Getting Here

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Getting Here

Thank you for your interest in attending the Ukrainian Studies Conference at Notre Dame. To help you determine your options on how to arrive for this conference, we've compiled some details below that hopefully will aid in your travel plans.

If you will be driving to campus at any point with a personal or rented vehicle, please reference the parking information page.

Travel by Air

South Bend International Airport is about 15 minutes by car from the Notre Dame campus (flights should be booked to South Bend, Indiana -- airport code SBN). Various transportation methods are available (e.g., taxi, rental car, limo).

Visitors also can fly into Chicago then drive 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.

Directions from Chicago O’Hare Airport to South Bend

Via Car

You have several options to travel via car from Chicago O'Hare to South Bend.

  • Several car rental firms operate out of Chicago O'Hare, including Enterprise, Hertz, and several others.
  • Various taxi and rideshare services (including Uber and Lyft) are options, but expect to pay more than $200-$300 to get to Notre Dame.

South Shore Line

One low-cost option to travel from Chicago to South Bend is the South Shore Line, a train connection between Millenium Station in Chicago and the South Bend Airport.

Please note that you will also need to take a taxi or rideshare service from the South Bend airport to the University of Notre Dame, but this should not be an excessive cost.

Here are detailed instructions on how to use this method.

Getting on the CTA Blue Line:

After arriving at O’Hare airport, follow signage (“Trains to City - CTA”) from your terminal to the O’Hare CTA Blue Line station. The CTA Blue Line entrance is located between Terminals 2 and 3 via an underground pedestrian passage.

NB: If you arrive at Terminal 5 (international arrivals), you will need to take the free Airport Transit System to Terminals 1, 2, or 3, from which you will be able to access the entrance to the CTA Blue Line. Trains run between terminals every 3-5 minutes during peak hours.

To board the Blue Line, you can either purchase a ticket from the CTA kiosks directly across from the entrance, or simply tap your bankcard at the turnstile. Entry at O’Hare Blue Line station costs $5. Signs will clearly indicate which train is available for boarding. All trains from O’Hare will be heading in the correct direction toward downtown.

Getting to Millenium Station:

Once on the Blue Line, you will need to ride 17 stops from O’Hare to Washington Station. This ride will last approximately 45 minutes.

Once you have arrived at Washington Station, disembark the train and make your way out via the Randolph-Washington exit. Upon exiting the turnstile, turn right into the Block 37 pedway and make your way out of the shopping center.

Walk two blocks east (toward Millenium Park and Lake Michigan) along either E Randolph St or E Washington St until you reach N Michigan Ave. The entrance to Millenium Station is a staircase located at the corner of E Randolph and N Michigan (151 E Randolph).

 

 

Boarding the South Shore Line:

Once in the station, follow signage to South Shore Line trains. Trains are generally available for boarding 30 minutes before departure time.

NB: Do not board trains marked Metra; these terminate in the south suburbs of Chicago.

South Shore Line trains depart Millenium Station (Chicago) for South Bend on the following schedule:

 

Mo-Fri

8.48 am (dep) – 11.54 am (arr)

12.35 pm (dep) – 3.42 pm (arr)

4.04 pm (dep) – 7.00 pm (arr)

5.30 pm (dep) – 8.33 pm (arr)

8.15 pm (dep) – 11.25 pm (arr)

11.15 pm (dep) – 2.24 am (arr)

Sa-Sun

8.30 am (dep) – 11.38 am (arr)

10.45 am (dep) – 2.05 pm (arr)

1.10 pm (dep) – 4.18 pm (arr)

5.07 pm (dep) – 8.15 pm (arr)

6.49 pm (dep) – 9.57 pm (arr)

9.20 pm (dep) – 12.28 am (arr)

10.20 pm (dep) – 1.30 am (arr)

11.25 pm (dep) – 2.33 am (arr)

NB: An hour is added when traveling from Chicago (Central Time Zone) to South Bend (Eastern Time Zone).

Rides take approximately two hours and cost $14.25 each way ($7 for reduced fare). Tickets can be purchased at terminals on the platform or onboard the train from conductors.

In close proximity to Millenium Station:

Food/Dining – Fast food options are available in Millenium Station; other nearby choices:

  • Washington Hall – Extensive selection of casual restaurants and coffee (7am-5pm)
  • Giordano’s – Chicago deep dish pizza classic (11am-10pm)
  • Dollop – Café with sandwich and coffee options (7am-3pm)

Coffee:

Cultural: