Area Info
About South Bend
Aside from the wonders of Notre Dame’s beautiful campus, the greater South Bend area offers a number of facilities and activities for visitors. From the Studebaker Museum to the College Football Hall of Fame, visitors will have no difficulty finding something to enjoy. Staged performances are held in a traditional theater setting, such as the South Bend Civic or at our own DeBartolo Performing Arts Center on campus, or in the rich decor of the Barn Theater in Amish Country.
The warm summer days can also be enjoyed by the water. Located only a short distance from campus, the East Race is the first artificial white water kayaking/rafting course built in North America. Here people come to watch world class slalom races or take a raft down the course with friends. For rest and relaxation, the sandy dunes and beaches of Lake Michigan are little more than a half hour drive from campus.
How to get to Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame is located adjacent to the city of South Bend in northern Indiana, just a few miles from the Michigan state line and in the Eastern time zone. It is easily accessible via major airlines, AMTRAK, and Interstate 80/90 (Indiana Toll Road). Notre Dame is approximately a two-hour drive from Chicago and three hours from Indianapolis and Detroit. Please note that Notre Dame is in the Eastern time zone, which is always one hour ahead of Chicago (Central) time.
Arriving by car…
From the north: The University is located just south of the Indiana Toll Road (Interstate 80/90). Exit I-80/90 at Exit 77 and turn right onto Indiana 933. Make a left at the fourth stop light (Angela Boulevard), then turn left at the second stop light (Eddy Street). Follow signs to visitor parking.
From the south: Take U.S. 31 north which becomes Indiana 933 just south of the city of South Bend. Stay on Indiana 933 through downtown South Bend to Angela Boulevard. Turn right onto Angela, and then turn left at the second stoplight (Eddy Street). Follow signs to visitor parking.
If you are flying…
The South Bend Regional Airport is about 15 minutes by car from the Notre Dame campus (flights should be booked to South Bend, Indiana). From the airport, go east on Lincolnway West (left out of the airport) to downtown South Bend. Turn left on Indiana 933 (Michigan Street) and proceed about two miles to Angela Boulevard. Turn right onto Angela, and then turn left at the second stoplight (Eddy Street). Follow signs to visitor parking.
Visitors also can fly to Chicago and drive or take a bus to Notre Dame. The university is about two hours by car from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and about 90 minutes from Midway International Airport. From O’Hare, take I-190 east out of the airport, merge onto I-90 east (the Kennedy Expressway) toward downtown Chicago and merge with I-94 south (the Dan Ryan Expressway). Take the Skyway exit off the Dan Ryan and remain on I-90 to the Indiana Toll Road, which merges with I-80. From the Illinois border, it is about 75 miles to Exit 77 (the South Bend/Notre Dame exit).
Coach USA operates a motor coach bus service between both O’Hare and Midway Airports in Chicago and the Notre Dame campus. The bus departs every two hours and makes several stops; travel time to campus is approximately three hours. A one-way fare is $40, round-trip fare is $69. Please visit Coach USA for more information.
Travel by Train…
The South Shore Line trains run directly from the Chicago Loop (corner of Michigan and Randolph) to South Bend Regional Airport in South Bend (about a 2 hour trip). From the airport, the Notre Dame campus is approximately a 15 minute ride by car. Various transportation methods are available (ie. taxi, rental car).
