South Bend to Northwestern bus or train? (Michigan City: live in, costs)

[malinowskiscanoe]

Hi,

I have to attend a conference next weekend at Northwestern and I currently live in South Bend- what is the best way to get from South Bend to Northwestern via public transportation? Bus or train? I just moved here from California and I have difficulty driving with the weather-snow and ice. Thank you!

[ischyros]

Well, you can take the South Shore from the South Bend Airport but it only goes into downtown Chicago. From there, you can catch the number 147 bus north to Howard and from there take the Purple line train to Noyes and walk a few blocks east to the Northwestern Campus. Also, this is assuming you mean the main Northwestern campus in Evanston, not the Chicago campus. It's quite a trip. I looked it up on Google and the estimate there is a little over 4 hours one way. Also beware that there are only 5 trains a day on weekends between South Bend and Chicago and the last one from Chicago back to South Bend is at 9:15 pm Chicago time. Also I believe only two cars continue the trip from Michigan City to South Bend. The others get unhooked there so you'll have to pay attention. Good luck!

[rdwoelfe]

As stated the South Shore is ideal to make a trip to Chicago. If you can get into Michigan then there is an Amtrak that leaves from Niles, it costs about $24 one way which is double what the South Shore costs, but it has fewer stops and takes less time. Overall it isn't hard to travel by train and bus to Chicago or once you are in Chicago. A half hour or so looking at maps and you can have it figured out.

[domergurl]

I would take the south shore to Randolph and then walk over to State and Randolph and get on the purple line and take it to Davis in Evanston. Or you could cab it or walk if it's nice outside, over to the Ogilvie Transit center and take Metra to Davis in Evanston.

http://www.nictd.com/index.html South Shore

https://metrarail.com/content/metra/.../up-n/map.html Metra

http://www.transitchicago.com/purpleline/ CTA

You could cab it as well … long expensive trip, but doable.

[ischyros]

Originally Posted by domergurl

I would take the south shore to Randolph and then walk over to State and Randolph and get on the purple line and take it to Davis in Evanston. Or you could cab it or walk if it's nice outside, over to the Ogilvie Transit center and take Metra to Davis in Evanston.

Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District South Shore

https://metrarail.com/content/metra/.../up-n/map.html Metra

CTA Purple Line | Route Guide (Map, Alerts and Timetables) CTA

You could cab it as well … long expensive trip, but doable.

I thought the Purple line at Randolph and State, too, but he said it would be the weekend and I believe the purple line only runs into the Loop during rush hour.