Driving to Niagara Falls Canada

[Anonymous]

We are headed there for the week over Easter break. I'm trying to decide if we should do the drive in one day, leaving DC early Saturfay morning, or split it up in two and leave Friday evening. If we split it up, where would you recommend we spend the night? We'd likely drive 4 hours and then stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are headed there for the week over Easter break. I'm trying to decide if we should do the drive in one day, leaving DC early Saturfay morning, or split it up in two and leave Friday evening. If we split it up, where would you recommend we spend the night? We'd likely drive 4 hours and then stop.

We did the drive last summer. We stopped in the Poconos and Corning/Watkins Glen.

There are a few lodges in the Poconos that have an indoor waterpark, and if the weather is good, some outdoor actvities.

We did glass blowing at Corning and went to Watkins Glen (part of Finger Lakes).

I hope you realize that the boat tour to the falls does not open till May 1. I learned that the hard way. The falls may still be frozen in March.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are headed there for the week over Easter break. I'm trying to decide if we should do the drive in one day, leaving DC early Saturfay morning, or split it up in two and leave Friday evening. If we split it up, where would you recommend we spend the night? We'd likely drive 4 hours and then stop.

We did the drive last summer. We stopped in the Poconos and Corning/Watkins Glen.

There are a few lodges in the Poconos that have an indoor waterpark, and if the weather is good, some outdoor actvities.

We did glass blowing at Corning and went to Watkins Glen (part of Finger Lakes).

I hope you realize that the boat tour to the falls does not open till May 1. I learned that the hard way. The falls may still be frozen in March.

Thanks for this advice. Is it too much to try and make it up to Pittsburgh area Friday night? We are actually lucky as the boats on both sides (US and Canada) announced they are opening early. We will be able to be on the water on Easter Sunday on the Canadian side.

[Anonymous]

Pittsburgh is 4 hours, likely 5 on a Friday getting through Frederick. I’m more of a drive all at once person

[Anonymous]

We were just there. Maid of the Mist open April 4.

[Anonymous]

It's not a bad drive if you're used to driving. We've done 11 hours drives since our child was an infant (teen now). That said when we went to NF we stopped overnight to see Fallingwater.

[Anonymous]

If you’re driving 4 hours you may not get much farther than Hagerstown or south part of Pennsylvania depending on the time you leave.

Figure out which route you will take 80 or 76. 76 May work better for stops. On 80, once you get to area of Allegheny forest, it’s pretty uninhabited with very little next to highway.

If you decide to take route 80, then definitely stop before the forest so anywhere between Hollidaysburg and Tyrone.

There are more options on route 76 and you could reach Harrisburg or a bit further up to Corning. It really depends on the time you leave and how much traffic you hit on 270

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were just there. Maid of the Mist open April 4.

Yep, we saw that. We are staying on the Canadian side so we'll do their version of Maid of the Mist, which opens on March 28th.

https://www.cityexperiences.com/niagara-ca/city-cruises/voyage-to-the-falls-boat-tour/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pittsburgh is 4 hours, likely 5 on a Friday getting through Frederick. I’m more of a drive all at once person

Thanks, this is helpful. We've gone to Quebec City and Montreal and typically stop at the 6 hour mark in Albany/Troy. This trip is shorter so we likely could do it in one shot. My only fear is I didn't want to be so exhausted when we arrived on Saturday that we don’t take in anything that day. We are staying at a hotel on the Falls in Canada so I wanted to at least walk around a bit on Saturday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re driving 4 hours you may not get much farther than Hagerstown or south part of Pennsylvania depending on the time you leave.

Figure out which route you will take 80 or 76. 76 May work better for stops. On 80, once you get to area of Allegheny forest, it’s pretty uninhabited with very little next to highway.

If you decide to take route 80, then definitely stop before the forest so anywhere between Hollidaysburg and Tyrone.

There are more options on route 76 and you could reach Harrisburg or a bit further up to Corning. It really depends on the time you leave and how much traffic you hit on 270

This is really helpful. Thanks so much for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Wd did as part of a road trip. Stopped at the Grand Canyon of PA on the way up and dud some hiking. Views were gorgeous. Stayed in a town very close to there.

[Anonymous]

Yeah we’re drive all at once with anything under 12 hours just idea of stoping getting out the nighttime and daytime stuff and the. Getting back in the car the next day is enough to make me drive through. We’ve drove straight through to Canada side of the Falls.

[Anonymous]

I've done this drive twice in the last few years and both times it took me 7.5 hours to get there. Left at around 7:30am and made it there by 3pm - didnt even have to stop to get gas. Took an hour nap at the hotel and then walked around the Falls and Clifton Hill. If you have time during your trip, I suggest making the drive to Toronto and spending a day there. It's about a 1.5 hour drive from Niagara, but less with no traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've done this drive twice in the last few years and both times it took me 7.5 hours to get there. Left at around 7:30am and made it there by 3pm - didnt even have to stop to get gas. Took an hour nap at the hotel and then walked around the Falls and Clifton Hill. If you have time during your trip, I suggest making the drive to Toronto and spending a day there. It's about a 1.5 hour drive from Niagara, but less with no traffic.

Thank you for sharing. You all have convinced me to do the trip in a day. I take it the border crossing doesn't take that long on that side?

We are actually planning on going to Toronto for a day/night to catch a game. We will be at a hotel next to the Falls for 3 nights, Toronto for one night, and then at an airbnb in Niagara-on-the lake for the last 3 nights. I'm really looking forward to the trip, despite the possible cold weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've done this drive twice in the last few years and both times it took me 7.5 hours to get there. Left at around 7:30am and made it there by 3pm - didnt even have to stop to get gas. Took an hour nap at the hotel and then walked around the Falls and Clifton Hill. If you have time during your trip, I suggest making the drive to Toronto and spending a day there. It's about a 1.5 hour drive from Niagara, but less with no traffic.

Is there ever no traffic?

It seems like every time we have gone there (in summer, mind you), there is significant road work, and traffic is all messed up.