TRAVEL AND LOCAL INFORMATION

DETOUR!

April 9, 2025 update.

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, RED BUD TRAIL (the main road that runs through the town of Buchanan), IS COMPLETELY CLOSED IN TOWN.
Do not drive into town and follow the Detour route unless you’re in a passenger car or truck.  It’s not a suitable route for RVs and race rigs.

  • TRAFFIC COMING FROM THE NORTH (driving south on Red Bud Trail) IS NOT AFFECTED.
  • ROUTE IF COMING FROM THE WEST (driving east on US 12)
    • Use the Broceus School Rd / Bakertown Rd. route.  It’s actually a shortcut that many racers already use:

->Take US 12 East approximately 16 miles from I-94 (exit 4A) to Bakertown Rd.  (Look for the little “Store 12” on your right.)
Turn left onto Bakertown Rd.
Go 4 miles – At the “Y” when the road veers left, STAY STRAIGHT onto Broceus School Rd.!
Turn right at the stop sign onto Main Street.
Go approx. 1.5 miles, through one stop sign. Turn left at the 2nd stop sign onto Red Bud Trail.
Track is 1/2 mile on your left.

  • ROUTE IF COMING FROM THE SOUTH OR EAST (driving north on US 31, or west on US 12).
    • Normally we’d direct you to Walton Rd. (Exit 7 on US 31), but it’s currently torn up as well.  Until it’s fixed, this is your best route:

-> Take US 31 North to US 12 West if coming from the South.
-> Take US 12 West 4 miles and turn right onto Bakertown Rd. (Look for the little “Store 12” on your left.)
Go 4 miles –  At the “Y” when the road veers left, STAY STRAIGHT onto Broceus School Rd.!
Turn right at the stop sign onto Miller Road.
Go approx. 1.5 miles, through one stop sign. Turn left at the 2nd stop sign onto Red Bud Trail.
Track is 1/2 mile on your left.

 

TRACK ENTRANCES

SOUTH ENTRANCE

*Note: this is the only entrance for all amateur events throughout the season. Read below for Pro National weekend.

Pro National weekend: Camping entrance and more / check National MX page for all entrance information.

Red Bud Trail / Buchanan, MI / 49107 | 5 miles north of U.S. 12.
Directions: Google,  Bing


NORTH ENTRANCE

Open Pro National weekend only / Saturday General Parking / check National MX page for all entrance information.

Red Bud Trail / Buchanan, MI / 49107 | 5.5 miles north of U.S. 12.
All campers (and extra cars) must use the SOUTH ENTRANCE.

Directions: Google,  Bing

 

WEST ENTRANCE

Open Pro National weekend only / Saturday General Parking / Paddock Entrance (credentials required)
Check National MX page for all entrance information

North Main Street / Buchanan, MI / 49107 | 5 miles north of U.S. 12.
All campers (and extra cars) must use the SOUTH ENTRANCE.

Directions:  Google,  Bing

AIRPORTS

In summary:

South Bend (SBN) is very close and convenient, and usually very expensive.
Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) can be anywhere from a 2 hour to 5 hour drive, depending on your day and time of travel.  You should avoid flying into ORD on a Friday, as traffic is heavy from Chicago to Michigan; also avoid returning on a Sunday evening as the heavy traffic is heading back to Chicago.  Also remember that Chicago is on Central Time (CST), one hour behind Michigan (EST).
Detroit (DTW) is a little farther than Chicago, but a simpler route and a fairly consistent 3 hour drive, give or take 15 minutes.

South Bend, Indiana (SBN)  Distance to RedBud = 16.4 miles/26.4 km.
South Bend is on Eastern time, same as RedBud.

Chicago, Illinois O’Hare (ORD)  Distance to RedBud = 116 miles/187 km.
Chicago Midway (MDW)  Distance to RedBud = 100 miles/160 km.
Lots of flight options here, but keep a few things in mind:
1. Friday afternoon/evening traffic from Chicago to Michigan is bad, especially on a holiday weekend.  Try to arrive early in the day, or consider another airport.
2. Likewise, Sunday afternoon/evening traffic from Michigan to Chicago is heavy.
3. Chicago is on Central time and Michigan is on Eastern.  It doesn’t matter what time of year, we’re an hour ahead of Chicago.

Detroit, Michigan (DTW)  Distance to RedBud = 188 miles/303 km.
If you’re flying in on a Friday afternoon and the connection to South Bend is too pricy, it’s worth your time to check fares in Detroit.

DIRECTIONS FROM SURROUNDING AREAS

    DETOUR:  Bridge out between U.S. 31 exit 7 and Red Bud Trail.  Use exit 3, 5 or 13 if traveling via U.S. 31.

     For Pro National Weekend, follow signs to appropriate entrance…
     From Detroit and most of MI:
    I-94 west to exit 30 (Benton Harbor). Turn left off exit ramp and go about 1.5 miles to US31 south. Take US31 south to exit 13; turn right off ramp. Go to the stop sign at Redbud Trail; turn left. Track is about 2-3 miles on the right side. 
     From Indianapolis and South:
    US 31 north ALMOST to South Bend. Take the US 31 bypass north just before getting into South Bend. Go to exit 3 in Michigan. Turn left and go to the first stoplight. Turn right on Redbud Trail. Track is about 5 miles out on left.
     From Ohio and East:
    Toll road (80) to exit 72 in Indiana (South Bend West exit). Go north on US 31 to exit 3 (in Michigan). Turn left and go to the first stoplight. Turn right on Redbud Trail. Track is about 5 miles out on left.
     From Chicago and West:
    I-94 east thru Indiana. Take exit 4A in Michigan (US 12 East). Go about 18 miles to a stoplight. Turn left on Redbud Trail. Track is about 5 miles out on left side.
HOTELS, CAMPGROUNDS, LOCAL INFO
 

INDIANA

Many hotels have easy access from the 80/90 toll road.
Exit 77 is the Notre Dame University area (Roseland or South Bend, Indiana), 16-20 miles from the track.
Exit 83 is the Mishawaka, Indiana area near University Park Mall, shopping and several restaurants, 18-23 miles from the track.

Find places to stay, things to do, places to eat at Visit South Bend/Mishawaka!

MICHIGAN

Niles, Michigan is just east of Buchanan and is the closest town to the track.  Check out the Hampton Inn in Niles.

You can find several newer hotel options in Stevensville, Michigan; exit 23 off I-94.

CAMPING

Rentals 

  • Check Krenek RV  for local rentals, including delivery, set up and return.
  • Using an RV-Share rental site?
    • Make arrangements to meet your rental at the track entrance, or off-site before it’s delivered.
    • We can’t admit an RV without you, your event ticket and your camping pass.
    • PLEASE DON’T DIRECT A RENTAL TO BE DROPPED OFF BEFORE YOU ARRIVE!  There’s no place at our entrance for it to wait for you; we’ll have to turn it away.

Considering camping off-site? Try Fullers Resort at Clear Lake: 269-695-3785, or Bear Cave Campground using the LOCAL number: 269-695-3050.  Make sure they can accommodate your RV size.

*If camping sells out National weekend, we can normally make arrangements at the nearby Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds and will post information if needed.