One of the best-selling games of all time is filled with intricacies that can still surprise even an experienced player to this day. Like previous Grand Theft Auto games, Grand Theft Auto 5 contains locations that are based on real-world places. The extent to which real-world locations were utilized in Grand Theft Auto 5, however, is more than most people would assume.
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From a famous observatory to a familiar sign and a popular mountain to climb, these are the most notable Grand Theft Auto 5 locations that are based on real life, all of which a great to explore for those who want to see a satirical take on popular landmarks.
Updated November 19th, 2025, by Jack Pursey: With Grand Theft Auto 6 on the horizon, many players are hopping back into GTA 5 for a final playthrough before they say goodbye. There’s already so much to do in the game to fill the time, but for those looking for something laid back, it is well worth exploring some of the many locations in Grand Theft Auto 5 that were based on real landmarks. This list has been updated to expand on the existing entries with more details that you may like to know about each place.
ULSA
Based On UCLA
- Location: Between Richman Street and Picture Perfect Drive
The University of San Andreas, Los Santos, commonly shortened to ULSA, is located between Richman Street and Picture Perfect Drive in Richman. It is based on the popular university, UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles).
As part of the Organization’s Work while searching for an executive, ULSA is one of the possible hideout areas where the VIP or CEO must survive for 10 minutes. The EMP during the set-up for the Diamond Casino heist may also spawn in several locations across the campus.
Portola Drive
Based On Rodeo Drive
- Location: Between West Eclipse Boulevard and Dorset Drive
Rodeo Drive is one of the most expensive shopping areas in the world. The rich and famous come to this two-mile-long stretch in Beverly Hills to indulge in the finer things in life.
In Los Santos, it is known as Portola Drive, and gamers can shop at Posenbys or visit Michael da Santa as his home is located on this road. The luxury shopping area is a key location in three missions: “Casing the Jewel Store”, “The Jewel Store”, and “Job Meltdown”.
LS International Airport
Based On Los Angeles International Airport
- Location: Southeast of Venice Beach
Los Angeles International Airport is located on the western side of the city, close to Venice Beach. However, the airport is bordered by the streets around it and doesn’t meet the sea at all, unlike what is depicted in Grand Theft Auto 5.
Rockstar Games has placed the LS International Airport next to the Port of Los Santos, which causes some differences between the overall map of the in-game airport and the real Los Angeles Airport, but the interior part of the airport in the game is almost identical to that of Los Angeles. The first structure in the real-life LAX was built in 1929, and it was named Hangar No. 1; however, the Los Angeles Municipal Airport, as it was named, started development a year earlier, in 1928. Moreover, in 2011, a $13.9 million Airport Response Coordination Center was opened, which goes to show how big its budget is and how different it can be from what’s represented in the game.
Los Santos Port Area
Based On Terminal Island
- Location: Southwest of Long Beach
Port of Los Santos is an accurate recreation of Terminal Island in Los Angeles. As an artificial island located on the southwest of Long Beach, Terminal Island serves as the industrial district of Los Angeles, which is also the same as Grand Theft Auto 5‘s Los Santos.
The placement and even the overall map of the port are pretty accurate when compared to Terminal Island. If the player goes northeast from the port, they will reach Long Beach, which does not have its iconic beach recreated in-game, but the neighborhood is still there!
Tongva Valley
Based On Topanga Canyon
- Location: South of Route 68
A location full to the brim with scenic vistas that players can get lost in, it’s recommended to stop and smell the roses when players reach Tongva Valley. This area is stunning to behold and one of the best places to stop and take a breather, as long as players aren’t being hounded by cops or any other enemies out for their heads.
Tongva Valley is heavily based on Topanga Canyon, and the similarities are pretty obvious to players who have been to this location. Rockstar does justice to the natural beauty of this region while adding their personal flair to things. This way, fans of GTA 5 can have a great time exploring this area and many others as they marvel at the graphical fidelity on display here.
Mount Haan and the Vinewood Sign
Based On The Hollywood Sign And Mount Lee In The Santa Monica Mountains, California
The Vinewood sign is a clear reference to the iconic Hollywood sign, originally the “Hollywoodland” sign erected in 1923 to advertise a housing development. The Vinewood sign is located on Mount Haan, a picturesque location in Vinewood Hills that players should make the effort to fly past in a helicopter or small plane for the best view. Mount Haan is based on Mount Lee, a peak that’s part of the Santa Monica Mountains in California.
Tongva Hills
Based On The Areas Of Temecula, California
- Location: Los Santos County
The world of Los Santos features a wealth of hilly environments that still look impressive all these years after GTA 5‘s original release — as long as players aren’t blazing past these locations in a hypercar. This location, along with many others, shows why Rockstar Games is lauded for its attention to detail, as the sheer complexity in this area’s geometry itself makes it fun to explore.
The landscape of Tongva Hills is inspired by the wine country regions of Temecula. With a decent array of wildlife and flora in this region, it is well worth visiting.
Alamo Sea
Based On The Salton Sea In Southern California
The Alamo Sea is one of the most beautiful locations in the game. Players can get lost in the sights this place has to offer as they explore the coastline, making for a great time as they either walk around in this location or use a vehicle to drink in the views.
Alamo Sea is inspired by the real-life Salton Sea, found in Southern California, and a great one-day trip for people who live in the state and want to enjoy the great view it offers. For those who lack the means to physically make the trip, the virtual recreation in Grand Theft Auto 5 is a great alternative.
Paleto Forest
Based On The San Bernardino National Forest
This coniferous forest is a visually pleasing area is one of the best woodland locations that players will explore while playing Grand Theft Auto 5. The rural area makes for a fresh change of pace from the urban landscapes in this massive open world.
The biggest influence on the Paleto Forest area is the San Bernardino National Forest, but that’s not all. There’s a tram near this location that’s based on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, making the world of Grand Theft Auto 5 feel more authentic. The location is great for grabbing an ATV or dirt bike and slaloming through the trees while making huge jumps and flips. With enough speed, simply avoiding the trees to prevent death becomes a challenge in and of itself.
Bishop’s WTF?!
Based On Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!
- Location: Vinewood Boulevard
Bishop’s WTF?! can be found on Vinewood Boulevard and serves as a museum for the weird and wonderful. It’s seemingly named after the Aliens character of the same name; a nice nod to its real-world equivalent, which shares a name with the movie’s main protagonist, Ripley.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! first launched as a newspaper panel in 1918, but has since gone on to be adapted into a wide variety of formats, including radio and television shows, books, and, of course, museums. One such museum sits proudly on Hollywood Boulevard, and it is this location on which the Bishop’s Museum in GTA 5 is based.
