Locations
GTA 6 Where to Go First: A Region-by-Region Plan
Leonida is huge. Here is our suggested plan for exploring GTA 6 once the story opens up, region by region, from Vice Beach at night to the Keys, the swamps and the national park.
On this page
GTA 6 will drop you into one of the biggest maps Rockstar has made, and it is easy to feel lost. We do not know yet how the story unlocks the map, so this is a suggested plan based on the regions Rockstar has shown. We will update it with real tips after 19 November 2026.
Treat this page as speculation. How much of the map is open at the start is unknown.
Where does GTA 6 start?
Trailer 1 opens with Lucia Caminos in prison, and Jason Duval lives in the Keys. Likely: the early game moves between the Keys and Vice City. See Jason and Lucia's story.
Our suggested exploring plan
- Vice Beach at night. Take a slow drive down Ocean Drive. See our Ocean Drive at night route.
- Downtown Vice City. Find the skyscrapers, the port and the city's banks. See Downtown Vice City.
- The drive to the Keys. Follow the bridges south. See the scenic drive to the Keys.
- Grassrivers by airboat. Head into the swamps. See the Grassrivers airboat route.
- North to Ambrosia and Mount Kalaga. Small towns, biker bars, forests and canyons.
What should you do first?
Based on past GTA games:
- Finish the opening story missions to unlock more of the map and the phone
- Pick up a fast car or bike early. See returning cars.
- Look for safehouses, garages and gun shops. See safehouses.
- Save money for property and upgrades. See how to make money.
Will areas be locked at the start?
GTA 3, Vice City and San Andreas locked whole islands at first, while GTA 5 opened most of its map early. Speculation: GTA 6 opens most of Leonida early but keeps some places tied to the story.
FAQ
Where does GTA 6 start?
The trailers open with Lucia in prison and Jason in the Keys, so the story likely starts around those places.
Is the whole GTA 6 map open at the start?
Not confirmed. GTA 5 opened most of its map early, but older GTA games locked areas.
What is the best place to explore first in GTA 6?
We suggest Vice Beach and Downtown Vice City, then the Keys and Grassrivers.
How long does it take to explore GTA 6?
Unknown until launch. With six regions, exploring everything will likely take many hours.
