A structural engineer installs himself in a prison he helped design, in order to save his falsely accused brother from a death sentence by breaking themselves out from the inside.
Rue El Guernaoui El Mokhtar, Ancienne Medina المدينة القديمة, Arrondissement de Sidi Belyout مقاطعة سيدي بليوط, Préfecture d'arrondissements de Casablanca-Anfa عمالة مقاطعات الدار البيضاء أنفا, Casablanca ⵜⴰⴷⴷⴰⵔⵜ ⵜⵓⵎⵍⵉⵍⵜ الدار البيضاء, Pachalik de Casablanca باشوية الدار البيضاء, Préfecture de Casablanca عمالة الدار البيضاء, Casablanca-Settat ⵜⴰⴷⴷⴰⵔⵜ ⵜⵓⵎⵍⵉⵍⵜ-ⵙⵟⵟⴰⵜ الدار البيضاء-سطات, 20032, Maroc ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ المغرب
Vancouver City Hall, 453, West 12th Avenue, Mount Pleasant, Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, V5Y 1V4, Canada
Greensville S. Dowell, Broadway - Avenue J, Galveston, Galveston County, Texas, 77553, United States of America
Boulevard Mohammed V شارع محمد الخامس, Ouarzazate ورزازات, Pachalik d'Ouarzazate, Province d'Ouarzazate ⵜⴰⵙⴳⴰ ⵏ ⵡⴰⵔⵣⴰⵣⴰⵜ إقليم ورززات, Drâa-Tafilalet ⴷⴰⵔⵄⴰ-ⵜⴰⴼⵉⵍⴰⵍⵜ درعة تافيلالت, 45005, Maroc ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ المغرب
East Van Buren Street, Woodstock, McHenry County, Illinois, 60098, United States of America
Randy's Steakhouse, 7026, Main Street, Frisco, Collin County, Texas, 75034, United States of America
Stage 5, Georgeson Road, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Steiner Studios, Brooklyn, Kings County, City of New York, New York, 11205, United States of America
Gulf Boulevard Shared Path, South Padre Island, Cameron County, Texas, 78597, United States of America
Scene: (Season 3)
Joliet Correctional Center
The tense escape thriller was filmed inside a real prison – the decommissioned Joliet Correctional Center in Illinois, whose grim 19th-century cellblocks became the show’s Fox River State Penitentiary before the production moved to Dallas.
Where was Prison Break filmed?
Prison Break was filmed at the real Joliet prison in Illinois and around Chicago, then in Dallas for later seasons.
Every Prison Break location, explained
1
Fox River – Joliet prison
The first season’s penitentiary is the real, decommissioned Joliet Correctional Center, a foreboding 19th-century prison in Illinois.
2
Chicago – the city
The wider story used Chicago and its surroundings.
3
Dallas – the later seasons
From the second season, the production moved to studios and locations around Dallas, Texas.
4
International locations
Later seasons ranged abroad, including Morocco, for the show’s globe-trotting escapes.
Planning a visit
The historic Joliet Correctional Center near Chicago, now decommissioned, has opened for public tours – the atmospheric real setting of Fox River.
Prison Break Fun Facts
1
Filmed in a real prison The first season used the genuine, decommissioned Joliet Correctional Center in Illinois.
2
A 19th-century jail Joliet opened in 1858 and closed in 2002, giving the show its grim authenticity.
3
It moved to Dallas After the escape arc, production relocated to Texas.
4
The tattoo blueprint Michael Scofield’s body-covering tattoo, hiding the prison’s plans, became iconic.
5
Joliet offers tours The real prison now runs public tours for fans and history buffs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Prison Break filmed in a real prison?
Yes – the first season used the decommissioned Joliet Correctional Center in Illinois.
Where did filming move for later seasons?
To Dallas, Texas, with some international locations.
Can you visit Joliet prison?
Yes – the decommissioned prison now runs public tours.
What is Fox River?
The fictional penitentiary, played by the real Joliet prison.
