4:00 PM
Check in
Stay at The Inn at Saint Marys.
A full-service South Bend hotel beside Saint Mary’s College and near Notre Dame, useful for campus visits without staying in the center of event traffic.
Weekend itinerary
Notre Dame Saturday, South Bend by the river
Eat on Eddy Street Friday, walk Notre Dame from Eck to the stadium Saturday, then finish with downtown dinner and Studebaker history Sunday.
By Cal Mercer — a Second Star Guide itinerary
Friday begins near Notre Dame, Saturday runs from campus to downtown dinner, and Sunday closes at the Studebaker National Museum.
Best length
2 nights
Arrive Friday for dinner on Eddy Street, walk Notre Dame Saturday, and reserve Sunday morning for the Studebaker National Museum.
Stay
The Inn at Saint Marys
A full-service South Bend hotel beside Saint Mary’s College and near Notre Dame, useful for campus visits…
Main activity
Notre Dame
Notre Dame occupies Saturday; lodging near campus or downtown keeps the meal and river portions from requiring repeated cross-town drives.
Weekend shape
Campus walk, downtown dinner, short Sunday
A two-night visit with one substantial Notre Dame block and one South Bend stop beyond campus.
Friday
Check in near campus and eat on Eddy Street.
Settle in near Notre Dame, then walk or drive to Eddy Street Commons for the first dinner.
6:30 PM
First dinner
Start with JINYA Ramen Bar.
A ramen bar at Eddy Street Commons near Notre Dame, convenient for a campus-side first meal with broth bowls, small plates, and Japanese-inspired drinks.
Saturday
Walk Notre Dame from Eck to the stadium.
Register in person for a public campus tour or follow the Main Quad, Basilica, Grotto, lakes, library mural, and stadium route independently.
8:30 AM
Breakfast
Start with Macri's Italian Bakery.
A family-run downtown Italian bakery for pastries, bread, sandwiches, coffee, and a quicker breakfast or lunch before museums or the riverfront.
10:00 AM
Main activity
Walk Notre Dame from the Eck Visitors Center to the stadium.
Begin at the Eck Visitors Center. Public campus tours register in person on the day; stadium tours, football tickets, parking, and venue rules use separate schedules.
4:30 PM
Afternoon
Leave campus before downtown dinner.
Return to the hotel, then head downtown once for the river and dinner rather than crossing South Bend repeatedly.
7:00 PM
Dinner
Reserve the downtown table for Saturday.
A modern downtown steakhouse overlooking the St. Joseph River, positioned for a reserved dinner built around beef, seafood, and river views.
Sunday
Coffee, checkout, and Studebaker history.
Use the first hour for coffee and checkout, then drive downtown for the Studebaker National Museum before leaving South Bend.
9:30 AM
Sunday morning
Coffee, checkout, then Studebaker.
Use the hotel or a nearby coffee stop, check out, and drive downtown before the museum opens.
11:00 AM
One last stop
Spend the final two hours at Studebaker.
The Studebaker National Museum carries South Bend's wagon and automobile story through historic vehicles and presidential carriages.