South Bend, IN Road Trips

With a population just over 100,000 (2020), South Bend is often thought of as a "small town", perhaps increasingly so since former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg (known as "Mayor Pete" due to the difficulty of spelling last name) liked to tout his experience of being a "Small Town Mayor in a Red State" during the Presidential Primaries in the 2020 campaign cycle which propelled him to national fame and the post of Secretary of Transportation of the U.S.A. Explore South Bend

1 Century Center, 120 S Saint Joseph St (along the St. Joe river downtown), ☏ +1 574 235-9151. This convention center includes an art museum, several large banquet areas, an auditorium and theatre, an historic riverfront area and large patio over the former dam that ran South Bend's electrical supply, a skyway to the Doubletree Hotel over US 31, and a large lobby with high ceilings and windows that look out toward the river and the east side of town. 2 Indiana University South Bend, ☏ +1 574 520-IUSB (4872). The third-largest of the eight IU campuses, IU South Bend has grown substantially and is worth seeing. North/South Continental Divide. Sure, it's not that exciting, but just driving down the US 20 bypass you can see a sign that alerts you to this fact. And it's true, South Bend lies on the North/South Continental Divide, which is why the St. Joseph River flows north into Lake Michigan while the White River in Indianapolis flows south. (updated Apr 2019) 3 Saint Joseph River. Though still somewhat polluted, the riverfront along South Bend is an interesting walk through the former dam system that used to power the city's electrical supply. This walk leads (or starts from) the Century Center, which is South Bend's convention center. The Mishawaka riverfront has also come a long way near its downtown. County parks along the river are popular destinations for fisherman, boaters, and nature-viewers. (updated Apr 2019) 4 Saint Mary's College, ☏ +1 574 284-4000. Located across from the University of Notre Dame. (updated Dec 2019) Shiojiri Niwa.

1 Morris Performing Arts Center, 211 N Michigan St, ☏ +1 574 235-9190. This beautiful downtown concert venue is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. South Bend Symphony Orchestra. The South Bend Symphony is a professional orchestra performing 15 concerts each year. The SBSO features world-famous soloists . You can regularly see them perform at the Morris Performing Arts Center, the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center on the Campus of Notre Dame, and the Moreau Center at Saint Mary's College. IU South Bend Titans, ☏ +1 574 520-4872. This team plays other schools from the Chicagoland and Calumet Region. Notre Dame Fighting Irish, ☏ +1 574 631-7356. Don't go to South Bend without seeing the Fighting Irish take on any number of conference teams from around the country. Most of the school's teams compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with 14 other schools in the eastern half of the country. Football, the school's most famous sport, is an exception—it's independent (not in a conference), although it plays five games a year against ACC teams. South Bend Cubs (South Bend Silver Hawks), ☏ +1 574 235-9988. Plan a trip for when your team is playing the South Bend Cubs. Home of the Cubs, Stanley Coveleski Stadium (locally referred to as "The Cove") is a great time with $1 Mondays, Twofer Tuesdays and summer fireworks. Tickets are $5 for reserve seating (bleachers) and $7 for box seating, but coupons abound throughout the city. Suites are also available. Artpost Gallery, 216 W. Madison St, ☏ +1 574 287-6293. Th F noon-6PM, Su noon-4PM.

Bonnie Doon Drive-In, 2704 Lincolnway W Hwy, Mishawaka, ☏ +1 574-255-9841. Locally created and owned ice cream company and restaurant. Cambodian Thai, 235 S Michigan St, ☏ +1 574 289-2877. Excellent-tasting, fresh Thai and Cambodian cuisine at fair prices. Yellow Cat Cafe, 808 E Colfax Ave, ☏ +1 574-233-2233. Homey breakfast and lunch eatery. Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd, ☏ +1 574 234-1141. A French Quarter style coffee house featuring beignets, po' boys and jambalaya. Mr. G's Restaurant and Lounge, 708 Lincolnway W Hwy, Osceola, ☏ +1 574-674-6362. Close to Baugo Creek County Park, and midway between South Bend and Elkhart (two blocks West of the Elkhart/St. Joseph County line) on SR 933 (Lincoln Way). Free Wireless Internet is also available. The Bucket Restaurant, 1212 S Ironwood Dr, ☏ +1 574 289-1616. Bar and restaurant featuring locally renowned burgers and great views of IU South Bend and the river. There is also a lower level deck on the river which houses a bar and is served by waitstaff. There is an upper-level deck and two floors inside, both with bars and one with a salad bar, and the upper floor is smoking. Fatbird, 103 W Colfax Ave, ☏ +1 574-383-5708. Su-Th 11:30AM-9PM, F Sa 11:30AM-10PM. Good chicken, good food. $10-24 usually. (updated Jun 2025) J. W. Chen's, 1835 South Bend Ave (SR 23), ☏ +1 574 271-2777. Authentic Chinese food, well regarded around town. La Esperanza, 1636 N Ironwood Dr, ☏ +1 574 273-0345. Authentic Mexican restaurant. Legends of Notre Dame, ☏ +1 574-631-2582. Across from Notre Dame Stadium.

South Bend Chocolate Cafe, 122 S Michigan St, ☏ +1 574 287-0725. Have a wrap, slice of chocolate cake, or a cup of gourmet coffee at South Bend's famous chocolate cafe, next to the College Football Hall of Fame. Sweet Street Corn-Er-Coffee, 1105 Northside Blvd, ☏ +1 574 287-8724. Near IU South Bend. Indiana State Law prohibits alcohol sales after 3AM Monday - Friday and after midnight on Saturday (though bars stay open until 3AM on Saturday night into Sunday morning). No alcohol sales are permitted on Sunday (beginning at midnight until 7AM Monday morning) or on Christmas, Easter, or New Year's Day. However, you can easily cross the state line into Michigan in mere minutes and purchase alcohol on Sunday before 2AM. Blarney Stone, 113 E. Wayne St, ☏ +1 574 283-0452. Large bar with dance floor and drink specials. Bob's Tavern & 19th Hole, 26582 US Highway 20 (McKinley Ave), ☏ +1 574 233-0297. Cheers, 103 S Dixie Way, ☏ +1 574-277-8407. A small bar in Roseland (between South Bend and the Michigan line) with a second story loft that has karaoke and live local bands four nights a week. 1 C.J.'s Pub, 236 S Michigan St, ☏ +1 574 233-5981. Small pub in downtown South Bend with great food. The C.J.'s Pub Burger is sold at the restaurant and at South Bend Silver Hawk's games. (updated Sep 2017) Corby's, 441 E Lasalle Ave, ☏ +1 574 233-5326. Featured in the movie Rudy. A great place to grab a drink. Near Downtown and campus. Opens at 3PM. Features an outdoor patio and 5 pool tables.

Quality Inn South Bend, 4124 Lincolnway West, ☏ +1 574 288-3800, fax: +1 574 288-3810. Near South Bend Regional Airport. University of Notre Dame 4 miles. Free continental breakfast. Suites and whirlpool available. Exercise room, indoor pool, business suites. Free airport shuttle to South Bend Regional Airport. La Quinta Inns & Suites, 23040 Lincolnway West, ☏ +1 574-233-3131. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Located at the entrance of the South Bend International Airport. University of Notre Dame 4 miles. Free continental breakfast. Microwave & refrigerator in all rooms. 100% non smoking property. Pet-friendly no extra charge. Exercise room, indoor pool. 24 hour business center. 24 hour pantry convenience shop. Guest laundry facility. Free Wireless high-speed Internet access. Comfort Suites South Bend, 52939 US 933 North, ☏ +1 574 272-1500, fax: +1 574 272-3200. Approximately 1½ miles north of Notre Dame and 4 miles from University Park Mall. All suites feature microwave, refrigerator, iron, ironing board and cable TV with HBO. Meeting space and banquet space is available. Hilton Garden Inn, 53995 State Rd (US 31/Dixie Way), ☏ +1 574 232-7700. On the Saint Mary's Campus and a short walk or drive to Notre Dame. Features Bistro 933. 1 Oliver Inn Bed and Breakfast, 630 W. Washington St, ☏ +1 574-232-4545, toll-free: +1-888-697-4466. For an enriching glimpse of Indiana life at the turn of the century, this B&B and a good choice.

I-80/90 (toll road) Connects to Toledo, Ohio in the east and Chicago, to the west. US 31/S.R. 933 Connects to Indianapolis in the south and runs through downtown South Bend and then 3 miles north to the Michigan line, where it becomes M-51 North. US 20 The bypass around the city which connects to SR 2 (west to Michigan City), US 12 in Michigan (to Sturgis and Detroit to the East and Michigan City and Chicago to the west), SR 23 (a main artery through the city and through St. Joseph County), the I-80/90 toll road, and all other major roads from Elkhart to South Bend and into Michigan. S.R. 2 State Road 2 runs directly through downtown on Western Avenue and connects to Michigan City in the west (see above). S.R. 23 State Road 23 runs diagonally northeast-southwest through South Bend from the Kankakee area and turns into M-60 in Michigan (see above). 1 South Bend International Airport (SBN IATA) (is a few miles west of the city center of South Bend, in the very northern part of the State of Indiana and close to the border of Michigan. It is within a 35 mi (56 km) drive west to the shores of Lake Michigan. The airport has easy access to Interstate 80/90 and US 20/31). Serving as a multi-modal transportation complex for the region, SBN is the only non-hub airport in the United States featuring air, interstate rail, and interstate bus services at one multi-modal terminal location.

Transpo, ☏ +1 574-234-1188. The local bus system that serves South Bend and most of Mishawaka. A service called the "Transpo Trolley" makes stops at all of the tourist attractions. Rides are $.75 each way and $.25 for a transfer. (updated Apr 2019) Yellow Cab +1 574 233-9333. Driving around yourself is the best way to navigate the city. St. Joseph County's road naming system makes it easy to find your way around. If you get lost or lose your bearings, remember that the main county roads running east-west are named after presidents and other famous figures (but mostly presidents) and begin, alphabetically, with Adams Rd. in the north near Michigan and end with Taylor in the south, near Marshall County. North-south roads are named for trees, beginning with Ash (called West County Line Rd. on the Elkhart County side of the road) in Eastern St. Joseph County and ending with Redwood in the West. There are exceptions to this rule, however, such as Washington St. downtown, and Mishawaka has numbered streets. Also, Lincoln Way is renamed LaSalle Ave. in downtown South Bend between Ironwood Dr. and Lafayette Blvd. There are no bike shops that rent bicycles in South Bend, but the city is now home to a fleet of LimeBikes which can be rented by downloading the app. Riders can rent an available bike at a low price, (usually $1 per ride + $0.05 per minute), and don’t need to return it to a designated bike rack like other bike-share programs.

Like many post-industrial cities, South Bend has some trouble spots. To be safe, lock your vehicle when you plan to leave it unattended anywhere downtown, but especially in a parking garage or low lit area after dark. Places to be careful during the day and not walk through after dark include areas on and around Lincoln Way West between William St. and the airport, SR 23 and Madison St. on the East Side of downtown and the river, Western Avenue between William St. and Mayflower, and US 31 between Monroe and Donmoyer Ave. to the north and south and Miami St. and Olive/Locust Rd. to the east and west. Essentially, the south and west sides of downtown and a small portion of the east side can be dangerous, but the majority of neighborhoods are safe. Portage Road and going north towards Cleveland is also known for crime. Take care as you would in any major city after dark. One natural threat to be aware of are tornadoes: if you hear a siren or there is a tornado warning issued, take it seriously. Because South Bend/Michiana is so far North of the tornado belt, there are very few twisters in the area, even during tornado season. However, the tornadoes that do occur are usually F0s which, though comparatively weak, are often low to the ground and very difficult to spot with doppler radar, making advanced warning more difficult. Though much smaller events, their winds speeds can reach as high as 90 miles per hour and they can cause very localized damage in a short period.