We go to Niagara Falls commonly however not everybody has a automotive, particularly folks touring from in another country. So we would like to share the expertise of how to go from Toronto to Niagara for not solely locals but in addition vacationers and guests to our metropolis. Dave and I really like visiting Niagara Falls, Canada, it’s one in every of our favourite 12 months-spherical Ontario locations and now we have visited Niagara numerous occasions.
How to Get From Toronto to Niagara Falls
Ever since we first met in 1991, Dave and I’ve at all times made time for a weekend getaway in Niagara Falls. But till writing this text, we by no means considered taking the bus or transit there. So when Busbud requested us if we’d like to take a bus journey to wherever in North America, we selected the Toronto to Niagara Falls bus.
There are additionally many tour corporations the place you possibly can ebook day journeys to Niagara from Toronto, however Niagara Falls is very easy to get round by yourself. And Niagara is straightforward to get to from Toronto by bus, prepare, transit and automotive.
Travel Times to Niagara from Toronto
Highway Driving – 90 minutes of no site visitors (nonetheless, it’s Toronto so that you’ll at all times have site visitors, particularly on a weekday. Public Transit GOTrain / GoBus – 2 – 2.5 hours Bus Travel – 1 hour and 45 minutes (relying as soon as once more on site visitors)
Toronto to Niagara Falls by Car
The journey to Niagara from Toronto by automotive is easy and gives flexibility when it comes to stops and detours. This is the best way we usually go to Niagara Falls. We like having the posh of having the ability to drive to Niagara on the Lake to tour some wineries or to cease in Hamilton or Burlington to do some procuring. If you might be driving to Niagara Falls from Toronto, right here is the route you’ll need to take.
Route: The most direct route is to take the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) southbound from Toronto.
Duration: The drive sometimes takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, relying on site visitors.
Tips: Consider utilizing Google Maps or Waze to examine for actual-time site visitors updates and potential delays. Parking is obtainable close to the falls, however it will possibly get crowded throughout peak occasions and it may be costly, so arrive early or contemplate off-web site parking choices. We discover that essentially the most affordable are the $5 heaps that you just’ll see on the best way in. They promote $5 however it actually finally ends up being $15 for the day. (The $5 indicators they maintain are for 1 hour.)
Downton Toronto to Niagara Falls – Step-by-Step Directions
Start from Downtown Toronto and navigate to the Gardiner Expressway West. Merge onto Gardiner Expressway West. Follow indicators for QEW/Hamilton. Continue onto the QEW. The Gardiner Expressway will transition into the QEW as you progress westward at Burlington. Stay on the QEW within the left-hand lanes and comply with that in direction of Hamilton. Bypass Hamilton. As you method Hamilton, the QEW will cut up. You can both proceed on the QEW/ON-403 W following indicators for Hamilton/Brantford or comply with the QEW Niagara, which is able to take you over the Burlington Skyway Bridge. For Niagara Falls, make sure you keep on or rejoin the QEW Niagara. Follow the QEW by means of St. Catharines. As you go St. Catharines, proceed following indicators for Niagara Falls/Fort Erie. Exit the QEW at Niagara Falls. As you method Niagara Falls, you’ll see exits for the town. You can take exit 27 for McLeod Rd or exit 32 for ON-420 in direction of Niagara Falls/USA Border, relying in your precise vacation spot within the Niagara Falls space. Follow native roads to your vacation spot. Once you’ve exited the QEW, use native signage or your navigation system to attain the precise a part of Niagara Falls you need to go to. Here are instructions on Google Maps
Toronto to Niagara Falls by Megabus
The bus terminal in Toronto is positioned at Union Station. Buses depart all through the day beginning at 6:00 a.m. If you might be on a brief go to to the town, you possibly can hop on an early bus to Niagara, spend the day sightseeing, and head again to Toronto on the 11 p.m. bus. You wouldn’t even have to change Toronto resorts.
You can ebook buses from Toronto to Niagara Falls shortly and simply by means of the Busbud reserving web site.
The Megabus terminal is positioned at 30 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto, ON M8W 1N4 and it additionally leaves from Scarborough. You can examine the occasions and costs right here.
Arrival in Niagara Falls by Bus
The Niagara Falls bus terminal is positioned downtown within the Queens Street District at 4555 Eerie Avenue. Don’t let this idiot you. Downtown Niagara is just not downtown close to the resorts and points of interest. There are taxis ready outdoors too or you possibly can simply name an Uber. It’s a 30-minute stroll to Clifton Hill.
You may also ebook with FLIXBUS which leaves from both downtown Toronto and Scarborough Town Center. It will drop you off at Fallsview Casino within the resort zone which is nearer to Niagara points of interest such because the Skylon Tower, the incline railway, and Table Rock Centre. Read: The 30 Best Things to do in Niagara Falls
If it’s a good day you possibly can stroll alongside the Niagara Parkway that takes you alongside the river. But the extra direct route is to flip proper whenever you depart the terminal and carry on strolling till you get to Clifton Hill. It’s a straightforward easy stroll with pedestrian paths by means of the park.
Toronto to Niagara By Go Train Transit
Go Transit is a handy possibility for touring from Toronto to Niagara Falls. For simply $18 CAD roundtrip you possibly can chill out from Toronto’s Union Station to Niagara Falls. The neatest thing is that it features a WEGO Bus go that connects the highest Niagara Falls points of interest. Read extra: The Clifton Hill Fun Pass in Niagara Falls: Is it Worth it?
Special Weekend Service: During summer season weekends and particular holidays, GO Transit gives direct prepare service from Toronto to Niagara Falls.
Tips: Using a PRESTO card could make fare cost extra handy. The PRESTO card can be utilized for Toronto Transit and is straightforward to high up when wanted. Always examine the GO Transit schedule upfront, as timings would possibly range, particularly on weekends.
About the WEGO Bus
The WEGO bus is a hop-on-hop-off bus that takes you alongside to totally different Niagara Parks areas alongside the Niagara River Corridor connecting Niagara Falls points of interest similar to Whitewater Walk, the Whirlpool AeroCar, Niagara Gorge, and Niagara-on-thepLake and extra.
The WEGO Bus has three totally different traces they usually all join on the Table Rock Centre. That is the place you possibly can simply hop on the bus to get wherever within the metropolis. Read extra: The 30 Best Things to Do in Niagara Falls
GoBus
You may also take the GO Train from Toronto’s Union Station to Burlington, the place you’ll switch to a GOBus that may take you to Niagara Falls.
Duration: The mixed prepare and bus journey takes about 2 to 2.5 hours.
Special Weekend Service: During summer season weekends and particular holidays, GO Transit gives direct prepare companies from Toronto to Niagara Falls.
Toronto to Niagara by Train
Travelling by prepare is a enjoyable and decadent approach to journey. It appears like stepping again in time to take a scenic and cozy journey through rail. If you’re a prepare lover like us, you might have considered trying to take the prepare from Union Station in Toronto to Niagara Falls.
The prepare journey takes about 2 hours and operates by means of VIA Rail. You can examine the VIA Rail schedule for departure occasions. Trains may not be as frequent as buses, so planning is important.
You can ebook one-approach or spherical-journey tickets. Prices begin at $50 and solely depart as soon as a day at 8:20 am. Details right here.
The Niagara Falls Train Station is positioned at The GO/Via prepare station and bus terminals are at 4555 Eerie Avenue and Bridge Street. The prepare station in Niagara Falls is a brief taxi or bus trip from the principle attraction.
Day Trips from Toronto to Niagara Tours
A day journey to Niagara can simply be finished from Toronto. There are a number of Toronto to Niagara Falls Tours when you don’t need the effort of attempting to work out how to get to Niagara by bus, prepare, or coping with site visitors. Here are just a few of our favorites.
Just 90 minutes from Toronto, you could be on the falls for dawn after which with an journey go in hand, you possibly can see the highest points of interest in a day! Check out the very best Niagara Falls Day excursions right here.
Seriously, we’ve finished Niagara Falls in a day a number of occasions. Journey behind the falls, The Hornblower (previously Maid of the Mist), Whitewater Walk and Whirlpool Cable Car could be finished in a day. We’ve even thrown in a few wax museums and Nightmares on Clifton Hill into our day journey. Read extra: 25 Day Trips from Toronto to Escape the City
(1 hour and 20 minutes from Toronto) Check out extra Niagara Falls ideas
Toronto Airports
Most seemingly if you’re flying internationally or from the US to see Niagara Falls, you’ll be flying into one in every of Toronto’s airports Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) or Billy Bishop (YTZ). Billy Bishop Airport is positioned in downtown Toronto. You can get to Niagara Falls by all of the methods listed above. You can simply stroll or take the ferry to Union Station.
How to Get to Niagara from Toronto Pearson YYZ
Getting from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Niagara Falls is comparatively easy. We nearly at all times suggest renting a automotive when visiting Ontario as it’s a big province and in truth, our public transit and prepare programs are overpriced and never the very best. But listed below are some choices to aid you navigate from the airport to Niagara.
1. Driving (Rental Car):
Directions: Exit Toronto Pearson International Airport and comply with indicators to merge onto ON-427 South. From ON-427 South, take the exit onto the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way) towards Hamilton. Continue on the QEW, following indicators for Niagara/Fort Erie. As you method Niagara Falls, take exit 27 for McLeod Rd or exit 32 for ON-420 in direction of Niagara Falls/USA Border, relying in your precise vacation spot. Duration: About 1.5 to 2 hours, relying on site visitors.
2. Shuttle Service:
There are a number of shuttle companies that function between Pearson International Airport and Niagara Falls. It’s advisable to ebook these upfront. Duration: The journey time is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours, comparable to driving.
3. Public Transit
GO Transit: From Pearson Airport, take the UP Express prepare to Union Station in downtown Toronto. From Union Station, you possibly can take the GO Train to Burlington or St. Catharines after which switch to a GO Bus that goes to Niagara Falls. Duration: This technique is longer, taking round 3 to 4 hours or extra, relying on wait occasions for connections.
4. Private Taxi or Ride Share
Companies like Uber and Lyft function in Toronto and provide rides from Pearson International Airport to Niagara Falls. Traditional taxi corporations additionally present this service. Duration: Roughly 1.5 to 2 hours, however might be longer with heavy site visitors.
5. Direct Bus
Some corporations, similar to Megabus, provide direct bus companies from Pearson Airport to Niagara Falls. Check schedules and availability. Check with FLIXBUS for schedules and charges right here / MegaBus Here Duration: Approximately 2 to 2.5 hours.
Remember that journey occasions can range based mostly on site visitors situations, the time of day, and different elements. Always enable for some further time, particularly when you have particular plans or reservations in Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls Attraction Fast Tips
There are a number of attraction passes to select from in Niagara Falls. We usually get the Niagara Attractions Pass from Niagara Parks which permits us to bundle a few of the high Niagara Attractions. For a flat payment, it grants entry to all the main points of interest just like the Hornblower Cruises. This well-known boat cruise takes you previous the American Falls and into the center of Horseshoe Falls. It additionally consists of Journey Behind the Falls, Whitewater Walk, and entry to the WEGO bus that stops in any respect the main points of interest.
You should purchase an Adventure Pass upfront for deep reductions. It can be utilized anytime within the 12 months you purchase it.
Is there a direct prepare from Toronto to Niagara?
Yes, there’s a direct prepare from Toronto to Niagara with Via Rail. There is one prepare per day, so ensure that to ebook upfront. A prepare trip from Toronto to Niagara prices about $35 CAD.
Is there a bus from Toronto to Niagara Falls?
Yes, there are a number of buses day by day from Toronto to Niagara Falls leaving from the principle Toronto bus terminal on Dundas Street downtown. Read extra right here.
How Far is Niagara Falls from Toronto?
Niagara Falls is 128 km from Toronto and takes 2 hours to drive by automotive from downtown Toronto. Buses can take 2-hours and 10 minutes to 3 1/2 hours relying on the stops.
Can I get to Niagara Falls from Toronto Pearson International Airport by Bus?
Yes, buses depart a number of occasions a day from Toronto Pearson to Niagara Falls. You can examine Busbud for extra schedules and prices.
To ebook your bus from Toronto to Niagara Falls or wherever on this planet go to Busbud for on-line bookings.
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