Museums, parks, a ballpark, a basilica and a whitewater course, most of it within a few miles of downtown. Here's what's worth seeing in South Bend — and we'll drive you to any of it.
Downtown and museums
Studebaker National Museum
Wagons, carriages, automobiles and military vehicles tracing Studebaker from a 19th-century wagon works to a car manufacturer. The presidential carriage collection includes the one Lincoln rode to Ford's Theatre.
The History Museum and Copshaholm
Next door to the Studebaker museum. Copshaholm is the 1896 Oliver mansion, built for Joseph D. Oliver, with its original furnishings and gardens still in place.
Morris Performing Arts Center
Opened in 1922 as the Palace Theatre, a Spanish Renaissance Revival vaudeville house saved from demolition and restored in 2000. Touring shows, concerts and comedy in a 2,564-seat room.
East Race Waterway
The first artificial whitewater course built in North America, running through downtown. Rafting and kayaking in summer, and a good walk along the riverbank the rest of the year.
Notre Dame campus
The Golden Dome
The gilded dome sits atop the Main Building, the most photographed spot on campus. The stadium is a short walk south.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Cornerstone laid in 1871, consecrated in 1888, raised to minor basilica in 1992. Gothic Revival, with 44 stained glass windows made in Le Mans and murals by the Vatican painter Luigi Gregori.
Notre Dame Stadium
Home football Saturdays turn the whole region out. If you're coming for a game, see our ND game day page — parking is the hard part, and we solve it.
Getting to campus
Students, faculty and staff pay a flat $5 per person on local rides. Details on the Notre Dame taxi page.
Parks and sport
Potawatomi Zoo
Indiana's oldest zoo, founded in 1902, on the east side of the city. Compact enough for an afternoon and popular with families.
Rum Village Park
Old-growth woodland on the south-west side with hiking and mountain bike trails, picnic areas and a nature centre.
Four Winds Field
Downtown ballpark that opened in 1987 and has been home to minor league baseball since 1988 — now the South Bend Cubs, a Chicago Cubs affiliate. Concerts and events run through the year too.
Along the St. Joseph River
The riverwalk connects downtown to Howard Park and Seitz Park. Easy walking, and a good way to see the city if the weather cooperates.
Getting around without a car
Most of it is close together. The Studebaker museum, The History Museum, Copshaholm, the Morris and the ballpark are all within a few blocks downtown. Notre Dame is a few miles north.
Downtown parking fills on event nights. A cab drops you at the door and you skip the walk back to the car afterwards.
Metered local fares. $3 flag drop, $3 per mile, $15 minimum. No surge pricing on game days or event weekends. Full list on the rates page.
Coming in by air or rail? We run flat-rate transfers from South Bend International, the Amtrak station and the South Shore line. See the airport shuttle page.
Multi-stop days are fine. Tell us your plan and we'll work out a price for the whole day rather than trip by trip.
Further afield
Michiana has more to it than the city limits, and we cover the whole region.