After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness.
Deco Foodservice, 700, West Broadway Street, Rio Buena Vista, Needles, San Bernardino County, California, 92363, United States of America
Pizza Hut, 1004, California Avenue, Parker, La Paz County, Arizona, 85344, United States of America
Hualapai Veterans Highway, HΓ kΔugwi:v, Mohave County, Arizona, United States of America
Imperial County, California, United States of America
City Hall, 632, West 6th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska, 99501, United States of America
Co-Op Market Grocery & Deli, 526, Gaffney Road, South Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, 99701, United States of America
Hugh M. Kaptur Way, Palm Springs, Riverside County, California, 99262, United States of America
Denali National Park Post Office, Denali Park Road, Denali Borough, Alaska, 99755, United States of America
Hood River County, Oregon, United States of America
Georgia State University, 33, Gilmer Street Southeast, Georgia State, Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, 30303, United States of America
JO Pass Trail, Tulare County, California, United States of America
Arizona
California
Sean Penn’s adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s book retraces the real journey of Christopher McCandless, who gave away his savings and walked into the Alaskan wilderness. Fittingly, the film followed his actual route across America – from the Georgia start to the Colorado River, the Salton Sea and finally the Denali backcountry where his story ended.
Where was Into the Wild filmed?
Into the Wild was filmed along McCandless’s real route across the United States – Georgia, South Dakota, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, California and, above all, Alaska near Denali.
Every Into the Wild location, explained
1
Alaska – the end of the road
The film’s heart is the Denali backcountry, where McCandless lived in an abandoned bus – recreated for the film near Healy, Alaska.
2
The great American drift
His wandering used real stops across the country: South Dakota (the Okobojo grain fields), Nevada and Arizona (Yuma and the Colorado River).
3
The Salton Sea and the West Coast
California’s eerie Salton Sea and the Oregon coast at Astoria feature on his travels.
4
Georgia – the beginning
The journey opens in rural Georgia, near where McCandless set out after graduating.
Planning a visit
The Denali region of Alaska is the film’s soul – vast, humbling wilderness. The famous “Magic Bus” that inspired the story was airlifted out of the backcountry in 2020 for safety and now sits in a museum in Fairbanks.
Into the Wild Fun Facts
1
They followed the real route The production retraced Christopher McCandless’s actual cross-country journey for authenticity.
2
The 'Magic Bus' was moved for safety The real Fairbanks Bus 142 that McCandless died in drew so many risk-taking pilgrims that Alaska airlifted it out in 2020; it’s now in a Fairbanks museum.
3
Eddie Vedder wrote the soundtrack The Pearl Jam frontman composed the film’s acclaimed original songs.
4
Hirsch went to extremes Emile Hirsch reportedly lost around 40 pounds to portray McCandless’s final starvation.
5
Based on a real tragedy The film adapts Jon Krakauer’s non-fiction account of McCandless’s 1992 death.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the bus from Into the Wild?
The real ‘Magic Bus’ was airlifted out of the Alaskan backcountry in 2020 and is now in a museum in Fairbanks.
Is Into the Wild a true story?
Yes – it’s based on Jon Krakauer’s book about the real Christopher McCandless.
Can you visit the locations?
Yes – the Denali region is accessible, though the original bus site was remote and the bus has been relocated.
