You're driving through Los Santos. The sun is setting over the Del Perro Pier, and for a second, nostalgia hits you like a Duke O'Death at full speed. You want to see the old neighborhood. You want to see where CJ lived. You’re looking for that iconic cul-de-sac, but the map feels different than it did in 2004. If you're wondering GTA 5 where is Grove Street, you aren't just looking for a GPS coordinate; you’re looking for a piece of gaming history that has changed more than most players realize.
It’s in Davis.
Specifically, you’re looking at the southern part of the city. If you pull up your map, look for the Maze Bank Arena. From there, head slightly east. You’ll see a circular road—a dead end—that looks exactly like a magnifying glass from above. That’s it. That is the legendary Grove Street. But don't expect a warm welcome from guys in green hoodies.
The Location and How to Get There
Finding the spot is easy once you know what to look for on the mini-map. It sits right off Brouge Avenue. If you’re playing as Franklin, you’re already pretty close since his first house is in Strawberry, just a few blocks north.
You can literally just set a waypoint on that circular cul-de-sac in the Davis neighborhood. If you’re coming from the posh hills of Vinewood, just take the South Los Santos freeway and exit toward Davis. You’ll know you’re there when the vibe shifts from high-end boutiques to weathered liquor stores and chain-link fences.
Here’s the thing. In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grove Street was the heart of the Grove Street Families. It was home. In GTA 5, however, the lore took a dark turn. The neighborhood is firmly under the control of the Ballas. You’ll see them everywhere—purple shirts, aggressive stares, and a hair-trigger temper if you linger too long with your headlights on.
Why is Grove Street Purple Now?
This is the question that keeps lore nerds up at night. How did the Families lose the most iconic street in Los Santos?
🔗 Read more: Lust Academy Season 1: Why This Visual Novel Actually Works
Rockstar Games loves a bit of cynical realism. According to in-game dialogue, particularly during the mission "Hood Safari," most of the original Grove Street Families moved on. They grew up, got "legit" jobs, or just got out of the game. Lamar Davis mentions that the Families basically gave up the territory.
It’s a slap in the face to anyone who spent hundreds of hours helping CJ take over the map in the 90s.
Honestly, it makes the world feel more alive. Things change. Neighborhoods flip. In the HD Universe (which encompasses GTA 4, GTA 5, and the upcoming GTA 6), the events of the 3D Universe (San Andreas, Vice City) are treated more like myths or alternate realities. So, while the physical location of Grove Street exists in both, the history is slightly fractured.
What Happens When You Go There?
Don’t expect a peaceful stroll.
If you walk onto the street as Trevor or Michael, the Ballas will get agitated almost immediately. If you’re Franklin, you have a bit more leeway, but not much. The AI is programmed to be highly territorial here.
One of the coolest—and most dangerous—missions in the game takes place right here. In "Hood Safari," Franklin, Trevor, and Lamar head to Grove Street for a drug deal that, unsurprisingly, goes south. You end up in a massive shootout, fleeing the cul-de-sac while the police swarm the entire Davis area. It’s one of the few times the game forces you to acknowledge how much the neighborhood has decayed.
💡 You might also like: OG John Wick Skin: Why Everyone Still Calls The Reaper by the Wrong Name
If you explore the area during "Director Mode" or just free-roam, look at the houses. They are almost identical in layout to the ones from 2004. CJ’s house—or the house that occupies that physical space—is still at the back of the circle. You can’t go inside, but standing on that porch feels heavy.
Secrets and Easter Eggs Near Grove Street
Rockstar didn't just copy-paste the layout; they hid some treats for the eagle-eyed fans.
- The Three Cyclists: Occasionally, if you approach Grove Street at the right time, you might see three NPCs riding bikes away from the area. One is in a white tank top, another in a green shirt. It’s a direct nod to the mission "Sweet & Kills" or the iconic "Big Smoke" chase.
- The Graffiti: Look at the walls in the surrounding alleys. You’ll find tags that reference the old-school Families, though they are often painted over with Ballas purple.
- Space Monkey: There’s a distinctive Space Monkey mosaic nearby, which is part of a larger collectible side-quest for returning players on certain console versions.
The area is also a hotspot for the "Fire Truck" or "Paramedic" missions if you’re trying to trigger world events. Because it’s a high-crime area in the game’s code, the density of police spawns nearby is significantly higher than in places like Rockford Hills.
The Real-World Inspiration
Grove Street isn't just a random circle. It’s heavily based on a real place in Compton, California. The "Hidden Village" area and specifically the streets around E 137th St in Compton mirror that circular, isolated urban design.
In real life, these cul-de-sacs were designed to reduce through-traffic, but in the context of gang warfare, they often became defensible strongholds—or traps. Rockstar captured that feeling of being "boxed in" perfectly.
Getting the Most Out of Your Visit
If you’re heading there for the first time in a while, do it at night. The lighting engine in GTA 5 (especially the Expanded & Enhanced versions) makes the neon signs of the nearby LTD Gasoline station and the flickering streetlights of Davis feel incredibly atmospheric.
📖 Related: Finding Every Bubbul Gem: Why the Map of Caves TOTK Actually Matters
Just keep your weapon holstered unless you’re looking for a five-star wanted level. The Ballas in this game don't play around, and they carry better hardware than the gangs in the old days. You’ll see them leaning against the low-rider cars, smoking, and chatting. It’s a masterclass in environmental storytelling.
How to Use the Location for Profit
In GTA Online, Grove Street is more than just a nostalgic landmark; it’s a tactical zone.
- Gang Attacks: You can often trigger gang attacks in the vicinity, which are great for farming a bit of RP and ammo in the early game.
- Vehicle Spawns: Some of the best low-riders and "gang versions" of cars like the Buccaneer or the Manana spawn in the Davis/Grove Street area. If you steal one and garage it, you can sell it for a decent chunk of change at Los Santos Customs.
- The Chop Shop: Many of the newer DLC missions involve the surrounding warehouses. Keeping a business nearby means you’ll be passing through Grove Street constantly.
The neighborhood is a reminder that in Los Santos, the only constant is change. You might miss the green-clad brothers-in-arms, but the new Grove Street offers a different kind of intensity. It’s gritty, it’s dangerous, and it’s still the most famous street in digital history.
Actionable Next Steps
To truly experience the weight of this location, don't just drive through it in a supercar. Grab a BMX bike as Franklin and ride from the Strawberry projects down to the Grove Street cul-de-sac at sunset. It’s the best way to see the transition between the different "set pieces" of the South Los Santos map. If you're hunting for the "Three Cyclists" Easter Egg, try visiting on a sunny afternoon between 12:00 and 16:00 in-game time. Finally, if you're looking to stock up on unique vehicles, bring a Garage-saved car to the area to "seed" the spawns, then look for the customized purple Ballas cars that park along the curb; they have unique paint jobs you can't easily replicate in the shop.