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Trip from Simonton Lake, IN to South Bend, IN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

27m

Distance

20.4 mi

33 km

Drive Score

5/10

Practical drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 25m ★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Simonton Lake, IN, IN

Simonton Lake, IN

Tommes Frites

city and county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States of America

South Bend, IN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Simonton Lake, IN to South Bend, IN covers 20.4 miles and takes about 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Indiana Toll Road, North Michigan Street, Cassopolis Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.2 miles on Indiana Toll Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.19 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 20.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 27m drive with frequent turns across 20.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Indiana Toll Road is the longest continuous segment at about 15.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.4 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
7
1.6 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
5
17.1 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward SR 933, BUS US 31: South Bend, Notre Dame

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward SR 933, BUS US 31: South Bend, Notre Dam...
4
18.5 mi into trip | ~22m in | SR 933 / North Michigan Street

Turn right onto SR 933 / North Michigan Street

Navigation decision point

4
20.2 mi into trip | ~26m in | SR 933; BUS US 31 / North Michigan Street

Enter roundabout onto SR 933; BUS US 31 / North Michigan Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Simonton Lake, IN and South Bend, IN, road signs point toward Bus Us 31: South Bend and Notre Dame.

Bus Us 31: South Bend

17.1 mi in | ~19m

Notre Dame

17.1 mi in | ~19m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Indiana Toll Road 15.2 mi 16m
North Michigan Street 1.9 mi 4m
Cassopolis Street 1.4 mi 2m
East Navarre Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Indiana Toll Road — 15.2 mi, about 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Simonton Lake, IN and South Bend, IN.

1

Start on SR 19

1.4 mi · 2 min · Cassopolis Street
2

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 13 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
3

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 22 sec · this road
Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
4

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Indiana Toll Road
5

Merge onto I 80; I 90

15 mi · 16 min · Indiana Toll Road
6

Take the exit

1.4 mi · 3 min
Toward SR 933, BUS US 31: South Bend, Notre Dame
7

Turn right onto SR 933

1.7 mi · 3 min · North Michigan Street
8

Enter roundabout onto SR 933; BUS US 31

156 ft · 8 sec · North Michigan Street
9

Continue on SR 933; BUS US 31

0.1 mi · 27 sec · North Michigan Street
10

Turn left onto East Navarre Street

131 ft · 4 sec · East Navarre Street
11

Arrive at destination

East Navarre Street

Discover Along the Route

Interesting stops within a short detour of your drive.

CoreLife Eatery

Cafe

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 13.6

Mishawaka, IN

Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:00

Visit website

Zen Cafe

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 20.4

South Bend, IN

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-18:00; Sa-Su 10:00-16:00

Visit website

The General Deli & Cafe

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 20.4

South Bend, IN

Visit website

South Bend Chocolate Café

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 20.4

South Bend, IN

Cuisine: coffee;chocolate

Starbucks

Cafe

Later in the drive, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 13.6

Granger, IN

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Café Navarre

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 20.4

Five Guys

Fast_food

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 13.6

Mishawaka, IN

Cuisine: burger

Hours: 10:00-21:30

Visit website

McDonald's

Fast_food

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 13.6

Mishawaka, IN

Cuisine: burger

Hours: Mo-Sa 05:00-22:00; Su 06:00-22:00

Visit website

LaSalle Grill

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 20.4

South Bend, IN

Visit website

Callahans

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 2.3

Elkhart, IN

Cuisine: breakfast;diner;local

Hours: Mo-Su 06:00-22:00

Visit website

Subway

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 20.4

South Bend, IN

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-17:00

Visit website

Jimmy John's

Fast_food

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 2.3

Elkhart, IN

Cuisine: sandwich

Visit website

Costello Cove

Park

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 18.1

Harrison Park

Park

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 20.4

Confluence of The Little Elkhart and St. Joseph Rivers

Attraction

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 2.3

Gibhard Playground

Park

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 20.4

South Bend Museum of Art

Museum

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 20.4

South Bend, IN

Visit website

Elkhart County CVB

Artwork

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 2.3

Labyrinth

Artwork

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 18.1

Little Seed

Artwork

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 20.4
Visit website

The Word of Life Mural

Artwork

Later in the drive, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 15.9

Red Throne

Artwork

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 20.4

Hilton Garden Inn

Hotel

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 18.1

South Bend, IN

Visit website

The Inn at Saint Mary's

Hotel

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 18.1

South Bend, IN

Visit website

DoubleTree by Hilton

Hotel

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 20.4

South Bend, IN

Visit website

Aloft South Bend

Hotel

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 20.4

South Bend, IN

Visit website

Embassy Suites by Hilton South Bend at Notre Dame

Hotel

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 20.4

South Bend, IN

Visit website

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.19 one way

$6.38 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $3.50 $7.00
premium $4.89 $3.93 $7.85
diesel $5.61 $4.50 $9.01

Estimated Tolls: $1.06

Indiana Toll Road (15.2 mi) $1.06

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Tolls

$1

Total

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.1 0 $2.14 $0.98
Efficient EV 5.1 0 $1.78 $0.82
EV Truck/SUV 8.2 0 $2.86 $1.31

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Simonton Lake, IN

Evening in Simonton Lake on Friday

Local time

7:43 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Bend, IN

Evening in South Bend on Friday

Local time

7:43 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

16 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

27m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Simonton Lake, IN to South Bend, IN covers 20.4 miles and takes about 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Indiana Toll Road, North Michigan Street, Cassopolis Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 10.2 miles from Simonton Lake, IN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.19 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.4 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Between Simonton Lake, IN and South Bend, IN, road signs point toward Bus Us 31: South Bend and Notre Dame.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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