What is the easiest way to get from South Bend, Indiana to Indianapolis, Indiana? (Without a car)?

Both Amtrak and Greyhound seem to route me through Chicago... and take 8 hours for some reason...

Beginning November 13, Cape Air will offer direct flights to/from South Bend to Indianapolis with fares that average less than $50:

http://www.flycapeair.com/common/index.p...

http://www.indianapolisairport.com/uploa...

Otherwise, yeah, the rail and bus lines all seem to go through Chicago. If you want to get there quickly, your best bets are to either fly or rent a car.

United flies South Bend to Indianapolis. About $150 each way depending on the time and day of travel.

There are intermittently direct flights from South Bend Regional Airport to Indy. But they don't do very good business, so the airlines eventually stop offering them for a period of time.

You actually aren't saving a whole lot of time from just driving down U.S. 31, which takes only about three hours anyway. If they actually upgrade it to limited access like they've talked about (and supposedly will start doing within a year or two) it could trim some time off that, too.

Amtrak and a Greyhound bus would be good choices- they both run that way.