You Can Visit the Shameless House, Here’s How

If you’ve given any of your time to watching the hit show Shameless, you’re familiar with the Shameless house. The Gallaghers are a family you can’t easily forget, and their home is as iconic as their name. 

Fiona, Lip, Ian, Debbie, Carl, Liam, and, of course, Frank have led viewers down the strangest and most exciting paths your mind could never construe over the past 11 seasons, building an intense fan base. 

If you’re one of those people, then you’ll love the Shameless house Road Trip Guide. You can take a stroll on the same roads and doorsteps you repeatedly see in the show and really dig into the life of the Gallaghers first hand. 

Let’s explore!

Where Is the Shameless House? 

If you want to see where all the Gallaghers were rumored to have been born on the kitchen table, you’ll have to direct your road trip towards Chicago.

The address is 2119 S Homan Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60623, and your GPS system will bring you right to the front door. 

Can You Visit the Shameless House? 

Once you find the Gallaghers’ front gate, you’re more than welcome to walk up for a quick snapshot. However, there are a few things you should consider before you take the tour. 

You can’t go inside the house, as people actually live there when the show isn’t filming. Don’t be rude to the occupants by invading their space. It’s not a good look. 

Also, a posted sign asks for a $5 donation if you want to open the front gate and step onto the porch. Don’t be a cheapskate—cough up the dough. 

Is the Real Shameless House in a Bad Neighborhood? 

Though the show sets the Shameless house in a place known as Canaryville, that’s not really where the house stands.

The 2100 block of South Homan Ave is in a quiet North Lawndale neighborhood. 

The real Canaryville was named after the rough and tumble young people that occupied the area. In real life, the house is in a pretty nice neighborhood. 

The Shameless house actually belongs to a woman who has lived in the home for over 40 years. She and the neighbors work hard to keep their area looking nice, and the show restored the look of the house after every filming session. 

Is the Alibi Bar a Real Place? 

There is a real Alibi Bar in Chicago, but it looks like that bar was established after the show became popular.

The bar in the show is really in Burbank, California. Warner Bros studio lot holds the keys to the bar that’s rumored to be modeled after Moe’s bar in The Simpsons. 

Can You Visit Fiona’s Motel? 

Way back in season one of Shameless, Fiona got a housekeeping job at a hotel. You can see it in real life at 3901 S. Michigan Avenue, about 20 minutes from the Shameless house.

It’s an operating hotel called Amber Inn.

While you can see the hotel from the outside and enter the lobby, you’ll have to pay for a room to get the up-close-and-personal experience. 

Pro Tip: While exploring Illinois, make sure to check out these 7 Best Lakes in Illinois (and Nearby Campsites).

What Else to Do While You’re in Chicago

You probably won’t spend all of your time in Chicago checking out the Shameless house and other notable landmarks, but there’s plenty to do to fill your time in the Windy City. 

See the Cloud Gate and Millennium Park

Millennium Park is in the heart of downtown Chicago at 201 E. Randolph St, between Michigan and Columbus Ave. Cloud Gate is a monumental shiny sculpture that sits in the park and looks like a giant, shiny bean. 

Take an Architecture Tour by Boat

Several companies around the water will serve up an informative boat tour of the city’s gorgeous and timeless architecture. Chicago is a beautiful city that you can see in many different ways, but a riverboat ride is one of the best.

Snap a picture with the infamous Chicago skyline for a post-card-worthy memory. 

360 Chicago Observation Deck

The 360 Observation Deck is on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center. What was once another floor of offices has since been upgraded to a pretty cool tourism spot. 

You can get a breathtaking aerial view of the city from all directions of the observation deck. They even have a ride called “Tilt” that allows people to lean over the edge of the building for an incredible view. 

Do you think you can see the Shameless house from there? Probably not, but it’ll still be a unique experience.

Visit the Field Museum

You can ride the “L” (as featured in so many different scenes in Shameless) to within a block of the Field Museum. You’ll get a great experience out of the journey and the exploration of some of the world’s finest art displays. 

See Wrigley Field

Who wouldn’t want to see the home of the Chicago Cubs? You can book a tour of Wrigley Field when there are no games.

Even better, try to catch a game while you’re in town to make some pretty cool, lasting memories. 

Stroll the Chicago Riverwalk

You can make a whole day trip out of the Chicago Riverwalk. There’s a floating garden, a chance to ride on cycle boats, and even a riverside theater. You can also enjoy incredible cuisine, art, and architecture.

It’s a truly unique experience, likely unlike any other riverwalks you’ve taken before. 

Where to Stay on Your Shameless House Road Trip

You can’t have a successful Shameless house road trip without a great place to stay. Check out these suggestions before you head to your Airbnb app. 

Stay Near Lake Michigan at Illinois Beach State Park

Set yourself up in a spot on the shores of Lake Michigan at Illinois Beach State Park. You’ll get gorgeous water views, a fresh gust of sea air, and a different kind of feel for the city. 

This park has everything you could need for your camping trip, whether you’re in a tent or a full-sized RV. The park has 244 campsites, 30/50 and 50/50-Amp sites, a sanitary dump, sewer hookups, and water hookups. 

There are showers, grills, tables, toilets, and a few other amenities you might need to camp comfortably. You can fish, hike, bike, swim, or play at the playground located on-site. 

Pro Tip: If you’re going for a swim in Lake Michigan, make sure to keep an eye out for these Most Dangerous Creatures in Lake Michigan.

Closest Campground: Camp Bullfrog Lake in Willow Springs

If you want to be as close as possible to the Shameless house, you can live it up at Camp Bullfrog Lake. You can get an RV or tent site, a cabin, or even a bunkhouse to act as a home base while you’re on your Shameless house road trip. 

If you’re looking for electricity, they have 20-Amp and 30/50-Amp campsites.

You can rent kayaks and canoes for a bit of fun on the water, and there’s plenty of hiking, biking, and fishing to do on the grounds as well. 

Is Visiting the Shameless House Worth the Trip? 

The answer to this question depends on how much you love the show! If you’re a die-hard fan, visiting your favorite Shameless sites in Chicago will make for an unforgettable road trip.

If you’re more of a casual observer of the show, it’ll still be fun to see the sights while you check out other aspects of Chi-Town. Exploring all the city’s offerings will be a cherry on top of your Shameless sight-seeing adventure. 

What’s your favorite thing to do or see in Chicago?

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