Private Movie Sites Drive
Chicago: Private Guided Tour of Chicago Suburbs Movie Sites
Private guided drive from Chicago with hotel pickup, hitting multiple movie sites including the Home Alone house exterior.
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The Short Answer
The Home Alone house is a private residence at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois, about a 40 minute drive north of downtown Chicago. There is no official tour or interior access. Visitors view the brick exterior from the public sidewalk, typically for 10 to 15 minutes, or join a private Chicago movie sites tour that includes a stop or drive-by.
Few movie houses are as recognizable as the McCallister family home from Home Alone (1990). The red brick Georgian at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, a quiet suburb north of Chicago, served as the exterior for the film. Fans still make the trip year after year, with visitor numbers swelling around the holidays.
What most visitors do not realize is how limited the access is. The house is privately owned, now behind a fence with security, and cannot be entered. Interior scenes were filmed elsewhere, at the shuttered New Trier Township High School, not inside the house itself. The visit is brief but rewarding for fans who simply want to stand on Lincoln Avenue and see the real thing.
Compare The Tours
Only one style of guided experience covers this location: a private tour of Chicago suburb movie sites. It differs from a DIY visit mainly in convenience, with hotel pickup and a guided route that pairs the Winnetka house with other film locations around the Chicago area.
What You Will See
The McCallister House Exterior
The main draw: the front facade of the house at 671 Lincoln Avenue, exactly as it appears in exterior shots from the film. View it from the public sidewalk and take photos, but stay off the property itself.
Gated Private Residence
The home now has a fence and security measures, a reminder that people live here. The gate and fencing are visible from the sidewalk and frame any photos you take of the facade.
Old Man Marley's House
The house used for Old Man Marley's home sits right next door at 681 Lincoln Avenue. It is also a private residence, so viewing is exterior only, but it is a convenient two-for-one stop.
The Murphy House
The exterior of neighbor Mitch Murphy's house appears in the film and can also be seen from the public sidewalk on Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka. Another quick photo stop near the main house.
Planning Your Visit
Getting There
The house is in Winnetka, roughly a 40 minute drive north of downtown Chicago. Most visitors arrive by car, park nearby, and walk to Lincoln Avenue to view the exterior from the public sidewalk. There is no station at the door, so driving or riding with a tour is the practical choice. Private movie location tours with hotel pickup handle the driving and include the Home Alone house as a stop or drive-by.
Tickets, Hours And Timing
There are no official tickets, set opening hours, or interior tours. The house is a private home, so a typical visit lasts 10 to 15 minutes spent on the public sidewalk. The only bookable option is a guided tour: private tours of Chicago movie sites include the Home Alone house exterior among other filming locations. The house sold for $5.5 million in January 2025, and a one night Airbnb stay offered in December 2021 sold out quickly, so interior opportunities are extremely rare.
Booking Tips
- The house is a private residence, so never enter the property or driveway.
- There is no interior access; interior scenes were filmed at a former high school, not the house.
- Plan for just 10 to 15 minutes on the sidewalk, then move on.
- A private movie sites tour is the only way to bundle the house with other Chicago filming locations.
- Expect more fellow fans during the holiday season.
On The Map
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Go Inside The Home Alone House?
No. The house is a private residence with a fence and security, and visitors may only view the exterior from the public sidewalk. Interior scenes in the film were shot at the shuttered New Trier Township High School anyway, so the rooms fans remember were never inside this house.
Where Exactly Is The House?
It stands at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois, a suburb roughly 40 minutes north of downtown Chicago by car. Nearby houses used in the film, including Old Man Marley's at 681 Lincoln Avenue, sit on the same street, so one parking spot covers all of them.
Is There An Official Tour?
No official tour exists and there are no on site tickets or hours. The closest thing is a private guided tour of Chicago movie sites, which includes a stop or drive by of the house exterior along with other filming locations, with hotel pickup included.
How Long Should You Spend There?
Most fans spend 10 to 15 minutes photographing the facade from the sidewalk. Since there is nothing to enter and two more film houses sit nearby on Lincoln Avenue, a half hour total covers the whole stretch comfortably before heading back toward Chicago.
When Is The Best Time To Visit?
The holidays draw the biggest crowds, since the film is a seasonal classic, but the house can be viewed from the sidewalk any time of year. Weekday mornings tend to be quieter on Lincoln Avenue, which makes parking and photo taking easier.
Who Owns The House Now?
The home sold for $5.5 million in January 2025. Before that, a one night Airbnb stay was offered in December 2021 and sold out quickly. It otherwise functions as a private family home, which is why access is strictly limited to the sidewalk.
For Home Alone fans, the trip to Winnetka is a short but satisfying pilgrimage. Keep expectations realistic: this is a sidewalk visit to a private home, not a museum. Those who want more context and less planning can book the private movie sites drive, while independent travelers can simply park near Lincoln Avenue, admire the McCallister facade, and be back in Chicago within the hour.
