The Last of Us takes place across a post-apocalyptic United States, with the story following Joel and Ellie as they travel through multiple states and cities. Key locations in the game include:
- Austin, Texas (Joel's hometown and the setting of the game's prologue)
- Boston, Massachusetts (including a quarantine zone and downtown area)
- Lincoln, Massachusetts (Bill's Town)
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (city and suburbs)
- Wyoming (Tommy's Dam and Jackson, where the game concludes)
- Boulder, Colorado (The University)
- Silver Lake, Colorado (Lakeside Resort)
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Bus Depot and Firefly Lab)
The journey spans from the east coast to the west, showcasing a variety of environments such as urban ruins, suburban neighborhoods, forests, and snowy landscapes
. In summary, The Last of Us is set in a fictionalized, overgrown, and devastated United States, with major parts of the story occurring in Texas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah
