Crossing the Rainbow Bridge in 2026
The bridge lets you move between the two Niagara Falls on foot or by car, which makes a two-sided visit easy to plan. The toll depends on how you cross and which way you go. Cars pay only when entering Canada. Pedestrians pay only when entering the US.
The toll is the smaller part of the planning. What you need to carry depends on your nationality, and a ticket does not replace it. This holds for Niagara Falls tours that cover both sides as well: the tour operator sells the day, and the border still checks your documents.
Our pick: both sides in one day
If you would rather not handle the crossing yourself, this tour covers the tolls and visits both sides.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. 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 that visit both sides
Guided tours and day trips covering the Canadian and US sides, with live prices and availability. Check entry rules for your passport first.
Rainbow Bridge tolls
Tolls are collected in one direction only. Since 1 August 2026 toll booths no longer take pennies.
| How you cross | Toward Canada | Toward the US |
|---|---|---|
| Standard car | USD 6 or CAD 8.50 | No toll |
| On foot | No toll | USD 1 in cash, or CAD 1.25 in cash or by tap (Visa, Mastercard, debit, Apple Pay) |
On foot, you pay on the Canadian side before the walkway. You pay once, on the way toward the US. Walking toward Canada costs nothing. For most day visitors without a car, walking across and paying the small pedestrian toll is the simplest way to see both sides.
What to carry
Rules depend on your nationality and status. These notes are for visitors who need no visa for Canada and use the Visa Waiver Program for the US. Check your own situation before you travel.
Entering Canada
Visa-exempt travellers, for example from Germany, need a valid passport. There is no eTA for entry by land. The eTA rule applies if you fly to Canada. Nationals who need a visa for Canada follow different rules.
Entering the US
Visa Waiver Program travellers need an approved ESTA for entry by land as well, a rule in place since 1 October 2022. The ESTA fee is USD 40. A land-border I-94 costs USD 30, and fees changed on 30 September 2025. Re-entering within an existing 90-day Visa Waiver admission is treated separately from a new admission. Check the current border guidance for your situation before you cross.
With a rental car
Many rental companies allow cross-border driving for most vehicles but make exceptions by vehicle type and location. Read your rental contract and insurance terms before you drive over.
On a tour
A tour ticket does not give you the right to enter either country. Your nationality and status decide what you need, whichever side you start on.
Planning the crossing day
Treat the crossing as part of the day, not an extra. Boat tickets, timed entries and tour start times on the far side do not wait for a slow border, so keep a buffer.
- Boat tickets: online tickets for the US boat are valid on any open day of the season, and everyone boards in order of arrival. The Canadian boat sells advance tickets that save the ticket queue, and a departure in your booked time window is not guaranteed.
- Parking: the Canadian boat has no car park of its own. On the US side, Lots 1 and 2 cost USD 10 per day from 12 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Lot 1 serves Prospect Point and the boat, and Lot 2 serves Cave of the Winds.
- Which side first: start on the side where your first booked slot is, then cross for the rest of the day.
The two sides charge in different currencies. Keep a little cash in USD for the pedestrian toll, or a card that works for contactless payment in CAD.
Rainbow Bridge: frequently asked questions
How much is the Rainbow Bridge toll for a car?
USD 6 or CAD 8.50 for a standard car, collected only when you enter Canada. These rates have applied since 1 May 2025. You pay nothing when driving into the US.
Do I pay to walk across?
Only toward the US. The fee is USD 1 in cash or CAD 1.25 in cash or by tap, paid on the Canadian side before the walkway. Walking into Canada has no toll.
Do I need an ESTA to cross into the US on foot?
Visa Waiver Program travellers need an approved ESTA for entry by land, in place since 1 October 2022. Other nationalities follow other rules. Check the current guidance for your passport before you cross.
Do I need an eTA to enter Canada from the US by land?
Visa-exempt travellers, for example from Germany, need a valid passport and no eTA for entry by land. The eTA rule applies if you fly. If you need a visa for Canada, different rules apply.
Can I take a rental car across the border?
Many rental companies allow it for most vehicles, with exceptions by vehicle and location. Check your contract and insurance before you go.
How long is the wait at the border?
There is no fixed wait. It changes with the day and the hour, so leave extra time on the day you cross, especially if you have a booked tour or boat slot on the other side.
Is this the official Rainbow Bridge website?
No. This is an independent travel guide, not run by or connected to the bridge operator, border agencies, the parks or any tourism office.