Big Ten and Notre Dame College Trip: Wisconsin, Northwestern, Notre Dame and Michigan in 4 Days

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents touring four big-name Midwestern universities with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings: UW–Madison, Northwestern in Evanston, Notre Dame in South Bend and Michigan in Ann Arbor.[S1][S5][S9][S12]

It's four days by car, west to east, with a hotel a short walk or drive from each campus. Book the tours first: all four use official portals, and Wisconsin asks you not to make travel arrangements until you've registered.[S2][S6][S10][S13]

Why this order

• West to east. Madison's airport is MSN, and the DoubleTree runs a free shuttle from it. Each campus is then roughly one long leg from the last, so you tour in the morning and drive in the afternoon.[S1][S17][S25]
• Northwestern in the middle. Its Evanston campus is about 2 hr 53 min from Madison and about 2 hr 23 min from Notre Dame.[S5][S25]
• Notre Dame, then Michigan. Notre Dame's portal lists times in Eastern time, so the ~2 hr 23 min drive from Evanston takes about 3 hr 23 min on the clock. Ann Arbor is the end of the line, about 3 hr 17 min from Notre Dame.[S10][S25][S14]

2. The suggested 4-day route

• Drive times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, using addresses geocoded with OpenStreetMap Nominatim. The Evanston and Ann Arbor legs run through or near Chicago and Detroit traffic. Our advice, not a school rule: add at least 45 minutes to every long leg, more on the Chicago leg at rush hour and in winter snow.[S25][S26][S27]
• Only 3 days? It works only if Michigan's portal shows a late-afternoon tour on your Day 3: drive straight from Notre Dame to Ann Arbor, tour, and skip the Graduate. Otherwise keep the 4-day plan.[S13][S25]

3. Campus by campus

Campus

University of Wisconsin–Madison (Madison, WI)

Official tour sign-up: UW–Madison Visit Bucky events ↗

Where visits start

• An admissions information session and a fast-paced, 75-minute walking tour. There's no housing tour.[S3]
• Rain or shine. The route is mostly flat and wheelchair accessible; golf carts aren't available. Request accommodations when you register.[S3][S4]
• Check in at Union South, Campus & Community Information Welcome Desk, 1st floor, 1308 West Dayton St. Arrive 10–15 minutes early: late arrivals can't join, and there's no waitlist.[S3]
• An accessible, narrated 60-minute self-guided tour is also available.[S1]

Visitor parking

• Visitor parking costs up to $15 a day. The closest lots include Lot 80 (Union South Garage), Lot 17 (Engineering Garage), Lot 20 (University Ave Garage), Lot 7 (Grainger Hall), Lot 46 (Lake & Johnson), Lot 83 (Fluno) and Lot 29 (North Park St). Metered sessions can't be extended; allow 45–60 minutes to park and reach check-in.[S4]
• Street parking has a 2-hour limit.[S1]

Getting there

• Free campus circulator buses: routes 80, 81, 82 and 84. The DoubleTree is about 16 minutes on foot from Union South.[S4][S26]

Contact

visitbucky@admissions.wisc.edu; Campus Information 608-263-2400; Admissions 608-262-3961, 702 W. Johnson St., Suite 1101[S3][S4]

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: UW–Madison: Visit · UW–Madison: Directions and parking

Campus

Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)

Official tour sign-up: Northwestern Campus Visit Portal ↗

Where visits start

• Guided tours in a "choose your own adventure" format: you pick a tour guide who shares an interest with your student. 75–90 minutes, plus an optional 30-minute Affordability and Aid presentation. Registration is required.[S5]
• Northwestern's six undergraduate schools host their own information sessions; these need advance registration and don't include a tour.[S5]
• Go to the Segal Visitors Center, 1841 Sheridan Rd., open to registered guests on weekdays and select Saturdays. Arrive 15–20 minutes early.[S7]
• Tours are mostly outdoors, rain or shine. No late arrivals on guided tours; walk-ins are allowed if space permits. There's a luggage room. Residence-hall visits and arranged class visits aren't offered.[S8]
• Self-guided: register in the Visitors Center vestibule, open 24 hours, and download the guide.[S5][S8]

Visitor parking

• The Visitors Center garage is $9, free with validation for registered guests while the building is open, and typically free on weekends and after 4 pm on weekdays.[S7][S8]
• Backup: Church and Chicago Self Park, 525 Clark St. On-street parking has a 2-hour limit.[S7]

Getting there

• The Hilton Orrington is about 11 minutes on foot from the Visitors Center.[S26]

What to know

• Wheelchairs are available, ASL interpreters can be arranged and service animals are welcome; contact the office a week ahead.[S7]
• Want coffee first? Norris University Center is about a 5-minute walk north; arrive at least 30 minutes early.[S8]

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Northwestern: Visit Campus · Northwestern: Maps & Directions

Campus

University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN)

Official tour sign-up: Notre Dame On-Campus Opportunities ↗

Where visits start

• A 30-minute information session on academics, extracurriculars, community and spiritual life, then a 75–90-minute walking tour. College overviews are available for students who've already attended an information session.[S9][S10]
• No campus tours on football Saturdays. Audio and video recording isn't permitted during sessions or tours. Portal times are Eastern.[S10]
• Check in at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in McKenna Hall, on Notre Dame Avenue across from the Morris Inn. There's a drop-off area but no parking next to the building.[S11]

Visitor parking

• Weekdays 6 am–4 pm Eastern, pay through ParkMobile. The primary visitor lot is east of the Walsh Family Hall of Architecture (Zone 11519); others are the Baseball (11461), Compton (11467) and Joyce (11487) lots. Free after 4 pm on weekdays, on weekends and on University holidays.[S11]
• Home-football Saturdays: use the pay-to-park Blue Lot and allow time to walk. Staying at the Morris Inn? Walk across the street.[S11][S26]

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Notre Dame: Visit · Notre Dame: Location and Parking

Campus

University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)

Official tour sign-up: Michigan Campus Tours portal ↗

Where visits start

• A 75-minute walking tour of Central Campus, including a model residence-hall room. Registration is required; no walk-ins.[S13][S12]
• Information sessions run on each tour day except Saturdays; register for one when you book the tour. Up to four people per registration, and no waitlist. Visiting isn't factored into the review of an application.[S15]
• Guests more than 10 minutes late take the tour self-guided. Note mobility needs when you register.[S12]
• Go to the Huetwell Visitors Center, 1220 Student Activities Building, 515 E. Jefferson St.[S14]

Visitor parking

• Park in the City of Ann Arbor's Maynard Structure, 324 Maynard St., then walk south on Maynard to the Student Activities Building. Michigan's two pages give different rates: about $1.50 an hour on its Maps & Directions page, $1.65 an hour on its Help Center page.[S14][S16]
• Backups: the Liberty Square and Library Lane structures. Metered street parking has a 2-hour limit and isn't recommended. Accessible spaces are in all lots, and payment is required.[S16][S14]

Getting there

• Michigan's driving directions use I-94 west to the State St. exit (177).[S14]

Contact

Huetwell Visitors Center 734-647-5692; Admissions 734-764-7433[S15][S14]

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Michigan: Visit Campus · Michigan: Maps & Directions

4. Where to stay: a hotel near each campus, west to east

Expedia hotel links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Reset your watch after Evanston: Notre Dame's portal times, and so the rest of the trip, are on Eastern time.[S10]

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

6. Things for siblings along the route

Viator tour links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

7. Practical tips

Parent checklist

• Register at all four schools before booking hotels; Wisconsin asks you to register before making travel plans.[S2][S6][S10][S13]
• Avoid Notre Dame football Saturdays; there are no tours.[S10]
• Want Michigan's information session? Don't pick a Saturday.[S15]
• Reset your watch after Evanston: Notre Dame's times are Eastern.[S10]
• Bring a card for Rohr's and the Morris Inn; both are cashless.[S21][S22]
• Leave cameras and recorders off during Notre Dame's session and tour.[S10]
• After each school, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student before the next one blurs it.