Forget what you think you know about Forks, Washington. While the fictional home of Bella Swan and the Cullen family is a real town, the iconic, rain-drenched, and eternally misty Pacific Northwest (PNW) setting of the original Twilight movie was actually filmed hundreds of miles away, primarily across various stunning locations in Oregon and Washington State. This comprehensive guide, updated for December 11, 2025, reveals the exact addresses, recent status changes, and must-see spots for the ultimate Twihard road trip, from the atmospheric Swan House to the glass-walled Cullen residence.
The cinematic universe of Twilight spans multiple states and even continents, but the most beloved scenes from the 2008 film—the high school, the diner, and the houses—are concentrated within an accessible driving radius of Portland, Oregon. We’ve collected over 25 entities and the precise coordinates for your journey into the world of vampires and werewolves, ensuring you find every hidden gem and cinematic landmark.
The Essential Twilight Filming Locations (Oregon & Washington)
The majority of the first movie’s filming took place in the small, charming town of St. Helens, Oregon, and the metropolitan area of Portland. These locations were chosen for their moody, overcast atmosphere and dense, moss-covered forests, perfectly capturing the Olympic Peninsula's vibe without the logistical challenges of filming in the remote town of Forks, WA.
Bella Swan’s House (The Swan House)
The unassuming, two-story house where Bella moves in with her father, Charlie Swan, has become one of the most visited locations in the saga. It perfectly captures the small-town, rustic feel of Forks.
- Location: 184 S 6th St, St Helens, Oregon 97051
- Status Update: The house is a private residence but is famously available to rent as an Airbnb. This allows fans to sleep in Bella’s actual bedroom and recreate iconic scenes, like the 'Spider-Monkey' moment, making it a truly immersive experience.
- Cinematic Role: The exterior and interior of the house were used for all scenes set in the Swan residence throughout the first film.
The Cullen Family Residence (The Hoke House)
Edward Cullen’s home is an architectural masterpiece, designed to be modern, glass-walled, and bathed in natural light—a striking contrast to the dark, traditional vampire lore. The real house is known as the Hoke House.
- Location: 3333 NW Quimby Street, Portland, Oregon 97210
- Status Update: This is a private, multi-million dollar residence in the affluent Willamette Heights neighborhood. Fans are highly discouraged from trespassing or disturbing the residents. It is best viewed respectfully from the street.
- Cinematic Role: The exterior and interior of the Portland home were used for the first Twilight movie. The subsequent films, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn, used different, equally stunning modern homes in Vancouver, British Columbia, to represent the Cullen's shifting location.
Forks High School & Local Hangouts
The social hubs of the movie, where Bella first meets the Cullen siblings and her human friends, were split between two locations.
- Kalama High School (Exterior): The exterior shots of Forks High School, including the famous parking lot where Edward saves Bella from the skidding van, were filmed at Kalama High School in Kalama, Washington.
- Madison High School (Interior): The interior classroom and cafeteria scenes were filmed in Portland, Oregon, at what was then known as Madison High School (now McDaniel High School).
- The Carver Café (The Diner): The cozy, rustic diner where Charlie and Bella share meals (known as "The Lodge" in the movie) is the real Carver Cafe, located at 16471 SE 362nd Ave, Boring, Oregon 97009. It’s a fully operational restaurant, and you can still order a burger where Bella sat.
- The Bloated Toad Restaurant: Although a fictional location in the movie, the exterior was filmed at a building located at 330 S. 1st Street in St. Helens, Oregon.
The Saga’s Most Iconic Action Scenes and Updates
Beyond the main residences, several other Pacific Northwest landmarks and studios were used to film the most memorable action sequences, including the vampire baseball game and the dramatic final fight.
The Vampire Baseball Scene
The iconic, thunderous baseball game, set to Muse’s "Supermassive Black Hole," was filmed in a secluded field that perfectly captured the Pacific Northwest’s rugged beauty.
- Location: The scene was filmed at a site called The Shire, a private property near the Columbia River Gorge in Washington State, which offers stunning views of the surrounding area. The dramatic, misty backdrop often seen behind the characters is, in fact, Multnomah Falls in Oregon, cleverly stitched into the scene.
- Other Forest Scenes: Many of the deep forest and waterfall scenes were captured in Silver Falls State Park, Oregon, known for its "Trail of Ten Falls" and lush, cinematic environment.
The Ballet Studio Confrontation
The dramatic climax of the first film, where James lures Bella to a ballet studio in Phoenix, Arizona, was not filmed in the Southwest at all. The production used a recognizable building in Portland.
- Location: The exterior of "Mimi's School of Dance" was actually the Yale Laundry Building, located at 800 SE 10th Avenue, Portland, Oregon.
- Note: The interior scenes, including the final fight, were shot on a sound stage, but the exterior of the historic Yale Union Building provides the perfect backdrop for fans.
The Prom Scene (The View Point Inn Update)
The elegant prom scene, where Bella and Edward share a slow dance, was filmed at a historic luxury lodge overlooking the Columbia River Gorge.
- Location: The View Point Inn, Corbett, Oregon.
- Status Update: The Inn suffered a devastating fire in 2011 and has been undergoing a long, complex restoration process. Recent updates (November 2024) indicate ongoing efforts to restore this landmark, but fans should check the current status before visiting, as it is not currently operating as a hotel or restaurant.
The Forks, Washington Experience: Where the Book Lives
Despite the first movie being filmed elsewhere, the actual town of Forks, Washington, on the Olympic Peninsula, fully embraces its fictional fame. A road trip is incomplete without a stop here, where the saga truly began.
The Forks Visitors Center & Forever Twilight Collection
Forks has transformed into a year-round pilgrimage site for Twihards. The town offers a self-guided tour map to see the locations that inspired the book, which are often marked by signs indicating which fictional character lives there (like the "Swan House" on 775 K St, which is a different house from the movie location).
- The Forever Twilight Collection: Located at the Rainforest Arts Center, this museum houses an impressive collection of authentic costumes and props used in the movies, including Bella’s prom dress, various Cullen family outfits, and other key artifacts from the entire saga. This is the best place to see actual movie memorabilia.
- Annual Events: Forks hosts annual fan events, including the "Twilight Festival" or "Forever Twilight in Forks," which draw fans from around the globe to celebrate the book's anniversary.
Beyond the First Film: New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn Filming Locations
As the saga expanded, so did the international scope of the filming, moving away from Oregon and into Canada, Italy, and even Louisiana. These locations are key to completing the full Twilight cinematic tour.
The Volturi in Montepulciano, Italy
In New Moon, Edward travels to Volterra, Italy, to provoke the ancient Volturi coven. However, the production team chose a different Tuscan town to film the dramatic, sun-drenched climax.
- Location: The scenes were filmed in Montepulciano, Italy, a stunning medieval hill town in Southern Tuscany.
- Key Spots: The central square where Edward is about to expose himself to the sun is the Piazza Grande, and the alleyways and tunnels of the historic center were used to represent Volterra.
Canadian and Southern US Locations
For budget and logistical reasons, most of the remaining films in the saga—New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn—were primarily filmed in British Columbia, Canada, specifically around Vancouver and West Vancouver.
- New Moon Cullen House: A different, equally modern private residence in the British Properties area of West Vancouver (118 Stevens Drive) was used for the Cullen house in New Moon.
- Breaking Dawn: The final two films, particularly the honeymoon and Brazil-related scenes, utilized locations in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and various studio sets to complete the saga’s diverse settings.
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