How far is South Bend, IN from Bristol, IN?

The driving distance from South Bend, IN to Bristol, IN is about 29.8 miles (47.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 22.5 miles (36.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 15m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
29.79 mi
00h 37m
Flight
22.47 mi
36.16 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from South Bend.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
22.47 mi
Kilometers
36.16 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
29.79 mi
Kilometers
47.94 km
Drive Time
00h 37m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bristol
Wed, May 13, 4:00 PM EDT
Return by in South Bend
Wed, May 13, 4:38 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave South Bend
2026-05-13T15:23
Arrive Bristol
Wed, May 13, 4:00 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:38 AM to 7:38 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:14 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in South Bend
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Simonton Lake
IN

Census-designated place in Elkhart County, Indiana

From South Bend
14.9 mi
00h 18m
To Bristol
14.9 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
55°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph NW
Destination
55°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between South Bend and Bristol.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Bend and Bristol.

  1. 1

    Start on East Navarre Street

    40 m · 9 sec · East Navarre Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Michigan Street

    720 ft · 25 sec · North Michigan Street

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Michigan Street

    45 m · 8 sec · North Michigan Street

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto North Michigan Street

    1.7 mi · 4 min · North Michigan Street

  5. 5

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

    1.4 km · 2 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East, I 90 East: Ohio

    1432 ft · 35 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

    24.1 mi · 26 min · Indiana Toll Road

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 15: Bristol, Goshen

    1.3 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    37 m · 8 sec

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn left

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  11. 11

    Turn right onto East Vistula Street

    1319 ft · 30 sec · East Vistula Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto South Division Street

    6 m · 1 sec · South Division Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Division Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between South Bend and Bristol.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
13 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
43.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Indiana Toll Road
24.1 mi · 81%
North Michigan Street
1.87 mi · 6%
I 80
0.9 mi · 3%
SR 15
0.86 mi · 3%
I 80 East
0.27 mi · 1%
East Vistula Street
0.25 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Indiana Toll Road

Merge slight left onto Indiana Toll Road

24.1 mi · 00h 26m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 37m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.3 mi
22.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Simonton Lake
00h 18m from South Bend
Leave By
7:14 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving South Bend and Chance Rain Showers near Bristol.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from South Bend to Bristol?

The road trip is about 29.8 miles (47.9 km) and usually takes 00h 37m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Simonton Lake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 14.9 miles from South Bend and 14.9 miles from Bristol.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 22.5 miles (36.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:14 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.96 one way or $7.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around South Bend and Chance Rain Showers near Bristol.

Stop Ideas Near Simonton Lake

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Simonton Lake, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Simonton Lake.

RAIL

Elkhart station

8 mi away
131 Tyler Avenue
RAIL

Niles station

25 mi away
598 Dey St.
RAIL

South Bend station

27 mi away
2702 West Washington Avenue
RAIL

Dowagiac station

28 mi away
200 Depot Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between South Bend and Bristol. Straight-line distance: 22.47 mi (36.16 km).

South Bend

#1 South Bend

The most populous city in St.

Population101,868
Coordinates41.6833800, -86.2500100
Altitude211
CountryUnited States
Bristol

#2 Bristol

Town in Indiana

Population1,697
Coordinates41.7214400, -85.8174900
Altitude236
CountryUnited States
Start: South Bend (-86.25001, 41.68338)
End: Bristol (-85.81749, 41.72144)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 48 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.05 gal
3.98 L · about $3.96
Round trip
$7.92
2.1 gal · 7.96 L
Estimated CO2
9.3 kg one way
Round trip: 18.7 kg / 41 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $3.96 $7.92
Mid-grade $4.25 $4.47 $8.93
Premium $4.65 $4.89 $9.77
Diesel $5.30 $5.57 $11.14

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Indiana · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between South Bend and Bristol. The current time is 15:23:18.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.