The General Lee’s Secret Route: 7 Surprising Dukes Of Hazzard Filming Locations You Can Still Visit Today

The iconic 1979 series The Dukes of Hazzard is synonymous with the deep South, dirt roads, and the high-flying orange Dodge Charger, the General Lee. Yet, the reality of where the show was filmed is a fascinating tale of Hollywood production logistics that saw the Duke boys—Bo, Luke, and Daisy—relocate their Hazzard County from one coast to the other after only a handful of episodes. As of late 2025, fans are still flocking to the original real-world locations, while the later, more famous sets have become part of studio history.

The show’s geographic split is a crucial piece of trivia for any true fan. The early episodes, which established the show's authentic Southern feel, were shot on location in Georgia. However, the vast majority of the series, which ran from 1979 to 1985, was filmed on a studio backlot in California, creating a stark contrast between the "real" Hazzard County and the Hollywood version.

The Original Hazzard County: Georgia's Real-World Locations

The very first five episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard were filmed entirely on location in Georgia, primarily in and around the towns of Covington, Conyers, and Social Circle. This initial phase of production, which took place during the winter of 1978, used genuine local buildings and landscapes to create the fictional Hazzard County.

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The decision to film in Georgia lent an undeniable authenticity to the first season, showcasing real Southern charm and rural settings. Unfortunately for the production crew, the logistics and costs of shooting far from the main studio in California proved too difficult to sustain for a long-running series, leading to the rapid move west.

1. Covington, Georgia: The Hazzard County Courthouse and Square

Covington, Georgia, is arguably the most famous real-life location associated with the show. The town square served as the primary set for the fictional Hazzard County seat, with the real Newton County Courthouse standing in for the Hazzard County Courthouse.

Today, Covington is a popular destination for film tourism, often dubbed "Hollywood of the South" for its roles in other major productions like The Vampire Diaries and In the Heat of the Night. Fans can still walk the square and easily recognize the buildings used by the Duke family, Boss Hogg, and Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane.

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2. The Duke Farm and Boar's Nest

The iconic Duke Farm, home to Uncle Jesse, Daisy Duke, Bo, and Luke, was a real farmstead used for the initial episodes. While the specific structures are often private property, the general area near Covington and Conyers provided the backdrop for the Duke family's residence and their famous barn.

Similarly, the interior and exterior shots for the Boar's Nest, the local watering hole and gathering spot, were also filmed at real locations in the area. The original real-world structures used for these key settings are still standing, allowing fans on self-guided tours to revisit the spots where the Duke cousins would plan their next escape from Boss Hogg.

3. Conyers and Social Circle: The Driving Backdrops

Beyond the main town square, the surrounding areas of Conyers and Social Circle provided the vast, winding dirt roads and open landscapes essential for the General Lee's legendary car chases and jumps. These rural roads were instrumental in creating the show's signature action sequences, including the famous "Seney Hall Jump scene," which is a notable spot on the Covington tour.

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The California Backlot: Hazzard County's Hollywood Home

After the initial five episodes, production permanently shifted to California. This move meant that the majority of the 147 episodes were filmed on sound stages and backlots, where the crew could control the environment, reuse sets, and minimize the logistical nightmare of filming on location across the country.

The California filming locations were primarily centered around Warner Bros. facilities in the Los Angeles area, specifically Burbank and the surrounding ranches.

4. Columbia/Warner Bros. Ranch (Burbank, California)

The bulk of the exterior scenes, especially those featuring the Duke farm and the rural roads, were shot at the Columbia/Warner Bros. Ranch. This property, located at 411 North Hollywood, was a crucial backlot for the show.

The ranch was a massive property that allowed the production team to stage the numerous car stunts and jumps involving the General Lee and Rosco’s patrol cars. While the ranch has since undergone changes and is sometimes referred to as the Valencia Oaks Movie Ranch or Lyon Canyon, it remains the site where most of the show's iconic action was captured.

5. Warner Bros. Studios Burbank Backlot

The main town of Hazzard County, including the exteriors for the Hazzard County Sheriff's Department and the interior sets for the Boar's Nest, was recreated on the Warner Bros. Studios backlot in Burbank, California. This allowed for easy access to sound stages (like Stage 20, 28, and 28A) and controlled environments for filming.

The move to the backlot meant that the show's setting became less a collection of real-world places and more a meticulously designed Hollywood set. This transition is often noticeable to longtime fans, as the rural roads became more controlled and the town square, while recognizable, lacked the genuine feel of Covington, Georgia.

The Geography of Hazzard: Dissecting the Filming Split

The dual nature of the filming locations—Georgia for authenticity and California for practicality—created a unique challenge for the show's continuity. The first five episodes, often referred to as the "Georgia Episodes," are highly prized by fans for their distinct look and feel. They feature real-world entities like the actual town of Covington, which provided a rich texture that a studio backlot could not fully replicate.

The California-based production, while losing some of the rustic realism, gained efficiency and consistency. The Warner Bros. Ranch provided the necessary space for the constant destruction of Dodge Chargers. The crew could film the General Lee's jumps and crashes without having to move their entire operation across the country every week. The move was a necessary evil for a show that relied heavily on expensive, high-octane stunt work.

6. The Movie's Locations: Louisiana's Hazzard

While the original TV series focused on Georgia and California, the 2005 movie adaptation, starring Johnny Knoxville and Sean William Scott, introduced an entirely new set of locations. The movie's production took place in Louisiana, adding cities like Baton Rouge, French Settlement, and Clinton to the Hazzard County map. This choice further cemented the idea that Hazzard County is more of a Southern ideal than a single, fixed geographic location.

7. The Modern Fan Pilgrimage

Today, the most accessible and celebrated filming locations are those in Georgia. The community in Covington embraces its history as the original Hazzard County. Fans frequently visit the town square to take pictures of the courthouse and other landmarks. The enduring appeal of the show has turned these small Southern towns into a permanent piece of television history, proving that even a quick five-episode run can leave a lasting legacy.

In conclusion, the true set location of The Dukes of Hazzard is not one place, but a tale of two coasts. It’s the genuine Southern charm of Covington, Georgia, blended seamlessly with the controlled chaos of the Warner Bros. Ranch in California. The General Lee’s journey was just as epic off-screen as it was on-screen, forever linking the Duke boys to both the real dirt roads of the South and the backlots of Hollywood.