“Due Date” Locations: A Cinematic Journey Across the United States

Due Date , directed by Todd Phillips , is a hilarious road comedy that tells the story of the adventurous journey of two protagonists who are polar opposites: Peter (Robert Downey Jr.), a rigid and impatient architect, and Ethan ( Zach Galifianakis ), a bizarre and cumbersome aspiring actor. Together they undertake a journey with unpredictable outcomes across the United States, from Atlanta to Los Angeles — at least in fiction. In fact, this film is one of those cases in which cinema revolutionizes the maps, replacing one place with another, for production needs.

In reality, the locations used to shoot the film make up a very varied mosaic: many scenes were filmed in scattered places and, in some cases, kilometers away from the narrative route. A production choice dictated by logistical and visual needs, which however does not take anything away from the coherence and impact of the journey told on the screen. Indeed, these " geographic licenses " contribute to the charm of the film, making it a real cinematic tour of iconic and surprising American landscapes.

Where was it filmed?

The locations of Due Date offer a unique opportunity for film and travel enthusiasts to explore iconic places across the United States . From the historic charm of Route 66 to the natural wonders of the Grand Canyon , each stop in the film represents a fascinating destination waiting to be discovered. Route 66, often referred to as the Mother Road or Main Street of America, is one of the most iconic and legendary roads in the United States. Opened on November 11, 1926, it ran from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California, spanning approximately 2,500 miles (4,000 km). Over time, Route 66 has become a symbol of travel , freedom and the pursuit of a better life.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, it was crossed by thousands of families in search of work and hope, especially towards California. The myth was then strengthened in the 1950s and 1960s, with the explosion of road tourism, motels, service stations and diners that dotted its route. Today, even if officially deactivated as a federal highway in 1985, many of its sections are still drivable as Historic Route 66, keeping its legacy alive. In cinema it has been used as a metaphor for inner journey, change and personal discovery. From Easy Rider (1969) to Thelma & Louise (1991), passing through Cars (2006), its endless expanses and desert panoramas have become the perfect backdrop for stories of escape, transformation and rebellion.

The story begins in Atlanta , Georgia, where Peter is trying to catch a flight to Los Angeles. Although the airport shown is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, these scenes were filmed at the airport in Ontario, California, chosen for its lower attendance and greater availability for filming. One of the most dynamic and culturally significant cities in the American South, Atlanta was founded in 1837 as a railroad terminal, and today is an important economic, logistical and cultural hub, home to multinationals such as Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines and CNN. Atlanta boasts a vibrant cultural scene, with notable institutions such as the High Museum of Art , the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Fox Theatre. It is also a university hub, thanks to the presence of prestigious universities such as the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University. In recent decades it has established itself as a center for film and television production, so much so that it has earned the nickname " Hollywood of the South ". Thanks to generous tax incentives, numerous productions — including TV series, Marvel films and American comedies — have been filmed right here.

Lawrenceville , Georgia hosted some hospital scenes filmed at the Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville, located in the northeast suburbs of Atlanta. The city of Tuscaloosa , Alabama provided some locations for the film, helping to represent the intermediate stops on the protagonists' journey. Located along the narrative route from east to west of the United States, Tuscaloosa is best known for being home to the University of Alabama and for its typically "Southern" character, with urban and suburban landscapes ideal for a road comedy. Las Cruces , a small town in New Mexico surrounded by arid landscapes and reddish mountains, is the perfect backdrop for one of the most hilarious and surreal sequences in the film: the one in which Ethan "frees" Peter from a prison in Mexico — a scene that, in reality, was filmed along US Route 70 near Las Cruces.

The Wigwam Motel in Rialto , California, with its distinctive teepee-like rooms, appears in several scenes in the film. This motel is known for being the inspiration for the “Cozy Cone Motel” in the animated film Cars. Ludlow, California is located along historic Route 66, and provided the backdrop for several sequences of the road trip, emphasizing the desert and isolated setting of the route. Finally, the majestic Grand Canyon , Arizona is where an emotionally charged scene takes place, where Ethan scatters his father’s ashes. This sequence was actually filmed on location, adding to the authenticity of the moment.

The scene was filmed on the Hualapai Indian Reservation . The Colorado River flows through the mountains that run along the northern border of the tribe's reservation. The tribe's lands are among the least visited of Arizona's major tourist attractions. They have recently tried to address this by building the skywalk attraction and encouraging visitors.