Back To The Future Travel Guide: Los Angeles
Reel Places Series
Welcome to “Reel Places“, a blog post series where I create a travel guide that makes you feel like you’ve entered the world of your favorite film. In this post, I’m bringing you Back To The Future in Los Angeles. I’ll cover real locations from the film as well as some unique spots that fit the 80s time traveler aesthetic. So plug in your coordinates and get ready for this epic Back To The Future-inspired adventure through Los Angeles:
What To See
Great Scott! Welcome to Los Angeles: the fictional Hill Valley and home of Marty McFly and Doc Brown from Back to the Future. The greater LA area is not only home to the movie’s most iconic filming locations, but it’s also full of aesthetic spots that will make you feel like you’ve stepped out of the DeLorean and into 1955:
Gamble House
The Gamble House in Pasadena achieved cinematic fame as the exterior of Doc Brown’s eccentric and iconic Hill Valley lab in Back to the Future. Before it became one of the most recognizable homes in cinematic history, this Charles and Henry Greene-designed architectural gem served as a summer residence for the Gamble family of Procter & Gamble.
With its distinctive wooden detailing and picturesque setting, Its striking Arts and Crafts architecture provided the perfect backdrop for the film’s beloved scenes, adding a touch of charm and timelessness to the story.
To this day, you can tour the Gamble House, reliving the magic of the movie and witnessing early Pasadena history, and visit the gift shop, perusing the Gamble House’s Back to the Future-themed mementos.
Type: Filming Location
Address: 4 Westmoreland Pl, Pasadena, CA 91103
Tour Cost: $15-80/adult, depending on the tour*.
Bushnell Avenue
Bushnell Avenue is a quiet, tree-lined street in South Pasadena that may look like an ordinary suburban neighborhood, but is actually a key Back to the Future filming location. Walking down Bushnell, you’ll recognize the 1955 Hill Valley homes of George McFly, Lorraine Baines and Biff Tannen.
Beyond its movie magic, Bushnell Avenue captures a timeless, quintessential Southern California vibe with charming Craftsman homes and lush greenery—perfect for adding some film history to your LA-inspired travel content.
Type: Filming Locations
Addresses:
- George McFly: 1711 Bushnell Ave, South Pasadena, CA
- Lorraine Baines: 1727 Bushnell Ave, South Pasadena, CA
- Biff Tannen: 1809 Bushnell Ave, South Pasadena, CA
Cost To Visit: Free to see the outside of the home, the inside is unavailable for tours*
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The closest you’ll get to being inside Doc Brown’s laboratory in real life, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is located along the border of Pasadena and La Cañada Flintridge. While it doesn’t focus on time travel in the film sense, JPL’s time travel tie-in is through its communications to and from spacecraft and satellites throughout the solar system. Because their great distances, any time JPL receives or sends a message there is a delay – meaning the scientists there-in are communicating either in the future or the past, depending on your perspective.
JPL is also the birthplace of many well-known spacecraft . From the Mars Curiosity Rover to the Europa Clipper, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory has the real-life science and innovation that make it perfect for fans of Doc and his DeLorean.
Type: Aesthetic Spot
Address: 4800 Oak Grove Drive La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
Tour Cost: Free, with tickets being released online monthly*
Petersen Automotive Museum
Not only is the Petersen Automotive Museum one of the most fun museums in LA – which is saying a lot coming from me – but its Cars of Film and Television exhibit holds none other the DeLorean itself! Come see Doc Brown’s time-traveling invention up close and personal and don’t forget to view some of the museum’s other themed exhibits like “Fast/Forward: Strother MacMinn’s Sports Cars of the Future“!
The Petersen Automotive Museum is located inside a red futuristic-looking building (what else?!) across from LACMA.
Type: Prop Location
Address: 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
General Admission: $21* but does not include Vault Access (additional $28)
Time Travel Mart
Ever wonder what you might want to bring with you to the past or pick-up from the future? You may just be able. todo so via The Time Travel Mart.
With locations in Echo Park and Mar Vista, The Time Travel Mart is truly a convenience store for time travelers. From futuristic postcards to “Pastports” and from the Time Scouts Handbook to “Time Travel Sickness Pills“, has all you might be looking for before your next trip aboard the DeLorean.
And in case you need more reasons to visit in this decade, TTM is also home to a publishing house that focuses on student-authored books and its proceeds all go toward 826LA, a youth-writing non-profit.
Type: Aesthetic Spot
Address: 1714 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Cost: Free To Visit*. Costs of items in the Mart vary
Griffith Park Tunnel
Technically a prominent location in Back to the Future II, Griffith Park‘s iconic tunnel is where Marty tries to steal Grays Sports Almanac from the film’s villain, Biff Tannen.
Type: Filming Location
Address: Mt Hollywood Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Cost To Visit: Free*
Universal Studios Clock Tower
Catch a glimpse of Hill Valley’s historic clock tower at Universal Studios Hollywood. Although Doc and Marty have already used the notorious 1955 lightning storm to power the DeLorean, you can still explore the same street that Marty did before he time traveled back to 1985 via a Studio Tour Tram.
Type: Filming Location
Address: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
Park Ticket Prices: Vary by day and ticket type, but prices generally start at $109/person*
Museum of Jurassic Technology
Is there anywhere else in Los Angeles that will make you feel as nostalgic and time-travel-y as the Museum of Jurassic Technology? Step back in time with a walk through the disorienting Museum’s collection and view obscure pieces that time long since forgot including scientific letters, photographs and, of course, the technological pieces and instruments themselves.
Type: Aesthetic Location
Address: 9341 Venice Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
Ticket Cost: $12/adult*
Hollywood Methodist Church
An easy place to hit during your Back to the Future-themed tour of Los Angeles is the Hollywood Methodist Church. Located about a block away from the famous Hollywood and Highland intersection, the Church was used as the location of the Hill Valley High’s 1955 School Dance.
Type: Filming Location
Address: 6817 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Cost To Visit: Free*
Where To Stay
The Greater LA area is home to some amazing places to stay that truly stand the test of time. In looking for Back To The Future-inspired digs, I focused on finding accommodations with a little retro charm, futuristic qualities or a craftsman-like style that Doc Brown himself would approve of.
Spectacular 1909 Craftsman – $$$$$
The Bissell House – $$$
Arroyo Vista Inn – $$
Studio Cottage – $$
Where To Eat
No Back to the Future-aesthetic guide would be complete without a few classic 1950’s diners. Here are all the ones I recommend:
Cindy’s – Retro Breakfast Cafe in Eagle Rock
Clark Street Diner – Classic Diner in Hollywood
Shakers – Retro Breakfast Cafe in South Pasadena
TwoHeys – Classic Diner in South Pasadena
Norm’s Restaurant – Retro Restaurant Chain located in Hollywood, LA, Whittier and more!
Pie N’Burger – Classic Diner in Pasadena
Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Bar – Old-School Pharmacy, Soda Fountain and Candy Shop in South Pasadena
