Camp Where Top Gun: Maverick’s Final Battle Was Filmed in Washington

You can go camping at a Washington shooting location used for Top Gun: Maverick.

Top Gun: Maverick is the hottest movie of the summer. Fans and critics alike are praising the follow-up to 1986's Top Gun. Audiences were skeptical if a sequel that came out 36 years after the original would be good. Word of mouth has spread that yeah, it's a good movie. It may even be better than the original.

One of the reasons Top Gun: Maverick is so good is its use of real jets in real action. Oh, and the actors are actually in the planes. Sure, they're not handling the controls, but instead filming themselves in the backseat, but it's still authentic. The movie insists to be seen on the big screen, and Tom Cruise has pulled out all the stops to create the perfect summer blockbuster experience.

But did you know Washington served as the backdrop to the film's climax? When Maverick and his squadron head into the danger zone to begin the film's impossible mission (heh), after they take off from the aircraft carrier, they can be seen skimming across Kachess Lake.

Yes, those were real jets with Tom Cruise and the other cast members inside them. Those jets ripped and roared through the Cascade Mountains, less than three hours away from Tri-Cities.

Is Kachess Lake open year-round for camping?

Kachess Lake Campground is open from June through September and provides not only a gorgeous, cinematic view, but electric hook-ups for your RV, beaches, picnic spots, toilets you can actually flush, and you can bring your pets. Oh, and you can also say "Hey, I've been there" the next time you watch Top Gun: Maverick with someone. People love when you tell them fun facts while they're watching movies.