John Carpenter’s 1980 film The Fog was filmed in Northern California and Southern California. Point Reyes supplied the fictional Antonio Bay and its lighthouse-and-radio-station setting; Bodega Bay and Inverness were also among the Northern California locations. The production additionally used Los Angeles-area sites and Raleigh Studios in Hollywood.
Which real place stood in for Antonio Bay?
Antonio Bay is fictional. The American Film Institute (AFI) identifies the town of Point Reyes as the stand-in for it. AFI’s production history also names Point Reyes Station, Olema, Inverness and Bodega Bay among the Northern California locations used for the film.
![The Fog [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51dztx71XHL._SL160_.jpg)
![The Fog (1980) - Collector's Edition 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray [4K UHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Wqsk11u-L._SL160_.jpg)
Where is the lighthouse from The Fog?
The lighthouse is Point Reyes Lighthouse, which AFI says was chosen as the film’s central beacon and radio station. The production account describes a winding staircase of 638 steps and strong winds at the site; those are historical production details, not current visitor-access information.
What other Northern California locations appear?
Bodega Bay
Bodega Bay was one of the film’s locations. AFI notes a pier scene there, with a restaurant associated with Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds visible in the background. That connection is a location detail, not evidence that Bodega Bay was the film’s principal setting.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
Inverness and Point Reyes Station
AFI names Inverness among the locations and records night shots of fog entering downtown Point Reyes Station. The production history identifies both as part of the wider coastal location cluster.
Olema
Olema is also listed by AFI among the Northern California production locations. The catalog does not assign it a specific scene in the details cited here.
Was the film shot only on the Northern California coast?
No. AFI’s production history also identifies Southern California work: a gas-station scene in the San Fernando Valley, reshoots in Laurel Canyon, and interiors at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. San Pedro harbor and Altadena are among the additional locations it records. These sites broaden the production footprint beyond the coastal towns, but AFI’s account does not specify a scene for each one.
When was the Northern California filming?
AFI records principal photography in Northern California in April and May 1979. The completed film is the 1980 The Fog, identified on John Carpenter’s official film page.
Rank #3
![The Fog (1980) - Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray [4K UHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51bu8FX8uFL._SL160_.jpg)
- The Fog (Steelbook)
- Product Type: PHYSICAL_MOVIE
Can you visit the filming locations today?
The production history establishes where filming took place, but it does not verify present-day access, hours, restrictions, road conditions or whether a location has changed. Check current official guidance for the relevant site before planning a visit; the historical staircase description is not a guarantee of access.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The Fog/ The Howling
Rank #4
![Scream Queens Double Feature Blu-ray Collection: John Carpenter’s The Fog / The Howling [Horror & Thriller Collection]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71MHkRefImL._SL160_.jpg)
- the fog blu ray
- the howling blu ray
- John Carpenters blu ray movies
- John Carpenter’s movies
- John Carpenter’s dvd collection
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
