The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university founded on November 26, 1842, when Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., and seven companions from the Congregation of Holy Cross took possession of 524 snow-covered acres in northern Indiana. The university sits adjacent to the city of South Bend, Indiana, in a metropolitan area of more than 300,000 residents approximately 90 miles east of Chicago.
This guide covers the campus layout and landmarks, Notre Dame’s additional sites, how to get there, what the surrounding area looks like, and how to schedule a visit.
- University of Notre Dame Campus Location
- Getting to the University of Notre Dame
- Living Near the University of Notre Dame
- Why You Should Visit the University of Notre Dame’s Campus
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Takeaways
University of Notre Dame Campus Location
Spread across 1,261 acres, Notre Dame’s campus has two lakes, wooded paths, and tree-lined quads connecting its 143 buildings. It has its own post office, police department, and fire station, and sits close enough to downtown South Bend that students can reach restaurants, shops, and the St. Joseph River waterfront in under 15 minutes by car.
Architecturally, the campus combines collegiate Gothic and Romanesque styles, with ivy-covered brick buildings clustered around a series of quads that give the grounds an orderly, traditional feel. The total square feet dedicated to academic purposes doubled between 1990 and 2022, from 2.5 million to 5 million, reflecting decades of significant investment in facilities. The Main Building and the other buildings on the central campus were entered on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Adjacent to campus, Saint Mary’s College sits just to the west and shares a close academic and social relationship with Notre Dame. The Eddy Street Commons development, directly bordering campus on the south side, extends the university’s footprint into a walkable commercial and residential district used heavily by students and faculty alike.
Main campus landmarks
The University of Notre Dame has plenty of iconic landmarks. The most immediately recognizable feature of Notre Dame is the Main Building, crowned by its famous Golden Dome. The Golden Dome was added to the building in 1882 and was most recently regilded in 2005. Atop the Dome stands a 19-foot-tall, 4,000-pound statue of Mary, the Mother of God. With this adornment, the Main Building is 187 feet tall, making it the second tallest structure on campus after the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Today, the Main Building houses classrooms and the central administrative offices, including the president’s office.
Directly adjacent to the Main Building on what students call “God Quad” is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the primary worship space on campus and consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful college churches in the world.
The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, tucked into a wooded area near St. Mary’s Lake, is one of the most beloved spots on campus. Students, faculty, and visitors regularly stop to light candles and pray.
Just south of the Main Building, the Word of Life mural on the south face of Hesburgh Library depicts Christ surrounded by figures from throughout history. The mural is visible from Notre Dame Stadium, which is why it earned the nickname “Touchdown Jesus.” The 1,200-acre campus contains two separate lakes, St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s, situated in the northwest corner of campus.
For the arts, the campus has a dedicated district in the southern part of the grounds. The Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, features 23 galleries and numerous site-specific commissions by internationally renowned artists including Jenny Holzer, Maya Lin, and Kiki Smith, and holds a permanent collection of over 29,000 artworks.
The neighboring DeBartolo Performing Arts Center includes a cinema and four theaters. Two golf courses are located on campus: the nine-hole Notre Dame Golf Course and the 18-hole Warren Golf Course.
Notre Dame Stadium, home of Fighting Irish football, seats over 77,000 and is one of the most storied venues in college athletics. On game days, it fundamentally transforms the energy of the entire campus and surrounding area.
University of Notre Dame’s other campuses and affiliated sites
Beyond the main campus, Notre Dame maintains a substantial international presence throught its global network. Notre Dame Global oversees locations in Beijing, Dublin, Hong Kong, Jerusalem, Kylemore, London, Mexico, Mumbai, Nairobi, Rome, Santiago, and São Paulo.
Notre Dame London operates two major facilities: an academic center at Fischer Hall at Trafalgar Square and a 270-bed residence building at Conway Hall, located on the South Bank near Waterloo Station. Students enrolled in the London semester program take classes from Notre Dame and British faculty at Fischer Hall and live together at Conway Hall.
Notre Dame Rome is a research and study center open to Notre Dame faculty, researchers, postdoctoral students, graduate students, and undergraduate programs for hundreds of students every year. Architecture students have studied in Rome since 1969 through the Rome Studies Program, and students from other colleges now join them for semester and year-long programs.
These international sites are study-abroad destinations for enrolled Notre Dame students and research hubs for faculty. Students access them through Notre Dame’s study abroad office, with most programs running for a semester or academic year.
Getting to the University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame is located in northern Indiana, a relatively short distance from Chicago but away from major interstate transit hubs. It is important to have a plan for getting to the Notre Dame area before arriving, as there are limited public transportation options from larger metropolitan areas to Notre Dame.
Public transportation options
The closest airport to Notre Dame is South Bend International Airport (SBN), a 15-minute drive from campus. Transpo, the local area bus service, provides transportation to and from Notre Dame, South Bend, Mishawaka, the South Bend bus station, and the South Bend International Airport. Transpo lines are free for Notre Dame students and their dependents with a valid ND ID.
Route 7 connects the campus to South Bend and Mishawaka, with stops at Hesburgh Library circle going inbound to South Street Station. During the academic year, the SWEEP (Route 17) services the campuses of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s with stops at Hesburgh Library Circle, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, Eddy Street Commons, Saint Mary’s, Inn at Saint Mary’s, and University Village.
For those traveling from Chicago, the South Shore Line trains run directly from the Chicago Loop to South Bend International Airport in about a three-hour trip. From the airport, the Notre Dame campus is approximately a 15-minute ride by car. Amtrak also runs daily service between Chicago and South Bend.
Notre Dame Transportation Services operates a shuttle service, with tracking available through the BusWhere app. On game days, a free Game Day Express shuttle runs from downtown South Bend to campus, and the South Shore Line runs adjusted schedules with additional trains to accommodate fans.
Getting there by car or other means
Notre Dame is about a two-hour drive from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and roughly 90 minutes from Midway. The university works with Royal Excursion to provide an airport shuttle service between Notre Dame and the Chicago airports, primarily for student transportation during breaks and holidays, bookable through the R2U Connect platform.
Parking is available on campus for visitors. You can view visitor parking locations in the campus map using the Overlays/Visitor Parking option. Given the distance from campus to any walkable amenities, having access to a car or using Transpo or rideshare is practical for day-to-day life.
Living Near the University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s campus is largely self-contained, and the surrounding area has grown around it. Students spend a significant amount of time on campus given its size and the residential hall system, but South Bend offers a city with its own identity.
Eddy Street Commons, directly adjacent to the southern edge of campus, has restaurants, shops, apartment buildings, and a hotel all within walking distance. It functions as the main off-campus social strip for students who want to stay close to school. A short drive south brings you into downtown South Bend, which has its own distinct food scene, historic architecture, and along the St. Joseph River, a revitalized waterfront with parks and trails.
The broader Michiana area, which spans northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan, adds outdoor options for students willing to travel. Excellent beaches on Lake Michigan are about a 45-minute drive from campus, and swimming, sailing, and other water sports are available on smaller nearby lakes.
Places to check out near Notre Dame
For dining on or near campus, Rohr’s inside the Morris Inn is one of the top restaurants near campus, featuring patio dining. Legends, located just yards from Notre Dame Stadium, is a campus dining staple for lunch and dinner. Just off campus at Eddy Street Commons, BRU Burger Bar, O’Rourke’s Public House, and similar spots draw a regular student crowd.
In downtown South Bend, Café Navarre, LaSalle Grill, and Fiddler’s Hearth are well-regarded local restaurants. For a local dessert institution, Ritter’s Frozen Custard near campus has been a longtime favorite.
For green space, Howard Park sits along the St. Joseph River in downtown South Bend and includes the East Bank Trail, a paved path that runs along the riverbank. Potato Creek State Park, about 20 minutes from campus, offers miles of hiking trails and views across Worster Lake.
On the cultural side, the Studebaker National Museum in downtown South Bend tells the story of the storied wagon and automobile manufacturer that operated in the city from 1852 to 1967. The South Bend Museum of Art and the Civil Rights Heritage Center at Indiana University South Bend are also worth visiting.
Why You Should Visit the University of Notre Dame’s Campus
No guide can replicate the experience of walking through the Main Quad, standing at the Grotto, or seeing the Golden Dome for the first time. Notre Dame is a campus with a strong physical identity, and the way it feels in person tells you more than any website can about whether it is the right fit for you.
The best way to find out is to go. Campus tours depart from the Eck Visitors Center, located at 100, Notre Dame, IN 46556, open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. Public tours are free and available throughout the year and can be registered for in person on the day of your visit.
Visiting campus is most useful when you have already thought seriously about where Notre Dame fits in your overall college strategy. AdmissionSight’s Senior Editor College Application Program helps students build a well-researched college list and develop a competitive application, so that by the time you walk through campus, you have a clear sense of why you are there and what you are evaluating.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Notre Dame’s address?
The university’s mailing address is Notre Dame, IN 46556. The Eck Visitors Center, the starting point for campus tours, is located at 100 Eck Center, Notre Dame, IN 46556. The main administrative building is the Main Building at 220 Main Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556.
2. How big is Notre Dame’s campus?
The campus spans 1,261 acres and includes two lakes. There are 143 buildings across the campus.
3. Can I visit Notre Dame before applying?
Yes. Public tours are free and available throughout the year. They depart from the Eck Visitors Center, open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM, and registration is done in person on the day of your visit.
4. Is parking available at Notre Dame?
Yes, visitor parking is available on campus. Locations are viewable in the campus map under the Overlays/Visitor Parking option. Note that different guidelines apply during home football games.
5. What landmarks are near Notre Dame?
The South Bend area has several notable attractions within a short drive: the Studebaker National Museum, the South Bend Museum of Art, Howard Park and the East Bank Trail along the St. Joseph River, the Civil Rights Heritage Center, and the Potawatomi Zoo. Lake Michigan beaches are about 45 minutes away.
Takeaways
- The University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, directly adjacent to South Bend, approximately 90 miles east of Chicago.
- The main campus spans 1,261 acres with two lakes, 143 buildings, and landmarks including the Golden Dome, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Grotto, and Notre Dame Stadium.
- Notre Dame operates international academic centers in London, Rome, Dublin, and nine other global cities, all accessible to enrolled students through study-abroad programs.
- The closest airport is South Bend International (SBN), 15 minutes from campus. The South Shore Line train connects downtown Chicago to the South Bend airport for those traveling without a car.
- A campus visit is the most direct way to evaluate fit. If you’re still building your college list or working on your application, consult a college admissions expert to make sure Notre Dame is the right choice.
