Little Miss Sunshine poster ⭐ 7.8 🕑 1h 42m

Little Miss Sunshine Filming Locations

2006 Movie
Comedy Drama

A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.

Filming Locations Map 15 locations

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Flagstaff City Hall, West Aspen Avenue, Flagstaff Townsite, Flagstaff, Coconino County, Arizona, 86001, United States of America
East Chandler Boulevard, Chandler, Maricopa County, Arizona, 85225, United States of America
📍 Phoenix filming locations
2, North Central Avenue, Central City, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, 85003, United States of America
📍 Phoenix filming locations

The warm-hearted comedy about a dysfunctional family’s road trip to a children’s beauty pageant rolls from Arizona to California in a beat-up yellow VW bus – filming across the deserts of Arizona and the roads of Southern California.

Where was Little Miss Sunshine filmed?

Little Miss Sunshine was filmed in Arizona (Phoenix and Flagstaff) and across Southern California, following the family’s road trip.

Every Little Miss Sunshine location, explained

1

Home – Arizona

The family’s home and start used Phoenix, Chandler and Flagstaff, Arizona.

2

The road – the Southwest

The road trip used the highways and deserts of Arizona and California.

3

The pageant – Southern California

The climactic pageant used a hotel in Santa Clarita, California.

4

The yellow bus

The family’s Volkswagen Microbus carries the film from state to state.

Planning a visit

The deserts of Arizona and the roads of Southern California – the film’s road-trip route – are real, accessible country.

Little Miss Sunshine Fun Facts

1
An Arizona-to-California road trip The film follows the family from Arizona across Southern California.
2
The yellow VW bus The battered Volkswagen Microbus became the film’s mascot.
3
A push-start bus The family famously has to push-start the failing bus.
4
Two Oscars The film won Academy Awards for its screenplay and for Alan Arkin.
5
A Sundance hit It became a breakout indie success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was Little Miss Sunshine filmed?
In Arizona (Phoenix and Flagstaff) and across Southern California, following the road trip.
Is it a road-trip film?
Yes – a family drives from Arizona to a California pageant.
Can you visit the locations?
Yes – Arizona and Southern California are accessible.
Who directed Little Miss Sunshine?
Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.
Who stars in it?
Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carell and Alan Arkin.