Did this also on the way to Ottawa to see friends. It was not really on the way, but we wanted to do both. The falls are very touristy and schlocky, so I wouldn't stay long. Stay on the Canadian side.
We enjoyed Ottawa....cheaper than taking the kids to London to see the changing of the guard.

My kids and I cross at Niagara to go to a lake home I have in Canada. They love, Walking Under the Falls and riding Maid of the Mist.

It's a pleasant detour if you're vacationing in Buffalo.

We did it a few years ago. Kids loved it. We stayed on Canadian side and kids loved the crappy sideshows on the hill. Did all the Falls activities, too. Butterfly House at Botanical gardens is a must see. Then we drove over to NYC area.

We did Niagara a few summers ago while we were on a longer vacation to the Finger Lakes, which I found beautiful and loved. Niagara is, as others have said, run down and the area surrounding the falls is depressing. But the Falls themselves are beautiful and I'm glad we did it. It was about 2 hours away if I remember correctly.

We're driving there this summer, then heading to Toronto.

I found Niagra and surrounding area depressing. Drove and thought we'd never get home. Stopped in Chitaqua on the way home. Pretty dull in my opinion.

Diasagree with comment about nothing worthwhile within 100 Miles. I really like town of Niagara on the Lake in Canada, lovely small town with great theatre reminds me of England with the over Atlantic flight.

"I thought Niagra Falls would be fun, and have really clear memories of going there as a kid and being amazed"

You obviously don't have a really clear memory of how to spell Niagara Falls...

No. The falls are still impressive, but everything within hundreds of miles is a blighted ugly hellhole that makes you despair for mankind. The worst places in the US and Canada.

When I was a kid, we did Corning, Cooperstown, and Woodstock on our way to Niagara.

When they are older, I would do the Falls detour, then see a play at Niagra on the Lake or Stratford.

https://www.niagaraonthelake.com

http://www.stratfordfestival.ca

Most of the stuff to do in Niagara Falls tends to be pretty touristy, e.g., wax museum. Maid of the Mist boat ride might be fun for kids.

We are planning a similar trip. Considering adding in Darian Lake and Corning,

I totally thought this thread was about something else.

It's nice if you're on your way to Detroit via Toronto. For where you're going? Nah, it's out of the way.

We're thinking about a Northeast US road trip vacation of some type for a summer vacation. I thought Niagra Falls would be fun, and have really clear memories of going there as a kid and being amazed. But when I plugged in to MapQuest along with other possible destinations, it looks like this would be a 10 hour detour from anything else we'd want to see. (5 hours from Lancaster area; 5 hours from NYC; 5 hours from Western Mass....). Has anyone done Niagra Falls as part of a roadtrip? Anything else fun to do around that area? Not sure it's worth 2 to 3 days of our vacation, in and of itself. Kids are between ages 4 and 10. I don't think they'd be interested in Cooperstown (not that that's even particularly close). Thanks for any ideas!