San Diego Top Gun Filming Locations Tour

This is the only tour to my knowledge where you can visit many of the Top Gun filming locations in San Diego County. You will get to see why movie producers selected this part of the world when choosing a great movie location.

Meeting Point

Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego

1 Market Pl, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Outside the main entrance of the hotel lobby.

What to expect:

Duration: 5 hours

San Diego

San Diego, California

Liberty Station | 2820 Roosevelt Rd. (at Historic Decatur Road), Point Loma
This historic location used to serve as the Naval Training Center San Diego and is seen around the 52:33 mark, as Charlie tries to catch up with Maverick. We’d recognize those arches + windows anywhere.

20 minutes

San Diego

San Diego, California

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Miramar Way, San Diego, California.
When “Top Gun” was filmed, this site was called Naval Air Station Miramar — and it played the backdrop of the flight scenes + flight school. Today, MCAS Miramar gives civilians a glimpse at high-flying, military pilots during its annual Miramar Air Show.

Pass by without stopping

Oceanside

Oceanside, California

The Graves House (aka “Charlie’s House ”) | 250 N. Pacific St. (at Mission Pacific Hotel), Oceanside
The seaside cottage and its sweeping views in San Diego’s North County is unforgettable at the film’s 42:48 mark, as Maverick rides his motorcycle to the front door — and again at 1:24:51.
The small, folk-style Victorian bungalow was built in 1887 by Dr. Henry Graves, and is the one of the oldest homes still standing in Oceanside. In May 2020, the home was moved down the street from its original location to the new Mission Pacific Hotel .

Restored and looking gorgeous , “Charlie’s House” reopened in May 2022 as a sweets shop called High-Pie . It’s open daily, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

40 minutes

San Diego

San Diego, California

Kansas City Barbeque | 600 W. Harbor Drive, Embarcadero
This longtime sports bar + BBQ restaurant is where Goose (Anthony Edwards) and Maverick (Tom Cruise) hop on the piano and play “Great Balls of Fire” as Carole (Meg Ryan) and Charlie (Kelly McGillis) sing along. If you’re streaming the movie, catch the location at around the 1:01:37 mark and again at 1:43.

Kansas City Barbeque
There’s “Top Gun” memorabilia in every nook + cranny of Kansas City Barbeque.

Today, Kansas City Barbeque is filled to the brim with memorabilia from the movie — and that very same piano, which is the bar owner’s personal childhood instrument. You can even sit at the keys and have yourself a little fan moment. Pro tip: This famous spot can get crowded on weekends, so consider a weekday visit.

1 hour