If you’ve been following my adventures, you know I’m completely obsessed with The Vampire Diaries. Like, it’s genuinely part of my life at this point. So, when I discovered that you could explore all the filming locations by golf cart? Absolute perfection.
I get genuinely excited talking about Mystic Falls because this fictional town comes to life most beautifully through its real-world filming locations. And trust me, seeing these places in person hits different.
The real town that became Mystic Falls is Covington, Georgia, one of the many reasons I’m obsessed with this state. There’s something magical about walking (or, in this case, riding) through actual filming locations from shows you’ve watched a hundred times.
Quick Details Before You Go
• Book with Cov Carts starting at $89/hour. Full-day rentals recommended for a complete Mystic Falls experience.
• Best Route: Self-guided tours cover all major Vampire Diaries filming locations in downtown Covington, including the town square and iconic spots from The Originals and Legacies.
• Plan Ahead: Reserve your golf cart in advance and grab a map to maximize your time visiting every filming location without backtracking.

Covington has earned its nickname as the “Hollywood of the South” for good reason. With so many productions filming here, the town has become a haven for pop culture fans and location hunters like me.
Packed with so many recognizable spots, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Covington, including the new Salvatore Mansion living room replica, making a self-guided golf cart tour the perfect way to experience them all.
And yes, I’m about to show you exactly how to do it.
How to Rent a Golf Cart in Covington
When planning your Covington trip, put the golf cart tour at the top of your list. It’s hands down the most fun way to explore the town and hit all the TVD filming locations without wearing yourself out.
Plus, the second you arrive in this charming Southern town, you’ll understand why so many productions choose it as their backdrop.
Ready to start planning?
1. Make your golf cart reservation with Cov Carts
Cov Carts is a family-run business that makes renting golf carts incredibly easy. They provide maps for self-guided tours and offer solid deals on multi-day rentals. Hourly rates start at $89, but here’s my honest recommendation: spring for the full-day rental.

2. Grab a map for your tour of Mystic Falls
Without a map, you’ll spend half your time backtracking and circling. Not that the views aren’t worth it, but when you’ve got limited time, having a solid plan makes all the difference.
You can grab your filming locations map at the Covington Welcome Center. Plus, I’ve mapped out all the essential stops for your self-guided Mystic Falls tour below, so you can make the most of every minute.

And don’t skip the town square! It’s the heart of Covington and absolutely worth exploring beyond just the filming locations.
You’ll find spots from The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and Legacies all within this charming historic district.
Throughout the year, the town square hosts special events for fans like episode screenings, cast meet-and-greets, and fan conventions. Check their event calendar before your visit to see if anything special is happening.
Filming Locations to See
1. Courthouse and Clock Tower
2. The Mystic Grill and The Alley

3. Dr. Gilbert’s Office – 1105 Washington St, SW, Covington, GA

4. Caroline’s Accident [Season 1] – Elm Street, South of College Ave., Covington, GA
5. Elena’s House – 2104 Floyd St NE, Covington, GA

6. Sheriff Forbes’ Funeral – 1113 Conyers St SW, Covington, GA
7. Caroline Forbes’ House – 2118 Floyd St NE, Covington, GA

8. Lockwood Mansion – 2129 East St, Covington, GA

9. Isobel’s House – 2146 Conyers St SW, Covington, GA

10. Gram’s House – 2136 Conyers St SE, Covington, GA

11. Mystic Falls Cemetery – 2151 Davis St., Covington, GA
12. Damon/Elena kiss – Academy Springs Park, 3120 Conyers St SE, Covington, GA
13. Witches Mansion – 3190 Conyers St., Covington, GA

14. Conyers Street Gym [50’s Dance] – 1146 E Conyers St, Covington, GA
15. Old Lockwood Mansion – 2176 Monticello St SW, Covington, GA

16. Rebekah’s House – 3115 Pennington St, Covington, GA

Would you enjoy this self-guided golf cart tour of the real Mystic Falls? Let me know in the comments!
Save it for Later!


Hey, I’m Yanitza 👋 Adventure Travel & U.S. Destination Specialist, travel writer, and hidden-gem hunter with over 8 years of experience helping travelers explore deeper and travel slower. I specialize in crafting authentic, stress-free adventures from small towns to scenic hikes and scuba dives. I’m a firm believer that the best stories happen when you venture beyond tourist hotspots. When I’m not planning getaways or writing travel guides, I’ll probably be home rewatching The Vampire Diaries like it’s my job and daydreaming about future adventures in Spain.

Where is the Salvatore house located, I would love to visit to see the house, I love vampire diaries and the originals, I have watched both series about 10 times
Unfortunately, the house that served as the Salvatore House was torn down in 2015. However, you can visit the Salvatore Boarding House located at 5520 Kent Rock Rd, Loganville, GA. Please be mindful if you visit as this is a private residence.
Hi! I am celebrating my one year with my boyfriend this moth on the 26th of Feb! Him and I are just madly in love with each other and we adore the show! TVD saved me through a really rough time in high school and I have always loved this show so I know the second I get to town I will bawl like a baby. But we are planning a trip for our one year and we are going to be in Mystic falls soon! But I just wanted to thank you for posting this and any other suggestions you have I would love to hear because all of the paid tours are full until August lol sooo I am hoping to build one for ourselves and make it special! If you have any other places you found or little Damon and Elena moments that would be great! But just thank you so much for taking the time to build this little step by step tour, it’s a life saver :’) and I hope your future travels are well!
Hi Emily! Wow, thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your story. I love it ❤️ You can take a self-guided tour completely on your own. You can find all the exact locations for each stop on my other blog. Here is the link https://www.yanitzaninett.com/blog/2020/4/6/visit-the-real-mystic-falls. I hope you have lots of fun and would love to hear back from you to see how your experience went. I know when I first went to ‘Mystic Falls’ I cried! Wishing you all the best! xoxo
I didn’t know that was a tour of this filming location!! Now I want to visit! Loved the Vampire diaries!
Yes! Bucket list 🙂
looks like a fun tour and I love the different perspective of it. Much to enjoy really!
Thank you! It really is a fun and epic tour.
Omg I LOVE visiting filming locations of my favorite shows & movies. I am also a vampire diaries nerd so would totally freak. Is the mystic grill an actual restaurant that you can eat at?
Yes, the Mystic Grill is an actual restaurant and the food is amazing!