A location-based shared augmented reality (AR) experience system is configured to permit users that find themselves in the same geographic area to easily join in a shared AR experience by creating respective instances of the shared AR experience for different previously defined geographic areas. When a user indicates a request to launch a shared AR experience accessible via a messaging client, the location-based shared AR experience system obtains or receives from the user device executing the messaging client location information of the user device, determines a previously-defined AR experience area that encompasses the location of the user device, and communicates to the user device an address of an associated instance of the shared AR experience.