Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely drive through Letchworth on the way. I didn't know it was even there -- my Western-NY-raised parents mentioned it while I was looking at schools with my daughter last year-- but it is CRAZY that no one seems to know about it. We saw it in mud season and it was really impressive; I'm sure it's gorgeous in the summer when things are actually green!

Agree with letchworth is very cool- the problem is that OP thought Corning was too far and that is an hour further.

OP there is just not much of interest going up 15 through PA (if that’s the route you’re planning). There’s the little league hall of fame in Williamsport if you you have kids who like baseball. The little league World Series takes place there every summer too.

Hershey is in that area but it’s not halfway.

Just go straight to Niagara. Plenty to do there, no need to stop and there’s nothing good in the way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Niagara is not worth it. It's like Vegas but less exciting

Are you kidding? Where do you like to go that is worth it?

ILOVE Niagara for families. Stay on the US side - it’s a park versus the busy Canadian side. Then just go over to visit the Canadian side once or twice.

Stop at the Corning Glass Museum on the way up if your kids are older!

we just did it as a quick stopoff, but you're literally the first person I've ever heard that said to pick the US side over the Canadian!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pittsburgh would add 1 hour, 17 minutes to the drive and is not on the route. Just suck it up and do it in a day. It's not that far.

Google maps says it adds 12 minutes.

DC straight to Niagara Falls is 7:25. 397 miles

DC to Pittsburgh is 4:18. 241 miles

Pittsburgh to Niagara Falls is 3:39. 238 mles

I guess it depends on time of day for the time, but that's 32 extra minutes and 82 extra miles.

When I Google Map DC to Niagara Falls, several options pop up and none of them go near Pittsburgh.

I guess I don't live near you in the DMV, because when I google map DC to Niagara falls, one of the three options it gives goes through or around Pittsburgh and only adds a negligible amount of time.

I just generically Googled "Washington DC" and "Niagara Falls." Not my address. There, I just did it again. This time the Pittsburgh route comes up, but it is 81 miles longer with a stopoff in Pittsburgh (and has tolls, the shorter way up 15 doesn't.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Niagara is not worth it. It's like Vegas but less exciting

Are you kidding? Where do you like to go that is worth it?

ILOVE Niagara for families. Stay on the US side - it’s a park versus the busy Canadian side. Then just go over to visit the Canadian side once or twice.

Stop at the Corning Glass Museum on the way up if your kids are older!

I agree with this poster. I loved Niagara Falls and Niagara on the lake. My advice however would be to stay on the Canadian side. It's beautiful. We went in the spring so it wasn't crowded. I'd go back again during the spring. We stayed at the Sheraton overlooking the falls for 3 nights, Toronto for one night, and an airbnb in Niagara-on-the-lake on the lake for 3 nights.

Table Rock restaurant on the Falls has good food and beautiful views of the falls. The buffet restaurant at the Sheraton is delightful with great views. The steak restaurant at the Crown plaza is yummy but a bit stiff. Our kids loved the go karts on the Falls and one or two of the haunted houses.

Niagara-on-the-lake is simply beautiful. There are a number of wineries there that you can take the kids to. They have a beach area and the cutest downtown area.

We stopped at Penn State when we did this trip, and my kids surprisingly loved it. I went there though, so that’s why we stopped. But we walked around campus, got ice cream, etc. my kids were not yet at thinking about college age, so it wasn’t an actual college visit. It’s a nice campus though.

Anonymous wrote:Niagara is not worth it. It's like Vegas but less exciting

Are you kidding? Where do you like to go that is worth it?

ILOVE Niagara for families. Stay on the US side - it’s a park versus the busy Canadian side. Then just go over to visit the Canadian side once or twice.

Stop at the Corning Glass Museum on the way up if your kids are older!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pittsburgh would add 1 hour, 17 minutes to the drive and is not on the route. Just suck it up and do it in a day. It's not that far.

Google maps says it adds 12 minutes.

DC straight to Niagara Falls is 7:25. 397 miles

DC to Pittsburgh is 4:18. 241 miles

Pittsburgh to Niagara Falls is 3:39. 238 mles

I guess it depends on time of day for the time, but that's 32 extra minutes and 82 extra miles.

When I Google Map DC to Niagara Falls, several options pop up and none of them go near Pittsburgh.

I guess I don't live near you in the DMV, because when I google map DC to Niagara falls, one of the three options it gives goes through or around Pittsburgh and only adds a negligible amount of time.

Anonymous wrote:Definitely drive through Letchworth on the way. I didn't know it was even there -- my Western-NY-raised parents mentioned it while I was looking at schools with my daughter last year-- but it is CRAZY that no one seems to know about it. We saw it in mud season and it was really impressive; I'm sure it's gorgeous in the summer when things are actually green!

Agree with letchworth is very cool- the problem is that OP thought Corning was too far and that is an hour further.

OP there is just not much of interest going up 15 through PA (if that’s the route you’re planning). There’s the little league hall of fame in Williamsport if you you have kids who like baseball. The little league World Series takes place there every summer too.

Definitely drive through Letchworth on the way. I didn't know it was even there -- my Western-NY-raised parents mentioned it while I was looking at schools with my daughter last year-- but it is CRAZY that no one seems to know about it. We saw it in mud season and it was really impressive; I'm sure it's gorgeous in the summer when things are actually green!

It may be a bit out of your way (not sure) but what about Knoebels Amisement Park? Or Del Grasso? Map those out for a stopping place on the way up?

Bradford, PA for the Zippo factory is a good stop and be sure to get gas on the reservation.

I wouldn't stay overnight in Bradford or anything, though.

OP here. We are doing a big road trip loop, ultimately ending in Seven Springs for a week. So planning on a 1 or 2 night stop on the way to Niagara (I know it’s not that nice but I think my kids will love it) and then we will loop back through Erie on the way down to Seven Springs. I like the idea of Corning even though it’s more than halfway. We are doing a day trip to Pittsburgh to see family while we are in Seven Springs so I’m trying to find a stop straight north. Thanks all!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pittsburgh would add 1 hour, 17 minutes to the drive and is not on the route. Just suck it up and do it in a day. It's not that far.

Google maps says it adds 12 minutes.

I guess it depends on the starting point?

Anyhoo, I am a poster who agreed with Pittsburgh. It's really not too out of the way. It's about 4 hours from MoCo to Pittsburgh then about 3 hrs. 40 minutes from Pittsburgh to Niagara Falls. Nice, halfway stopping point.

Yes, Niagara Fall is cheesy and the food is awful but it's fun especially depending on the ages of her kids. OP - enjoy your trip.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pittsburgh would add 1 hour, 17 minutes to the drive and is not on the route. Just suck it up and do it in a day. It's not that far.

Google maps says it adds 12 minutes.

DC straight to Niagara Falls is 7:25. 397 miles

DC to Pittsburgh is 4:18. 241 miles

Pittsburgh to Niagara Falls is 3:39. 238 mles

I guess it depends on time of day for the time, but that's 32 extra minutes and 82 extra miles.

When I Google Map DC to Niagara Falls, several options pop up and none of them go near Pittsburgh.