Getting to Niagara Falls
Most visitors arrive from Toronto on the Canadian side or from Buffalo and New York City on the US side. From Toronto, trains and buses reach the falls in roughly two hours. From New York City the trip is long: about 400 miles (around 644 km) by road.
If you would rather not organize the transport yourself, a guided tour from Toronto or a tour from New York bundles it with the sights. For a first look at your options, see the Niagara Falls tours.
From Toronto: train, bus and car
The Canadian side is the easiest to reach without a car.
GO train and WEGO
GO runs a year-round connection to Niagara Falls on the Lakeshore West corridor. The GO+WEGO package costs CAD 22 for adults for a day (train plus a WEGO day pass) or CAD 35 for two days with 48 hours of WEGO. Attractions are not included. Children up to 12 ride GO free, but that does not cover WEGO or attractions. From 6 April 2026 the package also covers the seasonal onward ride to Niagara-on-the-Lake, April to October.
Maple Leaf train
The Maple Leaf leaves Toronto Union at 8:20 a.m. and reaches Niagara Falls, Ontario, at 10:22 a.m., a ride of 2 hours 2 minutes. Weekend and weekday columns differ for the way back, so check the specific return train.
Bus
FlixBus fares start at CAD 20.98, with a fastest trip of 1 hour 30 minutes over 125 km. Prices are dynamic and the fastest time is a minimum, not a promise for every date. Toronto stops include Union Station Bus Terminal at 81 Bay Street and Harbourfront. In Niagara the stops include Table Rock, Rapidsview and Erie Avenue. Megabus takes about 2 hours each way and serves the Niagara Falls Bus Terminal at 4555 Erie Avenue. Your ticket names the exact stop.
Car
Travel time by car depends on traffic and your start point, so no fixed figure is reliable. The bus route is 125 km. Parking is covered below.
Our pick: let the coach do the driving
No car? This day tour picks you up in Toronto or Mississauga.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Niagara Falls tours and day trips
Day trips from Toronto and New York, boat tours, helicopter flights and more, with live prices and availability.
From New York City and Buffalo
The US side is a long way from New York City, so choose by how much time you have.
| Option | Time | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Maple Leaf 63 train | 9 hours 45 minutes | Departs New York Moynihan Train Hall at 7:15 a.m. and arrives in Niagara Falls, New York, at 5:00 p.m. It continues to Niagara Falls, Ontario, arriving 5:45 p.m. on weekdays and 5:05 p.m. at weekends. Fares depend on date and availability. |
| Car | 7 to 8 hours | About 400 miles (around 644 km). A rough planning figure. |
| Flight to Buffalo | Check the airline | Direct flights between Buffalo and New York JFK and LaGuardia run regularly. Check the current schedule and fare before you plan around it. |
| Guided tour | One or two days | One operator's two-day tour with an overnight stay and breakfast leaves on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. See the list above. |
For most visitors from New York City, the train for a relaxed overnight trip or a two-day tour for convenience works better than a car-only day trip. From Buffalo airport, NFTA bus route 24 Genesee heads toward the city and route 40 runs between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. No single through bus is guaranteed, so use a trip planner for the exact connection. NFTA fares are USD 2 for a single ride, USD 5 for a day pass and USD 25 for a seven-day pass, and cash on the bus works only for the single fare.
Getting around once you are there
Canada. WEGO is the bus network of Niagara Parks. A 24-hour pass costs CAD 16 for adults and CAD 12 for children, a 48-hour pass CAD 20 and CAD 16. Adults are 13 and over, children 3 to 12, and children up to 2 ride free. Some tickets show CAD 17 and CAD 13 for the two-day pass including tax. The Green and Blue lines meet at Table Rock. The old Red Line became the regional route 116/216 on 3 September 2024.
USA. The Discover Niagara Shuttle is free and needs no ticket. You hop on and off at signed stops, and free parking is available at Whirlpool State Park, Devil's Hole and Niagara Power Vista. It is not the same as WEGO or the Scenic Trolley. In 2026 it ran daily from 19 June to 7 September and on Fridays to Sundays from late May to mid June and from mid September to mid October, so check the schedule for winter trips.
Parking on both sides
Rates change with the season. Prices in USD for the US side, CAD for the Canadian side.
| Where | Period | Price |
|---|---|---|
| US Lots 1 and 2 (Lot 1 for Prospect Point and the boat, Lot 2 for Cave of the Winds) | 1 March to 21 May | USD 10 daily |
| US Lots 1 and 2 | 22 May to 11 October | USD 10 Monday to Thursday, USD 15 Friday to Sunday |
| US Lots 1 and 2 | 12 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 | USD 10 daily |
| US Lot 3 | 22 May to 7 September, Friday to Monday and holidays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. | USD 10 cars, USD 20 RVs. Free Tuesday to Thursday; no fee 8 September to 21 May. No overnight parking, RVs up to 40 ft. |
| Canadian park-and-ride | Online passes | Rapidsview Lot C only, no overnight parking. Check day prices for other lots on arrival. |
City Cruises has no parking lot of its own. If you drive across the border, the car toll on the Rainbow Bridge is USD 6 or CAD 8.50 and is charged only toward Canada. See crossing the Rainbow Bridge for entry documents.
Keep planning
Pages to pair with your route.
Getting to Niagara Falls: frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way from Toronto?
FlixBus fares start at CAD 20.98, with dynamic prices. The GO+WEGO day package is CAD 22 for adults and includes a WEGO day pass. Neither includes attractions.
Is there a direct bus from Buffalo airport to the falls?
No through ride is guaranteed. NFTA route 24 Genesee leaves from the airport toward the city, and route 40 connects Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Ask a trip planner for the exact connection and total time.
Do I need a ticket for the Discover Niagara Shuttle?
No. It is free and runs hop-on, hop-off at signed stops. It operates seasonally, so check the schedule for your dates.
Where do I park for the Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds?
On the US side, Lot 1 serves Prospect Point and the boat, and Lot 2 serves the Cave of the Winds. Prices run from USD 10 to USD 15 a day depending on the season and the day of the week.
Is niagara-falls.org an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It has no link to Niagara Parks, the Niagara Falls State Park, a transit agency, a tourism organization or any tour operator.