South Haven to Indianapolis via South Bend and West Lafayette, IN

With so much land mass bordering the Great Lakes, which can be very treacherous, it only makes sense that Michigan has the most lighthouses of any U.S. State — upwards of 115 lighthouses, in fact. The pair of historic lighthouses on St. Joseph's North Pier have stood as they are today since 1907, although some type of lighthouse structure has guided ships into the St. Joseph River from Lake Michigan since 1832, making it the second oldest lighthouse location on Lake Michigan (second only to Chicago).
Even if the pier itself isn't open to foot traffic due to weather or the seasons, a walkway along Tiscornia Beach Park offers great views of the historic set (which can be quite ice-covered in the winter). See if you can spot the elevated catwalk that connects the towers with the shore, running about 12 feet above the pier itself. In earlier days, lighthouse keepers used the catwalk to access the towers when conditions on the pier were too dangerous.

Arriving at Journeyman Distillery, you'll quickly discover there's plenty to enjoy on the grounds here while the EV charges, whether or not you feel like imbibing. (Ask staff to show you were you can find the EV charge points, if you're having difficulty).
Housed in a 19th Century factory building that's been beautifully repurposed and restored, the site's historic legacy and how its modern iteration came to be is quite a story in and of itself. Step up to the bar for a tasting of the distillery's organic whiskeys and other artisan spirits, neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail. Just outside, you'll find one of the distillery's newest additions — a 30,000-square-foot putting green inspired by a famous green in St. Andrews, Scotland. (And yes, 21+ guests can bring a drink with them, although all ages are welcome to play.)
The distillery's sprits turn up in creative ways at Staymaker Restaurant, primarily in house-made condiments, sauces, and brined accoutrements. Mash from the distillery's Featherbone Bourbon Whiskey adds flavor to a Detroit-style pizza crust, which is a thicker style crust piled high with toppings. Desserts, too, have a playful twist, with toppings like whiskey caramel or limoncello whipped cream.

Welcome to Indiana! As is true across much of the US, towns (and cities) so close to state lines often have more in common with neighbors across borders than they do with the further reaches of their respective states, in terms of landscapes, weather, agriculture, and industries, as well as a general way of living.
What makes South Bend different, however, is the local presence of the University of Notre Dame, one of the country's most prestigious private universities that's also well-known for its college athletics programs, known as "the Fighting Irish."
For an introduction to the university and its history, split your time between browsing at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore, which also has a cafe and restrooms, and the resources at Eck Visitor's Center next door — both very popular first stops on campus. If you'd rather take a sort stroll and see some of the grounds, pick up a visitor's map (available at either location) and ask staff for some pointers on what to see in 30-40 minutes.

Indiana is largely an agricultural state, part of the Midwestern "corn belt" and also a prolific producer of other crops ranging from soybeans to melons, as well as livestock, chickens and eggs, and dairy — which might help to explain some of the landscapes between the last stop and now.
But this northwesterly part of Indiana has other claims to fame, including a notable role in pioneering 20th Century aviation and space exploration — as well as, yes, inspiring the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, from the Netflix show "Stranger Things." (Purdue University gets a few shout-outs on the popular streaming show.)
Amelia Earhart, one of the first pilots to ever attempt circumnavigating the globe in the 1930s, worked in the aeronautics department here at Purdue University, which had its own airfield even then. The university also counts 23 astronauts among its alma mater, perhaps most famously Neil Armstrong, who manned NASA's Gemini 8 and Apollo 11 missions, and was the first man to walk on the moon in 1969. Situated on a plaza in front of the engineering building, this collegiate-age Armstrong feels like a quite fitting welcome to West Lafayette, and the university campus.

Just a few minutes further onto campus, you'll find another site with ties to the university's astronautics ethos: The VOSS Model. Named for NASA astronaut and Purdue grad Janet Voss, the parklike setting in front of the Purdue's Discovery Learning Center features a macroscale representation of the solar system, with plenty of planetary details. The perspective and facts are a welcomed of how our tiny corner of the cosmos is really quite remarkable.

It's time to recharge — and Purdue University's Wood Street Parking Garage offers proximity to local options that both the EV and its travelers will appreciate. While the EV charges here, there's just enough time to seek out a local institution for some classic eats, known as Triple XXX. (It doesn't have great street parking anyway.)
Type: CCS 1 plug Power: 120 Kw

A classic American diner restaurant in all the right ways, including incredible hometown pride, Triple XXX Family Restaurant is a West Lafayette institution from another era — and absolutely worth the trek "up the hill," aka Chauncey Hill, just off campus.
While the EV charges, consider your options: There are burgers and sandwiches named after local legends, like the Duane Purvis burger (a 1930s footballer) or the Drew Brees (a winning NFL QB) chicken fried steak. Breakfast menu options are also served around the clock. In any case, do not skip the opportunity to try the house root beer, which is still made on site, just as it always was.
As that old saying goes: If it's not broke, why fix it?
(Closed Tuesdays)

This last drive from West Lafayette to Indianapolis isn't necessarily short — but the good news is, it isn't long, either.
Whether you're traveling onward tomorrow, or planning to kick it in Indy for a few days, The Alexander is a very cool hotel with notable local artwork. Plan to charge upon arrival at the EV Plug Station in the hotel's parking garage.
Type: CCS 6 plugs