Can the limo drop us at the tailgate, then pick us up after the game?

Yes. Most game-day bookings: drop at tailgate (Stadium Drive lots), driver parks in chauffeur lot during game, returns to pickup zone after the final whistle. Driver wait time is included in round-trip pricing — no separate hourly clock running while parked.

How early should we leave Chicago for a 12pm Notre Dame game?

Depart Chicago 8:30am for noon kickoff. 95 miles = 1.75 hours minimum, plus 30 min toll plaza buffer + 15 min stadium parking. Arriving 11am gives you 1 hour for tailgate before kickoff. Earlier departure (8am) is safer for must-attend big games (USC, Michigan, Penn State).

Can we drink in the limo on the way to Notre Dame?

Yes for adult passengers (21+). Open container is legal in licensed Indiana limousines and party buses. Most groups bring beverages from Chicago — saves money vs stadium prices. Royal Carriage provides cooler with ice for $25 setup fee with 24hr notice.

Do you do return-only Notre Dame to Chicago after the game?

Yes. One-way back from Notre Dame to Chicago: $259 sedan, $349 SUV, $499 Sprinter. Common for groups who drove down separately but want a non-driving return for the celebrating drive home. Driver waits at designated exit zone.

What about Notre Dame stadium parking with a limo?

Notre Dame charges $25/day for chauffeur parking pass on game days. Royal Carriage builds this into the round-trip pricing. Premium tailgate spots ($60-$100 per spot) are sold separately by Notre Dame — book through ndtailgaters.com or your alumni network.

Can a group of 30 fit in one party bus to Notre Dame?

Yes. Royal Carriage 30-passenger party bus is available for game day at $899/hr or $1,800-$2,200 for full round-trip. Includes club-grade sound system, cooler bar, perimeter seating. Best for tailgate groups who want shared transport vs splitting across multiple SUVs.

Notre Dame Football

Notre Dame Game Day Limo

Name: Royal Carriage Limousine
Address: 500 E Constitution Dr, Palatine, IL, 60074, US
Telephone: (224) 801-3090
Price range: $$-$$$$
Rating: 4.9

Chicago to Notre Dame Stadium flat-fare game day transport. Sedan $259, SUV $349, Sprinter $499, party bus $649. Tailgate setup, post-game wait.

Book Game Day Call (224) 801-3090

Royal Carriage Notre Dame game day fleet — Chicago to South Bend

TL;DR

Notre Dame game day limo Chicago to South Bend: 95 miles, 2-hour drive. Round-trip flat fares: $520 sedan, $650 SUV, $899 Sprinter, $1,200-$2,200 party bus. Includes parking, gratuity, fuel, post-game wait. Depart Chicago 8:30am for noon kickoff. Open container legal — bring tailgate beverages.

Game Day Flat Fares

Chicago to Notre Dame Stadium

Vehicle	One-Way	Round-Trip	Capacity
Executive Sedan All-day round trip with stadium wait	$259	$520	1-3 pax
Premium SUV Family-friendly, tailgate gear fits	$349	$650	1-6 pax
Sprinter Van Group tailgate, flexible seating	$499	$899	7-14 pax
20-Pass Party Bus Pre-game on-board music, dance space	$649	$1,200	15-20 pax

Game Day Logistics

How a Notre Dame Limo Day Works

Drive Time + Departure Window

Chicago to Notre Dame Stadium = 95 miles, 1.75-2.25 hours. For 12pm Saturday game: depart 8:30am from downtown Chicago. For 7:30pm primetime: depart 4pm. Add 30 min for I-90 toll plaza congestion on game day Saturdays.

Tailgate Drop-off vs Stadium Drop-off

Notre Dame allows pre-paid tailgate parking ($60-$100 per spot). Royal Carriage drivers know which lots are accessible. Most groups book stadium drop-off, then chauffeur waits in nearby Stadium Drive parking ($25 day pass). Include tailgate hours in your booking total.

Parking + Vehicle Wait Strategy

Driver waits in designated chauffeur lot during game. You text dispatch when you're heading back to the vehicle. Vehicle pulls up at designated pickup zone within 10-15 minutes. No standing in post-game traffic chaos hunting for an Uber.

Post-Game Departure Timing

Notre Dame games end 3.5-4 hours after kickoff (with halftime + breaks). Add 30-45 minutes for stadium exit + walking to vehicle. Plan return arrival in Chicago: 12pm game = home by 7pm. 7:30pm game = home by 1am.

Tailgate Vehicle Setup

Sprinter and party bus bookings can include pre-stocked tailgate setup: cooler with ice, water, soft drinks. Per dispatch coordination 1 week ahead. Adult-only tailgate alcohol bookings welcome (Indiana allows passenger consumption in licensed limousines).

The Route

Chicago to South Bend

Notre Dame Stadium sits in South Bend, Indiana, about 95 miles east of downtown Chicago — a drive of roughly an hour and three quarters to two and a quarter hours via the Indiana Toll Road. The wrinkle on a football Saturday is the toll plaza and the approach to campus, where traffic backs up as kickoff nears. That is why our timing advice is specific: leave downtown around 8:30am for a noon game, or about 4pm for a 7:30 primetime start, and add a buffer for the toll plaza on top.

Sleeping on the way home is the real reason groups book a car for this trip. After a 3:30pm kickoff and a late dinner in town, a two-hour drive back to Chicago is the last thing anyone in the group wants to do behind the wheel — especially after a tailgate. With a chauffeur, the ride home is part of the day off, not a chore at the end of it.

Tailgating

Tailgate, Drop-off & Group Transport

The Notre Dame tailgate scene runs across the stadium lots before every home game, and our sprinter and party-bus bookings are built for it. A bus or van carries the whole group together, doubles as a base between the lot and the stadium, and can be stocked with a cooler of ice, water, and soft drinks arranged a week ahead through dispatch. Indiana allows passenger consumption in a licensed limousine or bus, so adult groups can keep the tailgate going on the drive in.

On game day most groups choose a drop near the Stadium Drive lots, then the chauffeur parks in the designated driver lot and waits through the game. You text dispatch when you are heading back and the vehicle pulls up at the pickup zone within 10 to 15 minutes — which beats hunting for a rideshare in the post-game crush. The premium tailgate parking spots themselves are sold by Notre Dame separately; our drivers know which lots are accessible once you have one.

Notre Dame Game Day FAQ