James Cameron’s iconic sci-fi action sequel, “Terminator 2: Judgement Day,” shot all around California, primarily in the Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley and Fremont areas.  Here we’ll take a look at some of these spots.

The T-1000 travels back in time and arrives underneath the 6th St bridge in Downtown Los Angeles, where he kills a police officer and takes his car, beginning his search for John Conner.  The 6th St Bridge has been used in countless films.  The original bridge was demolished in 2016, with a new bridge built in its place in 2022. The area where the scene took place has changed quite a bit.

LOCATION: Under the 6th St. Bridge, at the intersection of lower E 6th St / Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (heavily remodeled)

John Conner lives at this house in Canoga Park with his foster parents.  The T-1000 later arrives searching for John.

LOCATION: 19828 Valerio St, Canoga Park, CA 91306

John Conner and a friend rob an ATM at this former bank in Van Nuys, California.  The building is now a pharmacy and is fenced off from the street, with no trespassing signs.  It’s still fairly easy to photograph from the sidewalk, however.

LOCATION: 14400 Roscoe Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91402

After the T-1000 spots John Conner, he begins to pursue him, as John flees down the stairwell of a parking garage.  This is a garage at the Santa Monica Place shopping center.  Despite appearances, it’s actually not too difficult to match up the areas used in the film.

LOCATION: 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401

John races over to his bike.

The T-1000 chases him at an inhuman speed.

A look at some other shots seen during the bike chase…

In one of the most famous scenes in the film, after thinking he’s finally escaped the T-1000, due to some help from the T-800, John is surprised when the T-1000 drives a semi truck through the overpass wall of Bull Creek, a flood control channel located in North Hills.

LOCATION: Bull Creek, SW corner of Plummer St, near Hayvenhurst Ave, North Hills, CA, 91343

Here is a view of the Bull Creek channel, where John Conner is chased on his dirt bike by the T-1000.

After The Terminator saves John Conner, Conner asks him to stop the bike at this alley in Van Nuys, where he questions him on his mission.  The alley is located very close to the bank where John Conner robs the ATM.

LOCATION: Alley on Wakefield Ave, between Burton St and Roscoe Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91402

Sarah Conner, played by Linda Hamilton, is being held at the Pescadero State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.  These scenes were shot at the Phoenix House for Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation.  We did not replicate the exact angles seen of the building in the film, as those sections are now entirely obscured by a row of trees.

LOCATION: 11600 Eldridge Ave, Lake View Terrace, CA 91342

Sarah has a dream in which she approaches a playground as Judgment Day begins.  This was filmed at Elysian Park, overlooking Dodger Stadium and Downtown Los Angeles.  The park has changed quite a bit and the chain link fence is long gone, but the city skyline can still be matched up.  This area is near Elysian Fields on Park Road, where it ends in a cul-de-sac.  The playground has been moved up closer to the road and the area seen in the film is now a lookout point.

LOCATION: Near Elysian Fields, Park Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (GPS coordinates: 34°04’56.8″N, 118°14’23.4″W)

The T-800, Sarah and John stop off at this desert market and gas station, as they make their way to the Salceda ranch.  Although long since closed, the property is still recognizable from the film. However, a fence has since been erected around it, blocking some of the views. The same building was featured in the film “From Dusk Till Dawn.”

LOCATION: 46551 140th St E, Lancaster, CA 93535

The house of Miles Dyson, played by Joe Morton, can be found in Malibu. The home sits up a long, gated driveway, so the only views are looking up from Pacific Coast Highway. The same home appeared in the film “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!”

LOCATION: 30068 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

Later in the film, the Terminator, John and Sarah Conner all break into the Cyberdine Headquarters, where Skynet will be created, launching Judgement Day.  The real building is located in Northern California in the city of Fremont.  Ironically, the building actually belongs to a real tech company, Mattson Technology.

LOCATION: 47131 Bayside Pkwy, Fremont, CA 94538

A closer look at the entrance, where the SWAT truck crashes through.

The exterior of the factory where the ending takes place can be found in Long Beach. The same building appeared in the film “Child’s Play 2.”

LOCATION: 118 Pier S Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

We leave you with some props from the film.  The T-1000’s crowbar arms, stabbing finger and liquid metal bullet wound can be found on display at Planet Hollywood in Florida.

LOCATION: 1506 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Related articles: The Terminator (1984), Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines (2003), Terminator: Salvation (2009), True Lies (1994)