best airport to fly in and rent a car to get in as
many twilight locations we can. i appreciate whatever suggestions you may
have. thank you
Hi…I would like to do the twilight movie road trip but just don’t know where to start on booking it. would like to do the same trip you did pretty much. can you help with any advice, where to book it etc? thankyou
hi i am planning a trip to oregon to see twilight can you help me out where did you stay .ty
Hi Shirley! We stayed at the Hotel Monaco, which is also where the cast from Twilight stayed while filming, and a pretty awesome place to stay. Have fun!
I am planning a surprise for my daughter and would like to ask if you could send me the address for the Cullens house?? I show its in West Vancouver??? Did I read it wrong??
Thanks Debbie Robinson
Hi Debbie! The first movie “Twilight” was filmed in the Northwest Oregon/Southwest Washington area, the Cullens’ house is in Portland – I have more info here: http://www.specialneedstravelmom.com/northwest-road-trips/twilight-movie-road-trip-the-cullens-house/. The set was then recreated in British Columbia, where the subsequent films were shot. Have fun!
Me an my friends did this and there is a book I got off of Amazon called Experience Twilight. It gives you a lot of info. ALSO about 5 min. from Carver Cafe is Stone Cliff Inn, it is where they filmed a lot of the scenes. Lion and the lamb, the skin reveal, the tree where he tells her she is his own brand….there is a sign there to let you know. I have seen so many people miss that. You should really get the book. It is all possible. We did over 1000 miles in 2 1/2 days. Hope you have an amazing trip. If you would like I can send you our Itenerary with all the addresses. My email address I’d hbrock999@gmail.com
hello me and my friends are planning a trip in two years time want to visit bellas house Edwards house the café prom store where thy filmed the prom the field they played baseball the café the forest where Edward and bella had their moments the beachand the highschool does anyone have any advice for us and how much is accomadation and how much was thatbook of amazon???