Overview
Mishawaka is in Northern Indiana. The town is named after Princess Mishawaka of the Potowatomi tribe. Its adjacent twin city is South Bend, Indiana, which is west of the city. The St. Joseph River runs through downtown where a new riverwalk is still being constructed. Though South Bend has a great deal to offer in terms of tourist attractions, Mishawaka also has quite a few things to see and do. Notre Dame and South Bend are a short drive away if boredom begins to take over.
Between South Bend and Mishawaka, Mishawaka has more wealth and business despite a smaller population. AM General has a plant on the south side of town and there are many suburban-style strip malls and outlet malls along north Grape Rd. and Main St.
4 sights · 2 things to do · 4 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Mishawaka
University of Notre Dame
See the legendary campus for yourself. Guided tours are available through the Alumni Association. Notable attractions include the grotto, the Golden Dome, Notre Dame Stadium, the Wall of Life Mural (Touchdown Jesus) and …
100 Center
A former brewery on the St. Joseph River off of Lincoln Way East. It used to have a lot of shops, but not so much anymore.
Saint Mary's College
Across from the University of Notre Dame.
Shiojiri Niwa
A Japanese strolling garden that symbolizes the Sister-City relationship between Mishawaka, Indiana and Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It contains more than 20 varieties of large plant material, over two hundre…
Ferettie Baugo Creek
Located midway between Mishawaka and Elkhart - Baugo Creek has a picnic area and disc golf course as well as canoe rentals down Baugo Creek.
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
See millions of years of natural history at Indiana Dunes. The South Shore Line takes you right to the park for less than $7 each way where lakefront, marshes, huge sand dunes, and tours await.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Jun. (climate data from nearby Indiana Dunes National Park)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SBN South Bend International Airport, South Bend — 8 mi away. Directions
- MGC Michigan City Municipal Airport, Michigan City — 34 mi away. Directions
- MDW Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago — 82 mi away (major hub). Directions
For general aviation but no scheduled flights:
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning 100 Center, Shiojiri Niwa
- Lunch Bonnie Doon Restaurant
- Afternoon Ferettie Baugo Creek
- Dinner Sunny's Korean Garden
Day 2
- Morning Saint Mary's College, University of Notre Dame
- Lunch Toyo Japanese Restaurant
- Afternoon Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
- Dinner Hana Yori
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
- I-80/90 (Toll Road) Connects to Toledo, Ohio in the east and Chicago, to the west.
- US 31/S.R. 933 Connects to Indianapolis in the south and runs through downtown South Bend and then 3 miles north to the Michigan line, where it becomes M-51 North.
- US 20 The bypass around the city which connects to SR 2 (west to Michigan City), US 12 in Michigan (to Sturgis and Detroit to the east and Michigan City and Chicago to the west), SR 23 (a main artery through the city and through St. Joseph County), the I-80/90 toll road, and all other major roads from Elkhart to South Bend and into Michigan.
- S.R. 23 State Road 23 runs diagonally northeast-southwest through South Bend first, then through the north side of Mishawaka from the Kankakee area and turns into M-60 in Michigan (see above).
By plane
- South Bend International Airport Just northwest of the city center. (SBN), South Bend International is Indiana's second busiest airport and receives flights from Chicago Midway & O'Hare, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Orlando-Sanford, St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis. The airport has an eatery (Cafe SBN), a coffee shop, business center, Wi-Fi access, a candy store (Sugar and Spice), free air museum, Military Honor Park, travel agency, valet parking, a chapel, limousine and car rental services, freight service, bus terminal (Greyhound and Coach USA, see below) and a commuter rail line to downtown Chicago (see below).
For general aviation but no scheduled flights:
- Elkhart Municipal Airport (EKI), 2246 Airport Dr., Elkhart, Indiana, +1 574-264-5217.
- Jerry Tyler Memorial Airport (NLE), 508 E Main St., Niles, Michi.
By train
Neighboring South Bend is served by long-distance and commuter trains. Amtrak via its Capitol Limited, running between Chicago and Washington, D.C., as well as the Lake Shore Limited, linking Chicago with New York City and Boston. Slower commuter trains from Chicago via the South Shore Line are available too.
By bus
- Coach USA Offers shuttle service between South Bend Regional Airport, Notre Dame and Chicago airports.
- Greyhound Offers service to and from destinations around the country via Indianapolis and Chicago.
Get around
Public transportation
- Transpo +1 574-234-1188. The local bus system that serves South Bend and Mishawaka. A service called the "Transpo Trolley" makes stops at all of the tourist attractions. Rides are $.75 each way and $.25 for a transfer.
By taxi
- Shamrock Cab +1 574-243-5500.
- Yellow Cab +1 574-233-9333.
By car
- St. Joseph County Road System Driving around yourself is the best way to navigate the city. Luckily, St. Joseph County makes it easy to find your way around. If you get lost or lose your bearings, remember that the main county roads running east-west are named after presidents and other famous figures (but mostly presidents) and begin, alphabetically, with Adams Rd. in the north near Michigan and end with Taylor in the south, near Marshall County. North-south roads are named for trees and plants, beginning with Ash (called West County Line Rd. on the Elkhart County side of the road) in Eastern St. Joseph County and ending with Redwood in the west. There are exceptions to this rule, however, such as Washington St. downtown, and Mishawaka has numbered streets. Also, Lincoln Way is renamed LaSalle Ave. in downtown South Bend between Ironwood Dr. and Laffeyette Blvd.
See
Outdoors & landmarks
See 100 Center
A former brewery on the St. Joseph River off of Lincoln Way East. It used to have a lot of shops, but not so much anymore.
- Kamm's Island An island park on the St. Joseph River near the 100 Center.
- Lake Michigan Just under 40 miles from Mishawaka lie the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, Michigan, popular locales for beachgoers. New Buffalo, MI is the closest waterfront (at under 30 miles away) and is home to Redemack's famous burgers. Michigan City is due west about 30 miles or so and features shopping, dining, and, of course, more beaches. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is also near Michigan City. New Buffalo and St. Joe/Benton Harbor are the best sunset viewing locations.
- North/South Continental Divide Sure, it's not that exciting, but just driving down the US 20 bypass you can see a sign that alerts you to this fact. And it's true, South Bend lies on the North/South Continental Divide, which is why the St. Joseph River flows north into Lake Michigan while the White River in Indianapolis flows south.
- Saint Joseph River Though still fairly polluted, the riverfront along South Bend is an interesting walk through the former dam system that used to power the city's electrical supply. This walk leads (or starts from) the Century Center, which is South Bend's convention center. The Mishawaka riverfront has also come a long way near its downtown.
See Shiojiri Niwa
A Japanese strolling garden that symbolizes the Sister-City relationship between Mishawaka, Indiana and Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It contains more than 20 varieties of large plant material, over two hundred large boulders, donated statue and a teahouse pavilion. This is also a very popular summer wedding area.
See University of Notre Dame
See the legendary campus for yourself. Guided tours are available through the Alumni Association. Notable attractions include the grotto, the Golden Dome, Notre Dame Stadium, the Wall of Life Mural (Touchdown Jesus) and the Hesburgh Library, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, St. Joseph and St. Mary's Lakes, the stations of the cross, and the Notre Dame Bookstore, which is the largest in the country.
Do
Outdoor activities
- Mishawaka River Walk and Trail, along the St. Joseph River offer more than five miles of paved and lighted walking/running paths along the scenic St. Joseph River.
Buy
Small business
Outlets and malls
- Mishawaka Grape Rd. and Main St. are the main drags for shopping in the area. Several outlet plazas exist up and down both roads and most major retailers are represented, as are many national and regional restaurant chains (some from California).
- Michigan City Many South Bend residents travel by train to Michigan City to visit their large array of outlet stores and malls. The South Shore Line has a designated station adjacent to this shopping area, and the fare is less than $6 each way.
- South Bend Erskine Plaza on the South side is a hub for shopping in South Bend, and you can drive past the mansions of Twyckenham Hills on your way back through the city.
- University of Notre Dame Shop the Notre Dame bookstore - the largest in the country - or shop the ND Varsity shop located in the Joyce Athletic Convention Center (JACC).
Eat
Budget
Eat Bonnie Doon Restaurant
Locally created and owned ice cream company and restaurant.
Mid-range
Eat Sunny's Korean Garden
Great Korean food.
Splurge
Eat Hana Yori
Authentic Japanese cuisine prepared right at your table.
Drink
Coffee
- Starbucks Multiple locations throughout the area.
Bars and clubs
Indiana State Law prohibits alcohol sales after 3AM Monday - Friday and after midnight on Saturday (though bars may stay open until 3AM on Saturday night into Sunday morning). No alcohol sales are permitted on Sunday (beginning at midnight until 7AM Monday morning) or on Christmas, Easter, or New Year's Day. Luckily, you opted to go to South Bend instead of Indianapolis, so you can easily cross the state line into Michigan in mere minutes and purchase alcohol 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Go next
South Bend is not too far away.
Nearby
South Bend
City / town · 93 listings · 4 mi away
Elkhart
City / town · 11 listings · 11 mi away
Niles
City / town · 21 listings · 12 mi away
Goshen
City / town · 6 listings · 18 mi away
Plymouth
City / town · 2 listings · 24 mi away
Harbert
City / town · 27 mi away
Syracuse
City / town · 10 listings · 28 mi away
La Porte
City / town · 22 listings · 28 mi away
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