Filming Locations The Summer I Turned Pretty

Let's be real: after watching The Summer I Turned Pretty, you probably wanted to pack a bag and drive straight to those gorgeous beach towns. You kept imagining yourself sprawled in the sand, pretending the dramatic love triangles were happening only to you. Turns out, those places are very much real — and honestly, they look even better in person than on screen.

Where Did They Actually Film This?

Most of the show was filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina, and honestly, it could not have been a better choice. Wilmington has this magical "I just stepped into a summer novel" vibe that makes you want to cancel every other plan in your life. If you've ever visited a coastal town and thought, "Why don't I live here permanently?" — Wilmington is basically that feeling on steroids.

The famous Fisher House, where all the family drama and cookie-fueled tears happen, is actually a private residence in Wilmington. It sits pretty along the coast like it's auditioning for an architectural magazine cover. Every time you see a character storm out the front door, remember that a real family probably wants their afternoon nap back.

The Beach Scenes That Made Everyone Cry

The beach sequences — you know, the ones where you feel emotions you didn't even know existed — were filmed at Figure Eight Island and other spots around the Cape Fear coast. That stretch of sand is so perfect it almost feels unfair. It's the kind of place that makes you question your real-life problems entirely.

Ever had a beach day that turned into a full emotional breakdown because the waves looked too beautiful? Yeah, picture an entire TV crew capturing that exact energy. The ocean here has a way of making even grocery store melodramas feel cinematic.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Filming Locations (2022-)

Wilmington: The Town That Keeps Stealing the Show

Wilmington's downtown area doubled as several neighborhood scenes, and let's just say it understood the assignment. The streets are lined with charming buildings that look like they were specifically designed to make you nostalgic for summers you never actually had. You could walk those sidewalks and genuinely feel like a main character chasing after someone who won't text back.

Local shops, cafes, and that one weird alley that always looks great in photos — Wilmington delivers it all. It's one of those towns where the background in a scene could easily be the star if it had a speaking role. The city practically whispers "buy a house here" with every corner you turn.

‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Filming Locations Revealed | ELLE

Don't Forget — They Also Used Other Spots

Some exterior scenes were also shot in Southport, North Carolina, which is basically Wilmington's quieter, more sophisticated cousin. Southport has that small-town feel where everyone probably knows your secret and'll just nod innocently when you walk by. It's the perfect setting for the kind of quiet tension that makes The Summer I Turned Pretty so addictive.

Between Wilmington and Southport, the production team clearly had a talent for picking places that look like they were pulled straight from a dream. Even the most ordinary storefront could showcase the latest drama if the lighting was right. Kind of like how your kitchen feels like a five-star restaurant when you cook after midnight.

The Idyllic Filming Locations From The Summer I Turned Pretty

So, Should You Visit?

Short answer: absolutely yes. Even if you're not a superfan, visiting these locations is like walking through a postcard that someone accidentally left open for you. You'll take photos, make your friends jealous, and quietly live in a "Pretend I'm in the show" mindset for at least three days straight.

The food in Wilmington alone is worth the trip — fresh seafood and neighborhoods that taste like they belong in a romance movie. Nothing pairs better with beach views than a plate of shrimp that makes you forget your last failed talking stage was real. Just saying, healing comes in different forms.

At the end of the day, these filming locations remind us that sometimes the best stories start in places so beautiful you immediately know you're in for something extraordinary. And hey, if you happen to run into a cliffhanger ending in real life, at least the backdrop will look incredible. Pack light, plan loosely, and let the coast do the rest.