Before I ever stepped onto campus, I had to answer a question every Notre Dame student eventually faces: how do I actually get there? Whether you’re flying into South Bend, navigating Chicago airports, or road-tripping from home, getting to Notre Dame is its own kind of introduction to college life. It’s a process that quickly turns from confusing to routine and, eventually, even a comforting one. Luckily, I’ve tried almost every mode of transportation to get to and from campus, so here are my ins and outs of travel.
Driving to campus is one of the most frequent methods of transportation for everyone who lives in the Midwest. It’s fairly easy to find someone driving to your hometown and hitch a ride with them, even as early as your first fall break. There’s always plenty of students driving as far as 8 or 9 hours, and probably more students than you can count heading to Chicago. I live on Long Island, NY, which is 750 miles away from campus as the crow flies and approximately an 11-and-a-half-hour drive. I’ve only ever driven to campus once, when I moved in freshman year, and it’s safe to say I would avoid doing it again. It wasn’t that bad with a couple of podcasts and a nap here and there, but if you’re from the east coast like me, you might consider some other options.
Another great way to get to and from Notre Dame is flying through Chicago. As I mentioned, there are always many people driving to Chicago. It’s always a good idea to grab a ride to Chicago and then fly to your destination. My only caveat is: make sure your ride leaves on time because there is traffic on the way to Chicago, but, generally, if someone is willing to drive you to or from O’Hare or even Midway, this is always a safe bet to successful Notre Dame travel.
A favorite option of mine is public transportation through O’Hare. The South Shore Line from South Bend is a 2-hour train ride to Millennium station. From there, you can hop on the Blue Line over to O’Hare or take the Orange Line to Midway. I usually use the South Shore Line on my way back to campus from O’Hare. It’s generally pretty reliable, but has been known to have delays.
Beyond the train, some people also take Ubers from O’Hare to campus, or from campus to O’Hare. They can be expensive, so lots of students will share an Uber and split the cost for this long distance ride. As someone who has done this many times, I recommend texting your dorm group chat to see if anyone is travelling at the same time as you and would want to split the cost. I also recommend that you book the Uber in advance—sometimes people don’t want to drive that far, so scheduling your Uber in advance can help avoid a last minute crunch.
If none of these options are your speed, you’re still in luck! The South Bend International Airport is just 20 minutes away from campus. If I’m being honest, I don’t know why they call it an international airport because I’ve never seen a flight with a destination outside of the country, but it is a great option for connecting flights.
To get to New York, I’ve flown connecting flights to Charlotte, Detroit, Atlanta, and Chicago. My one recommendation here is to book a long connection. The planes out of South Bend are small, so if you bring a carry-on you’re likely going to have to check your bag. That means, if you have a short layover, you’ll have to wait for your bag before you can get to your next flight.
Connecting out of South Bend is my favorite way to travel since it brings me so close to campus when I’m coming back, and I don’t have to go far when leaving for breaks. Just like driving to O’Hare, though, I recommend you schedule your Ubers in advance. On big travel days at Notre Dame, it’s always better to have your ride reserved and to share with friends.
Finally, there is the rare occurrence of a direct flight. Many people who live in cities like Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Detroit, to name a few, have the luxury of a direct flight to their home airport. Unfortunately for New York, I can’t say the same. On home game weekends, however, there are many direct flights added to different airports. So if the first weekend of fall break happens to be a game weekend or, if there’s a home playoff game at the end of the semester, you might get lucky and be able to get to your home in just a few hours.
No matter where you’re coming from, there’s no single “right” way to get to and from Notre Dame, and that’s
what makes it manageable. With so many options, from car rides and trains to flights and Ubers, you can find what works best for your schedule, budget, and comfort level. It might take a few trips to figure out your favorite route, but for me, the process itself has been a big part of growing more independent. I’ve learned how to book my own flights, deal with delays and tight connections, and coordinate rides or split Ubers with people, sometimes even friends I just met while traveling. What once felt confusing has become something I can handle on my own, and in a way, every trip back and forth has made Notre Dame feel a little more like home.
