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Blue Poncho Required: The Maid of the Mist, Reviewed

Nearly 180 years of soaking tourists, and it's still the best thing to do in Niagara Falls

James P Fitzsimmons

22 Feb 2026 — 6 min read

Photo by Osama Saeed on Unsplash

🌊 The Falls — Attraction Review

Maid of the Mist: Where You Go to Get Very, Very Wet on Purpose

A Full Review of Niagara’s Most Iconic (and Dampest) Boat Ride

Let’s be honest. You didn’t come to Niagara Falls to stay dry. If you wanted to stay dry, you’d have gone to a library. No — you came here to stand at the edge of one of the most powerful waterfalls on the planet and let 600,000 gallons per second remind you who’s in charge. And there is no better, wetter, louder, more unforgettable way to do exactly that than the Maid of the Mist.

Operating continuously since 1846 — making it one of the oldest tourist attractions in North America — the Maid of the Mist has been dunking visitors in Niagara’s finest mist for nearly 180 years. It outlasted the Civil War, two World Wars, disco, and every “Niagara is dying” headline ever written. It’s not going anywhere, and neither will your memories of it.

🛥️ What Is It, Exactly?

The Maid of the Mist is a boat tour departing from the American side of Niagara Falls, within Niagara Falls State Park at Prospect Point. You buy your tickets at street level near the Observation Tower, ride an elevator down into the gorge, slip on your complimentary souvenir rain poncho (blue on the U.S. side — very chic, very crinkly), and board one of two all-electric vessels: the James V. Glynn or the Nikola Tesla.

That’s right — the boats are fully electric and zero-emission, powered by the same Niagara River they’re sailing on. It’s the most on-brand energy source imaginable, and honestly, kind of poetic.

The tour is roughly 20–25 minutes and takes you past the dramatic American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, then straight into the thunderous basin of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, where the boat slows to a near-stop and you are surrounded on three sides by a 167-foot wall of roaring water and blinding white mist. It’s like being inside a carwash operated by God.

🎟️ Pricing

(All prices in U.S. dollars)

Ticket Price Adult $30.25 Child (ages 6–12) $19.75 Children 5 & under FREE (with paid adult)

Tickets can be purchased online in advance (recommended in peak season) or in person at the ticket office. Note: online tickets are valid any day during the season, but all boarding is first-come, first-served — no reserved times. The ticket office opens 30 minutes before the first departure and closes 15 minutes before the last.

Group rates are available for parties of 20 or more (adults: $24.25 net rate through authorized agents). Educational group rates also apply from opening day through June 30 and September through November.

👉 Purchase tickets at maidofthemist.com

🕐 Hours of Operation

The Maid of the Mist operates seasonally, generally from early May through early November, with opening dates dependent on ice conditions in the Niagara River. (Mother Nature sets the schedule. The company just goes along with it.)

2025 Season: Opened May 1, 2025 — the 140th season.

⚠️ Currently Closed: As of February 2026, the Maid of the Mist is closed for the winter season and will reopen in Spring 2026. Watch maidofthemist.com for updates on the 2026 opening date.

Typical in-season hours:

Spring/Fall Weekdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Spring/Fall Weekends: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Peak Summer: 9 a.m. – up to 8 p.m. on Saturdays
Departures: Every 15–30 minutes throughout the day

📍 How to Get There

The Maid of the Mist boards from the U.S. side only, located at:

1 Prospect Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 📞 (716) 284-8897

The nearest parking is Lot #1 at 333 Prospect Street (note: fills up fast on summer weekends). Overflow parking is available on Goat Island. The Niagara Scenic Trolley offers a hop-on/hop-off option around the park if you’d rather not hoof it.

Visitors coming from the Canadian side can cross the Rainbow Bridge on foot or by car — just bring your passport and budget a few minutes for border crossing. The boat tour departs from the U.S. side only; the Canadian equivalent is Niagara City Cruises (formerly Hornblower), operating from the Ontario side.

Accessibility: The Maid of the Mist is fully ADA accessible, including the boats, elevator, and boarding areas. Stroller parking is provided dockside.

Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi is available throughout Niagara Falls State Park — though fair warning, your phone may not love being soaked.

💬 What Visitors Are Saying

The Maid of the Mist is consistently rated as one of the top things to do in all of Niagara Falls, and it’s easy to see why. Here’s what real visitors have had to say:

“A legit once-in-a-lifetime experience, worth every penny, authentic, must-do ride. I went with my family of four and everyone left happy. It’s a simple concept: you ride a boat straight up to a massive waterfall... The boat passes the American Falls first, then goes into the Horseshoe Falls basin and just stays there. You get enveloped in blinding white mist, but it’s so awesome and loud.” — TripAdvisor reviewer, 2024

“What an amazing way to experience the splendor and power of these beautiful falls. The boat ride was handled efficiently, rain ponchos were supplied, and the captain was great. You will likely get wet to some degree — the extent is really up to you and where you decide to stand.” — TripAdvisor reviewer

“I can’t say enough. This was such an amazing experience. You get your tacky ponchos, look ridiculous, and get to marvel at the falls up close. Had such a great time. Highly recommend a waterproof camera or case so you can capture some good shots.” — TripAdvisor reviewer (5 stars)

“If you are reading this and wondering if you should do the Niagara Falls boat tour — YES YOU SHOULD!! It was only $30.25 per adult and we bought our ticket and were on the boat in less than 15 minutes. From ticket purchase to exiting the boat was approximately an hour total. I barely got wet. We were in the front of the boat in the left corner. The key is not to be the first row of people — they take the direct hit!” — TripAdvisor reviewer

“We went on this was 10 years ago and it’s still a great adventure. The boats are newer, hold up to 600 people, and are more efficient. The view of the American and Canadian Falls is fantastic — to be so close and feel the mist.” — TripAdvisor reviewer (returning visitor)

🌊 The Falls’ Verdict

Look, we live here. We’ve watched tourists climb out of their cars on Rainbow Bridge Road and just stand there with their mouths open, unable to process what they’re looking at. And we get it. The falls are genuinely, absurdly magnificent. But the Maid of the Mist takes that magnificence and turns it up to eleven by putting you directly underneath it.

Is $30.25 a lot for a 20-minute boat ride? Maybe. But it’s also about $1.50 per minute of being inside one of nature’s greatest spectacles, which by theme park math is actually a bargain. The boats are clean, electric, smooth, and crewed by professionals who have clearly seen a lot of drenched tourists and remain cheerful about it.

Pro tips from your neighbours at The Falls:

Go early — lines get long by midday in peak season. First boats of the day are the calmest and least crowded.
Front of the boat = soaked. Back of the lower deck = relatively dry. Plan accordingly.
Bring a waterproof phone case. We cannot stress this enough.
Keep your poncho — you can reuse it at Cave of the Winds and save yourself a few bucks.
Wear waterproof shoes. Your feet will thank you. Your sneakers will not.
Don’t wait for perfect weather. Misty, overcast days are actually stunning. The falls look dramatic. You’re already getting wet. Lean in.

The Falls Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Essential Niagara

The Maid of the Mist is not a tourist trap. It is the real thing. One of the few experiences in a tourist-heavy area that genuinely delivers on its promise, every time. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifteenth, standing at the base of Horseshoe Falls on that little boat in your crinkly blue poncho never gets old.