Toll of Commuting: Driving vs. flying to a Notre Dame football game
A nearly 700-mile road trip from New Jersey to South Bend puts the cost — and time — of getting to the game to the test.
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Football season means fans are on the move — and for some, getting to the game can be almost as much of an event as the game itself.
For this week’s Toll of Commuting, News 12’s Amanda Eustice hit the road from New Jersey to South Bend, Indiana, to see what it takes to get to a Notre Dame football game — and whether driving or flying makes more sense.
The road trip started at 5:45 a.m., with nearly 700 miles between New Jersey and Notre Dame.
The drive took about 12½ hours each way, including traffic delays and stops. The round trip totaled 1,372 miles.
The trip included four gas stops, tolls, food and an estimated cost for vehicle wear and tear based on the 2026 IRS mileage rate.
Total cost to drive: $1,055.77
But there was another option: flying.
A round-trip flight from Newark to South Bend cost about $651 per person at the time of the search. For two people, that came to $1,301.80 — before the cost of checked luggage, food and transportation to and from the airport and stadium.
The flight would take about 4½ hours, including a connection in Chicago.
Total flight cost for two: $1,301.80
That means flying would save roughly eight hours of travel time but cost about $246 more — before those additional expenses.
So when it comes to getting to the game, the trade-off comes down to two things: time and money.
For this road trip, the toll of commuting meant more than 700 miles, hours behind the wheel and hundreds of dollars.
But after finally making it to Notre Dame Stadium, the destination made the long drive worth it.
