9 Oppenheimer locations: from Los Alamos to Princeton

Filming for "Oppenheimer" took place not on soundstages but in real cities across the US. Christopher Nolan shot on actual streets, university campuses, and historic hotels. After the film's release, these places became film tourism destinations.

The picture won seven Oscars at the 96th Academy Awards in March 2024 (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia). We've put together nine locations from the film: from Los Alamos and Los Angeles to Berkeley and Princeton. For each spot below, you'll find access details, transportation, and an honest catch.

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What to know about the filming locations

💡 In short:

• Filming took place in three states: New Mexico, California, and New Jersey.
• You can't go inside Oppenheimer's house, Physics North, Edwards Stadium, or the Institute and director's residence in Princeton.
• Location access: as of 09/2026, according to the Los Alamos tourism office

1. Lamy train station

Lamy station sits in the New Mexico desert and serves as a transfer point on the way to Santa Fe. The train arrival scene was filmed here. Today the station is operated by Amtrak, and the Southwest Chief passes through it. According to Amtrak, 7,109 passengers used the station in fiscal year 2025 (as of 09/2026, Great American Stations). The depot itself was built in 1909, and a brewery is now open in the historic wing.

• How to get there: Lamy is off to the side of Santa Fe; you can reach the city by car or taxi.
• What to see: the historic station, the platform, and the desert landscape from the film.
• The catch: there's no direct walking route to Santa Fe, so without a car you're tied to the train schedule.

If you're planning to stay overnight in Santa Fe, check out hotels in Santa Fe on Trip.com in advance.

2. Oppenheimer's house in Los Alamos

A real house where Oppenheimer lived with his family from 1943 to 1945 still stands in Los Alamos (as of 09/2026, National Park Service). Before the physicist moved in, the building housed a ranch school. Today the house is owned by the Los Alamos History Museum. You can't go inside; the home can only be viewed from the outside.

• How to get there: the house is on Bathtub Row, next to the city's history museum.
• Who it's for: anyone who wants to see the authentic everyday life of a scientist from the secret city.
• The catch: you can't go inside; only the facade and an online interior panorama are available.

3. Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos

© Bill Johnson · CC BY-SAPhoto: Bill Johnson, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Fuller Lodge serves as the Los Alamos community center, and in the film it plays the role of an auditorium. During the Manhattan Project years, the building housed a dining hall and guest rooms for scientists: people spent evenings there, played cards, and danced (as of 09/2026, National Park Service). Oppenheimer's house is closed to visitors, but you can go inside Fuller Lodge and see everything.

• How to get there: the building is on Central Avenue in the center of town, next to Ashley Pond.
• What to see: wooden interiors, the Fuller Lodge Art Center gallery, and historical plaques.
• The catch: part of the building is occupied by offices and tenants, so there are few museum rooms here.

4. Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles

© Another Believer · CC BY-SAPhoto: Another Believer, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Millennium Biltmore stands in downtown Los Angeles across from Pershing Square. The hotel opened in 1923 and still welcomes guests (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia). Its interiors were used for the scene where Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves appear in military uniform. Besides "Oppenheimer," "Ghostbusters," "Fight Club," and "Rocky III" were filmed here.

• How to get there: the hotel is located downtown, across from Pershing Square.
• Price: mid-range pricing for a historic hotel in central Los Angeles.
• The catch: it's a working hotel, not a museum, so the historic halls are mostly open to guests and for events.

Booking a room in the historic wing is easy: Millennium Biltmore prices on Trip.com.

5. Physics North in Berkeley

Physics North stands on the University of California, Berkeley campus. Oppenheimer taught here from 1929 to 1943, and his office occupied the third floor of the building, then called LeConte Hall (as of 09/2026, University of California, Berkeley). Filming took place in the very heart of the campus, not on a separate set.

The sets with vintage cars and costumes were built in two days near Sather Tower, Wheeler Hall, and Physics North. The campus is open, so you can see the building during a walk or a tour. Campus tours should be booked in advance: see Berkeley tours on GetYourGuide.

• How to get there: enter the campus from Telegraph Avenue and walk toward Sather Tower; Physics North is nearby.
• Who it's for: fans of the film and anyone interested in the history of physics.
• The catch: the building is in active use; tours cover the campus but don't go inside the department.

6. Campanile Way on the Berkeley campus

© Chris Rycroft · CC BYPhoto: Chris Rycroft, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Campanile Way runs from Sather Tower through the center of campus. Nolan filmed a walk through the "1940s campus" here, with vintage cars, old-fashioned street lamps, and period costumes. Anyone can walk this path: the pedestrian part of campus is open to visitors. Tours run almost every day, except major holidays and home football game days (schedule: Visit Berkeley, as of 09/2026).

• How to get there: from BART Downtown Berkeley station, you can walk to Sather Tower.
• Who it's for: for a relaxed walk and photos of the historic facades.
• The catch: on game days and holidays, tours are canceled, and the campus is more crowded than usual.

7. Edwards Stadium in Berkeley

© Sanfranman59 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

Edwards Stadium was the only sports venue that made it into the film. It belongs to the University of California, and in one scene Oppenheimer and his colleagues walk across it. There is no documentary evidence that the physicist ever attended games there.

• Access: you can only get inside on game days and during university events.
• Who it's for: for film fans who are covering the entire campus route.
• The catch: you can't just walk in; the fence is open, but outsiders are stopped.

8. Institute for advanced study in Princeton

© Zeete · CC BY-SAPhoto: Zeete, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The eighth stop on the route takes you to New Jersey, to Princeton. At the Institute for Advanced Study, Oppenheimer met Albert Einstein, played in the film by Tom Conti. After the war, the physicist was offered the directorship of the Institute, and he served as its director from 1947 to 1966 (as of 09/2026, Institute for Advanced Study).

You can't get inside the building: there are no tours here, so as not to disturb the scholars. However, the Institute grounds and the Institute Woods are open year-round. Occasionally the doors open for public lectures and rare concerts.

• How to get there: the Institute is on Einstein Drive, about a mile from downtown Princeton.
• Who it's for: for those who want to see the place where Oppenheimer and Einstein met.
• The catch: you can't go inside; only the woods and the paths around are accessible.

9. The institute director's residence

Next to the Institute stands the official residence of its director. While Oppenheimer held the post, his family lived here too. The house remains an active residence, so you can't go inside. From the outside, you can walk past and take a look at the facade.

• How to get there: the residence is next to the Institute's main building.
• Who it's for: for those doing the full Princeton route.
• The catch: exterior viewing only; don't enter the private property.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How many Oppenheimer locations can you see in the US in total?

There are nine main sites: Lamy station, Oppenheimer's house, Fuller Lodge, the Millennium Biltmore hotel, Physics North, Campanile Way, Edwards Stadium, the Institute for Advanced Study, and its director's residence in Princeton. Some are open to visitors, others can only be viewed from the outside.

Can you go inside Oppenheimer's house in Los Alamos?

No. It is closed to tourists, so you can only see the building from the outside. The interior is shown in a panoramic tour on the National Park Service website.

Where exactly was the Berkeley campus filmed?

Nolan worked in the very heart of the campus: near Sather Tower, Wheeler Hall, and Physics North. The pedestrian part of the campus is open, so anyone can walk through these spots.

Which scenes were filmed at the Millennium Biltmore hotel?

The hotel's interiors were used for the scene where Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy, and General Leslie Groves appear in military uniform. The hotel was not closed for filming: it is a working hotel, and you can book a room there in advance just like at any city hotel.

Do you need tickets to see the locations?

Almost nothing requires payment. Lamy station, Fuller Lodge, the Berkeley campus, and the Institute grounds in Princeton are free to visit. Only private homes and the stadium outside game days are closed. A Berkeley campus tour costs a small fee, which you should confirm when booking.

In short: what's worth booking

The nine Oppenheimer locations add up to a ready-made route across three US states. Physics fans should start with Los Alamos and Princeton, while film and architecture lovers will find Los Angeles and Berkeley more interesting. Driving between cities is the most convenient option, and it's best to book accommodations in advance.

• If you're going to Los Alamos, take a Bathtub Row tour and stay near the center.
• If you're in Los Angeles, book a night at the Millennium Biltmore and combine it with seeing the interiors.
• If the campus appeals to you more, start with Berkeley and walk Campanile Way in the morning while it's quiet.

For a trip across three states, a car is the most convenient option: car rental in the US lets you avoid depending on schedules.