Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
The film is set in Shermer, Illinois, a fictional Chicago suburb, and much of the plot revolves around a family trip to Paris. The production never left the state. All filming took place in real Illinois towns, principally Winnetka, plus Northfield, Wilmette, Oak Park, and Chicago O'Hare, which posed as both the Chicago airport and Paris's Orly. Archival footage supplied the Paris establishing shots, so not a single scene was actually shot in France.
The Studio Side
The film's main studio work happened at the abandoned New Trier West High School campus in Northfield, specifically the New Trier Township High School Northfield campus. A two-story replica of the McCallister house interior was constructed inside the school gymnasium because the real home was too cramped for the crew and equipment. Even the flooded basement scene was shot in the school's swimming pool. The campus is not open to the public.
Tours That Visit These Locations
Independent driving works well for these sites, since most cluster in Winnetka and Hubbard Woods. Travelers who prefer a guide can book a private movie sites tour of the Chicago suburbs that covers filming locations in a single outing.
Private Suburbs Drive, Half Day
Chicago: Private Guided Tour of Chicago Suburbs Movie Sites
A private guided drive through Chicago's northern suburbs visits movie sites with a local guide handling the route, ideal for travelers who want the Winnetka locations without planning the residential streets themselves. The tour suits families and small groups, and early reviews are positive.
★ 2 reviewsChicago
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Visit The McCallister House?
Yes, from the street. The house at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka is a private residence with a fence, so visitors cannot go inside. Fans routinely drive by and take photos from the sidewalk, but the residents ask for privacy, so keep visits brief and quiet.
Was Home Alone Filmed In Paris?
No. Although the family flies to Paris in the story, no filming occurred in France. O'Hare International Airport in Chicago stood in for Orly Airport, and the Paris street scenes used archival footage for establishing shots. Everything was shot in Illinois.
Is The Real House Used For Interior Scenes?
Partially. The staircase, basement, attic, and first floor interiors were filmed in the actual Winnetka home, but most interior scenes were shot on a two-story set built inside the gymnasium of a former high school in Northfield, because the real house was too small for the crew.
Which Locations Can You Enter?
Several sites are public places you can walk into: the pharmacy, now a Graeter's Ice Cream shop, the Grand Food Center grocery store, Hubbard Woods Park, the Metra station area, and O'Hare's Terminal 3. The churches are also open, though visitors should respect active services.
How Long Did Filming Take?
Principal photography lasted 83 days, running from February 14 to May 8, 1990. The winter shoot famously produced real snow early on, though the schedule extended into spring, requiring the crew to manage conditions across the seasons.
Where Is The Church Kevin Visits?
The church exteriors and the nativity scene were filmed at Trinity United Methodist Church in Wilmette. The interior scenes with Kevin and his neighbor Marley were shot at Grace Episcopal Church in Oak Park, a separate location south of the other sites.
Home Alone offers one of the most walkable and drivable film location trails anywhere in the Midwest. A single afternoon covers Winnetka's house, park, pharmacy, and station, while O'Hare and Oak Park sit an easy trip away. Travelers who want the full story behind each stop, or simply a driver for the suburban streets, can book the private suburbs movie tour and leave the route to a guide.
