If you’ve ever wanted to bike through Hawkins or stand where Eleven faced the Demogorgon, Georgia’s calling. Pack your mixtapes, dust off the walkie-talkie, and get ready for a weekend road trip that warps between nostalgia and the uncanny. We’ll trace the neon glow, haunted hallways, and secret labs that made the show a cult obsession, with stops perfect for photos, tours, and geeky reenactments. Buckle up: this is your portal to adventure, friendship, and a sprinkle of The Upside Down.
Hawkins Lab – Atlanta (Emory University Briarcliff Campus)
Stand before the birthplace of nightmares and nosebleeds: the Briarcliff campus exterior that became Hawkins Lab. Even from outside the gates, the building’s lines loom like a classified file you’re not cleared to open. You can’t enter, but the perimeter vantage points deliver iconic angles.
Go on a cloudy day for maximum dread, and record a slow push-in shot while a friend intones, “She’s our friend – and she’s crazy!” The wind here has a secretive rustle; you’ll swear fluorescent lights buzz somewhere beyond. Keep respectful of signage and security, then cap the visit with a map check for your next stop.
This is the perfect pivot point – science gone sideways, portal whispers, the Upside Down tapping. If a Christmas light flickers in your mind, you’re doing it right.
Hawkins Middle & High School – Stockbridge
Begin where the echoes of gym sneakers and walkie static still hum in the air. The former Patrick Henry High School doubled for Hawkins Middle and High, a two-for-one pilgrimage that drops you right into seasons 1 and 2. Though the campus is closed and facing demolition, respectful fans still swing by the lots to snap photos where friendships launched and monsters loomed.
Arrive early to beat traffic, park legally, and line up a classic “bikes at the curb” shot. Imagine pep rallies masking secret D&D strategies and a certain telekinetic newcomer peeking through the doors. The atmosphere tilts nostalgic with a whisper of eerie – like the lights might flicker overhead.
Keep an eye on the gym façade; you’ll recognize it instantly. This is your origin point, your party formation, your roll-for-initiative moment.
Downtown Jackson – The Town of Hawkins
Step into Hawkins proper along Jackson’s brick-lined blocks, where bikes once whirred past as mysteries brewed. Stroll 2nd Street, scout the Melvald’s storefront, and find the Hawk Theater marquee where teenage drama spilled into town lore. It’s the perfect place to recreate Joyce’s frantic errands or a squad photo mid-quest.
Duck into local shops, sip a coffee, and scan for flickering bulbs – just in case the Upside Down is feeling chatty. You’ll sense that summer haze of possibility, the D&D party energy, the “friends don’t lie” promise on the breeze. Hit golden hour for glowing facades and cinema-worthy portraits. Keep your camera ready: every corner screams screenshot.
This is Hawkins’ heartbeat – part cozy nostalgia, part ominous undertow. And yes, gossip here travels faster than Steve with a can of spray paint.
Palace Arcade & Family Video – Douglasville
Neon beckons in Douglasville, where quarters clink and plans click into place. The Palace Arcade pulses with pixelated bravado, a perfect spot to nail that high-score selfie and channel season 2 swagger. Just a short hop away, Family Video cues up the Steve-and-Robin banter energy – pose at the storefront and imagine Dustin barging in with a chaotic scheme.
Visit at dusk for candy-colored reflections that scream 1980s mixtape magic. Grab local snacks, quote your favorite “code red,” and try a synchronized walk toward camera for an instant poster shot. The vibe dances between gleeful nostalgia and the sense something is plotting just offscreen.
If you listen closely, you’ll swear Dragon’s Lair beckons. This stop is for the party’s strategist, the chatterbox, the heart – everyone who knows an arcade is also a war room.
The Creel House – Rome
Things tilt deliciously dark at Rome’s Creel House, a Victorian stunner with secrets etched into every cornice. Featured in season 4, it radiates that hush-before-the-strings-screech energy – perfect for aficionados of Vecna’s dread. Respect the property’s rules and perimeters, framing photos from the sidewalk to capture the turreted silhouette.
Arrive near blue hour for spectral grandeur; the porch lamps glow like omens. Whisper a D&D saving throw and count the seconds of silence – eerie, right? It’s gorgeous, unsettling, and magnetic, reminding you why horror can be beautiful. Fans reenact the slow approach up the path, pausing where time feels stretched thin.
This is the stop that chills your timeline and lights up your feed. Bring composure, courage, and maybe an Eggo as tribute. The house watches, the trees listen, and your snapshot becomes a sigil.
The Wheeler House – East Point
Roll quietly through East Point and you’ll spot the Wheeler residence, ground zero for basement councils and teenage showdowns. It’s a private home, so enjoy from the curb and keep the vibe friendly. Frame a subtle driveway shot and imagine Mike pedaling out, Dustin whooping behind him, Lucas scouting the route. The nostalgia here is warm and suburban, like Saturday mornings with cereal and a stack of comics.
Fans love recreating the gang’s “bikes at the ready” pose – just keep voices low and traffic clear. It’s a brief stop, but it connects everything: crushes, curfews, and the steadfast kind of friendship D&D campaigns are built on.
If you spot lace curtains, pretend Karen’s peeking. Then roll on, humming synth lines, feeling the heart of Hawkins thump steady beneath the quiet.
Starcourt Mall – Duluth (Gwinnett Place Mall)
Queue the synths and lace your sneakers – Starcourt awaits in Duluth. Though the filmed wing is shuttered, the exterior still hums with echoes of scoops, secrets, and a certain showdown with a tentacled terror. Aim for a wide parking-lot panorama to conjure that season 3 scale.
Fans stage ice-cream selfies, communist-conspiracy side-eyes, and victory poses that scream “sweet taste of Scoops Ahoy.” At sunset, the sky blushes neon – perfect for a triumphant slow walk. There’s a thrill here, like a mall Santa’s whisper mixed with Cold War static. You’ll feel the party’s bravery stitched into the concrete.
Remember: friendship is the real superpower, but a strong photo filter helps. When you leave, check your pockets – did you bring an extra quarter, or did the Upside Down tip you?
Hawkins Community Pool – Atlanta (South Bend Pool)
Sunlight glints off South Bend Pool, where confidence strutted in red swim trunks and gossip drifted like sunscreen haze. Channel the Hawkins pool episode energy with a classic lifeguard-chair composition – minus the drama. Visit during open hours, respect staff and swimmers, and snag a quick shot near the deck line for that perfect perspective.
The palette pops here: aquamarine water, cherry umbrellas, bright towels. Cue your best slow-mo walk and a wink for the camera – someone’s absolutely starting rumors. Between laps, trade favorite quotes and debate your team Billy vs. team Common Sense. It’s a breezy interlude in a weekend of creeps and mysteries, proof that summer bliss can share a border with the bizarre.
Dry off, grab a cold drink, and plot the next chapter like a party regrouping after a short rest.
Stone Mountain Park – Wooded Scenes
Trade neon for needles and step into Stone Mountain’s whispering pines, where the woods feel one sideways glance from another dimension. Hike a short loop at dawn to catch mist lifting off the understory – instant Upside Down vibes without the danger. Snap a silhouette shot between trunks, bikes at your side, radios “crackling.”
The trails give you room for dialogue reenactments and dice-roll debates. Listen for woodpeckers and far-off laughter; even the birds seem to know a secret here. It’s a grounding pause, a reminder that adventure thrives between tree roots and courage. Keep to marked paths, pack water, and leave no trace – a ranger is your party’s cleric.
As you exit, glance back: did the forest blink? Maybe. Either way, you’ve leveled up your weekend campaign.
Sleepy Hollow Farm – Powder Springs (Escape Woods)
Close the loop at Hopper and Eleven’s refuge, where family was forged between waffles and whispered promises. Sleepy Hollow Farm’s Escape Woods offers themed trails and tours – book ahead to snag a guided experience with puzzles, lore, and photo ops by the cabin. You’ll feel the show’s heartbeat here: protective, stubborn, fiercely tender.
Try a quiet shot at the doorstep, then a playful Eggo tribute for your feed. Trails wind through pumpkin-patch memories and into the edges of the uncanny, perfect for a finale that tingles with possibility. Staff are fan-friendly; ask about best angles and seasonal events.
As the woods darken, you’ll swear the air tastes like static and hope. Roll your final d20, declare the party victorious, and drive off humming the theme – Georgia in your rearview, Hawkins in your heart.
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