Opting to shoot on location for as much of the show as possible, HBO's The Last of Us features a variety of real locations in the first and second seasons of the series. Filming for The Last of Us season 1 began on July 12, 2021, and wrapped almost a year later on June 11, 2022, finally premiering in January 2023, while The Last of Us season 2 filmed for over 150 days, preparing for its April 2025 premiere. The creators behind The Last of Us TV series have incorporated some truly stunning locations throughout the series.
While The Last of Us tells the story of a post-apocalyptic United States, one ravaged by a fungus-based virus that infects humans called the Cordyceps, most of the show's filming actually takes place in Canada, across both of the seasons, which include Alberta for a significant portion, and Vancouver for the Seattle locations in season 2. Such location-spotting is successful with The Last of Us' attention to detail and moody post-apocalyptic atmosphere. With The Last of Us season 3 on the way, the series will likely be going back to Canada once again.
Calgary
Alberta
Most filming for season 1 took place in and around Calgary, a city in the province of Alberta in Western Canada. Calgary stood as a substitute for many areas in The Last of Us, as many sequences filmed in Calgary stood in for the Boston quarantine zone of The Last of Us episode 1. A town named High River in Calgary was also used for these sequences. Calgary also houses two colleges, Mount Royal University and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, which stood in for the fictional University of Eastern Colorado in the game's final section.
Why Tommy Left The Fireflies In The Last Of Us
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A mall in northwest Calgary named Northland Village Mall was used for filming, replicating the mall in the Left Behind DLC for The Last of Us game featuring Riley and Ellie's storyline. Downtown Calgary and Beltline were also used for elements of a dystopian Boston. Some other areas of Calgary used for filming The Last of Us included Kensington and Victoria Park. Two other small towns in the Calgary region named Okotoks and Olds were used for filming.
Fort Macleod
Alberta
Another town in Alberta, Canada, used for filming The Last of Us season 1 was Fort Macleod, located south of Calgary. The filming done in Fort Macleod was used for the prologue of The Last of Us episode 1, in which Joel, Sarah, and Tommy experience the Cordyceps outbreak in their hometown of Austin, Texas. It immediately sets the tone for the entire show, opening it up with one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the entire story.
Edmonton
Alberta
Canmore
Alberta
The town of Canmore, just west of Calgary, was used to recreate Jackson, Wyoming, the location of Tommy's community in The Last of Us. Production was centered around Canmore for four days, between November 15th and November 19th, 2021, and featured Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, and Diego Luna among 300 extras. Waterton Lakes National Park was also used for filming, just south of Canmore, and features other important The Last of Us scenes from the Wyoming portion.
Interstate 435
Kansas City, Missouri
One of the final shooting locations for The Last of Us was Interstate 435, which encircles the majority of Kansas City and exists in Kansas and Missouri. This shooting location was partly used for the sections of the game involving Sam and Henry. In the game, Sam and Henry are two characters who befriend Joel and Ellie in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The four work together to avoid the bandits that have taken control of the city.
This is the only location in the United States that The Last of Us was filmed in.
However, The Last of Us changed this section of the game by having Joel and Ellie not travel through Pittsburgh, instead encountering both Sam and Henry in Kansas City. This explains the shooting occurring on Interstate 435, as that is the road Ellie and Joel used to enter Kansas City. Other Kansas City scenes were shot in Calgary.
What We Know About Season 2's Filming Locations
It Was Shot Entirely In Canada
Unlike the first season, which was shot in Kansas City for a little bit, The Last of Us season 2 was shot entirely in Canada, with the majority of it taking place in various locations across Alberta. The production went back to the previous Alberta locations from season 1. According to Toronto News, Calgary and Edmonton were some favorite filming locations for the cast and crew. The Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton is back, and can be seen towering over the wreckage of the city.
One major additional location in The Last of Us season 2 is Vancouver, Canada, which is located just north of Washington state in the U.S. This location was used for a post-apocalyptic Seattle, which is a prominent location for Abby in The Last of Us Part II as well as season 2, which explores who she is and her backstory leading up to her coming across Joel and Ellie, a defining moment for The Last of Us.
