About the South Bend Area

The city of South Bend, which is less than 2 miles from campus, is a metropolitan area with a population greater than 265,000. The city offers an active social and cultural life and unique, one-of-a-kind attractions. From the College Football Hall of Fame, Studebaker National Museum, the Northern Indiana Center for History, the South Bend Chocolate Museum, South Bend Regional Museum of Art, and the Morris Performing Arts Center –there's a variety of things to see and do no matter what your tastes are. The East Race, a man-made whitewater course provides rafting and a world class kayaking experience. Mishawaka, a town immediately adjacent to South Bend and only 10 minutes from campus is home to the student favorite University Park Mall, as well as to a multitude of chain retail outlets, discount stores, and a variety of restaurants. Whether you're in need of a shower caddy, formal dress, or winter boots, Grape Road is the place to go. Buses from campus or upperclassmen in possession of a vehicle will be happy to take you there. Chicago is only 90 miles away, with South Shore trains running daily from the South Bend airport to downtown Chicago where you'll find the Art Institute of Chicago and the Magnificent Mile.

The Michiana area (northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan) offers a large variety of outdoor activities. Excellent sandy beaches on Lake Michigan are about a 45-minute drive from campus, and swimming, sailing, and other water sports are available on a number of smaller lakes, including those on the Notre Dame campus. Downhill skiing is available 45 minutes away and cross-country ski trails exist in many of the local county parks.

Local Links

St. Joseph County Convention and Visitor's Bureau