5 days in South Bend & Chicago Itinerary

South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Venture out of the city with trips to Warren Dunes State Park (in Bridgman), Michigan City (Blue Chip Casino, Barker Mansion, &more) and Four Winds Casino New Buffalo (in New Buffalo). There's much more to do: make a trip to Century of Progress Architectural District, browse the fresh offerings at Purple Porch Co-op, brush up on your knowledge of spirits at The Indiana Whiskey Company, and explore the different monuments and memorials at City Cemetery.

For ratings, traveler tips, maps, and more tourist information, read our South Bend driving holiday planning site.

Use the Route module to find travel options from your starting location to South Bend. Expect a daytime high around 37°F in December, and nighttime lows around 24°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 29th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Chicago.

A huge and vibrant city, Chicago is home to top-notch theaters, shops, museums, galleries, and restaurants.

Kick off your visit on the 29th (Thu): get curious at Museum of Science and Industry, then explore the world behind art at The Art Institute of Chicago, then stroll through Millennium Park, and finally admire the landmark architecture of Reliance Building.

For reviews, more things to do, where to stay, and more tourist information, you can read our Chicago sightseeing website.

Getting from South Bend to Chicago by car takes about 2 hours. Other options: take a train; or take a bus. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 1 hour traveling from South Bend to Chicago. Expect a daytime high around 38°F in December, and nighttime lows around 26°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 30th (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to South Bend.

On the 30th (Fri), admire the masterpieces at The Snite Museum of Art, then take in the architecture and design of University of Notre Dame, and then pause for some serene contemplation at Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

To see reviews, other places to visit, maps, and tourist information, read South Bend holiday app.

You can drive from Chicago to South Bend in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. The time zone difference moving from Central Standard Time (CST) to Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 1 hour.