National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation was primarily filmed in Colorado and California, with significant portions shot in Summit County, Colorado, and Burbank, California.
The beloved holiday classic, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, brought the Griswold family's chaotic Christmas to life through scenes filmed across specific locations that captured the essence of both suburban festivity and snowy winterscapes.
Key Filming Locations
Filming for the movie took place from March to June in 1989, utilizing a mix of real outdoor settings and studio soundstages to create its memorable scenes.
The primary filming locations include:
- Summit County, Colorado: This area provided the authentic snowy backdrop for many of the outdoor winter scenes. Within Summit County, specific towns were utilized:
- Silverthorne: Known for its scenic beauty, likely used for various exterior shots.
- Breckenridge: A popular ski resort town, contributing to the film's winter ambiance.
- Frisco: Another town in Summit County that provided picturesque settings.
- Burbank, California: Much of the interior and neighborhood scenes were filmed on studio lots in Burbank, a hub for film and television production. The iconic Griswold house, for instance, was a set located on the Warner Bros. Ranch.
Below is a summary of the main filming locations:
| Location Type | Specific Locations | State |
|---|---|---|
| County | Summit County | Colorado |
| Towns | Silverthorne, Breckenridge, Frisco | Colorado |
| City/Studio | Burbank | California |
These varied locations helped craft the film's distinct look, combining the charm of a snow-covered Christmas with the practicality of studio filming for detailed interior sets. The combination allowed the filmmakers to depict both the external struggles with Christmas lights and the internal family dynamics within the Griswold home.
To learn more about the film, you can visit its Wikipedia page.
