Be forewarned that the hotel market, as a result of Charlie, is very tight in South Bend. We usally don't book this early, but reports of hotels already selling out cause us to look at our options and we found slim pickings and room rates seem to have gone. I choke at the thought of paying 300/night at a Holiday Inn Express in Niles. Now it might be different if you just need 1 room, but we need 4. Hope to see a lot of you guys there in fall!! Terry
Terry, best kept secret in the area. Best Western in Goshen. $85, Clean, continental breakfast. It will get you to games in a little over 20 minutes using the 20 bypass. Take the Ironwood exit. We used it for the USC game and have used it for years. A lot of people know about this now so it will still require fairly early booking.
I should have mentioned, if you are coming from the West, you take take the exit just before the ND exit..92, I think, to get to 20 bypass.
Terry, If you need local assistance, I'll search towns within a comfortable driving distance of SB. I know the territory. Vic is right about Goshen. There probably are a couple of other motels there.
Terry I often stay up in the St. Joe area. Just far enough away to be reasonable. New expressway puts SB less than 1/2 hour away. It's a pretty good deal.
Just a follow up. Just made reservations for Purdue and UCLA weekend at Courtyard in St. Joes. Can cancel up to day of stay. Nothing down.
I've driven the road that Gip refers to between St. Joe and SB. He's right. It's a comfortable drive.