Visit

So You Want to Get to Niagara Falls: A Complete Guide to Tours, Buses, Trains & Getting Here Without Losing Your Mind

Every way to arrive — from a sleeper bus out of Manhattan to a train that crosses an international border at dawn

James P Fitzsimmons

22 Feb 2026 — 8 min read

Niagara Falls gets around 12 million visitors a year. Some of them drive themselves. Some fly into Buffalo. And a surprising number of them board a coach bus in Midtown Manhattan at midnight, sleep through the Thruway, and wake up to the sound of 600,000 gallons of water per second. There is no wrong way to arrive here — as long as you actually arrive.

This guide covers every major way to get to Niagara Falls: the organized tours, the local operators, the trains, the buses, and a few options you probably haven’t considered. Whether you’re coming from New York City, Toronto, Boston, Chicago, or just down the road in Buffalo, there’s a trip that fits your schedule, your budget, and your tolerance for group travel.

🚌 Part One: Organized Group Tours From Major Cities

These are fully planned trips — transportation, guide, and usually a Maid of the Mist ticket — sold as a package. Great for first-timers, international visitors, or anyone who’d rather not deal with parking on a summer Saturday.

From New York City

New York is by far the most popular departure point for Niagara tours. It’s about an 8-hour drive, which means tour companies have gotten very creative about how they handle the travel time. Overnight buses are common — you depart late, sleep on the coach, and arrive at the Falls at sunrise feeling absolutely fine and not at all like a pretzel.

Royal City Tours One of the better-regarded NYC-based operators, Royal City offers two departure options: an 11:30 PM overnight coach (arrive at dawn, see the morning mist rainbows) or a 7:00 AM daytime departure that includes the evening light show and seasonal fireworks. Both include over five hours at the Falls, Maid of the Mist (seasonal), and access to Goat Island, Luna Island, and multiple observation decks. U.S. side only — the vehicle doesn’t cross into Canada, but guests can walk over independently.

Golden Bus Tours Specializes in NYC-to-Niagara packages with both weekday and weekend departures. Multiple package tiers available, from basic transport to full-day guided experiences with attraction tickets included.

Tours4Fun A large aggregator offering 2-day and multi-day packages from New York and New Jersey, including popular 3-day East Coast combos that combine Niagara Falls with Washington D.C. and Philadelphia. Good for visitors trying to pack multiple destinations into one trip.

TakeTours Departures from New York, New Jersey, and Jersey City with a range of tour lengths from 1-day to 5-day packages. Strong customer reviews and multilingual guides. Their 3-day East Coast Explorer (Niagara + D.C. + Philadelphia) is a bestseller.

Viator Viator acts as a booking platform for dozens of Niagara tour operators. You’ll find everything from bare-bones overnight coaches ($50–80) to premium guided day tours with cave access and boat rides included. Worth browsing for competitive pricing and verified reviews.

NiagaraFalls.tours A dedicated Niagara tour platform with departures from New York, Boston, Buffalo, Toronto, Chicago, and Washington D.C. Good for comparing durations (1-day, 2-day, 2–3 day, and 5–10 day options) side by side.

From Boston

Boston is roughly 8–9 hours from Niagara by road — not a quick trip, but absolutely doable as an overnight or 2-day excursion. NiagaraFalls.tours offers a Boston departure described by one reviewer as “the only tour from Boston to Niagara Falls” — so options are more limited than from NYC. Flying into Buffalo (BUF) from Boston is often the smarter move, with a short hop followed by a 30-minute drive or shuttle to the Falls.

From Toronto

Toronto is the closest major city to the Canadian side of the Falls — just 80 miles / 130 km down the QEW, about 1.5 hours in reasonable traffic (add 30–45 minutes on a summer weekend because everyone in the Greater Toronto Area has the same idea at the same time).

Tours4Fun Toronto Departures Multiple day-trip options from Toronto, often including the Canadian side highlights: Niagara City Cruises (formerly Hornblower), Journey Behind the Falls, Clifton Hill, Skylon Tower, and wine tastings in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Day tours from Toronto typically cost $60–120 CAD and often include hotel pickup. The short travel time makes this one of the easier day-trip options in Ontario.

From Chicago

Chicago is 530 miles / ~8–9 hours from Niagara Falls. Not a day trip. But multi-day packages make it very feasible as a long weekend.

NiagaraFalls.tours – Chicago Departures Offers a 4-day tour covering Niagara Falls (both sides), Toronto (CN Tower, city tour), and Cleveland (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame). A proper road trip for those who want to pack in the whole Great Lakes corridor.

From Washington D.C. and Philadelphia

Both cities are 8–9 hours from Niagara by road. Most tour operators bundle these as multi-day East Coast tours that combine D.C., Philly, and Niagara into a 3–5 day itinerary.

🏔️ Part Two: Local Tour Operators at the Falls

Already in Niagara Falls — or arriving by train, plane, or your own car? These local operators run excellent guided tours right from the Falls themselves, on both sides of the border.

Gray Line Niagara Falls

The biggest name in local Niagara Falls tours, with over 30 years of local operation and the backing of the global Gray Line brand. They run on both sides of the border, with departures from Niagara Falls, NY and Niagara Falls, ON (including pickup at the Sheraton Fallsview on the Canadian side).

Tour options include a 4-hour USA tour (Maid of the Mist + Cave of the Winds Hurricane Deck, from ~$99), a 4.5-hour Canadian side tour (Niagara City Cruises + maple syrup and chocolate tasting + commentary, starting around $49), a 6.5-hour Canadian full-day (boat ride, Clifton Hill, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Parks Power Station), and cross-border tours for those who want to see both sides in one day. Guides speak over 14 languages. Free cancellation up to 24 hours. Highly rated.

👉 Browse all Gray Line Niagara Falls tours

Over the Falls Tours

A family-owned and operated local tour company based in Niagara Falls, NY, in business since 1994. They specialize in USA-side tours and combination packages. Phone: (716) 283-8900 / Toll Free: (877) 783-8900. Strong local reputation and a good option for custom or group arrangements.

Bedore Tours

A well-established Western New York operator based in North Tonawanda (just south of Niagara Falls), covering the Falls, Buffalo, and the wider region. Popular for group tours, cultural itineraries, and custom charters. Tour guides like “Martha,” “Corey,” and “Eric” have their own fan clubs in the TripAdvisor reviews. Phone: (716) 696-3200 / Toll Free: (800) 538-8433.

Niagara Falls Walking Tours

Located at 307 Prospect Street, right in the heart of Niagara Falls State Park. Offers historical, family-friendly, and — their words — “hysterical” walking tours. A great option for those who want to slow down and actually learn the stories behind the falls rather than just photograph them. Phone: (716) 246-9080.

Explore Niagara – Walking Tours

A Niagara Falls–based walking tour company with experienced local guides. Covers the best of the American side with insights and information you won’t find on a bus.

D&F Travel

Buffalo-based (331 Alberta Drive, Amherst) day trip and group tour operator serving Western New York. Good for organized group travel from the Buffalo area. Phone: (716) 835-9227.

Niagara Scenic Tours / Know How Tours

Serving Western New York for over 90 years, based in Hamburg, NY. A locally trusted charter and tour company. Phone: (716) 648-7766.

🚂 Part Three: Getting Here by Train

Here’s the secret weapon that not enough people know about: you can take a train to Niagara Falls, and it is a genuinely lovely way to travel.

The Amtrak Maple Leaf

The Maple Leaf is an international passenger train jointly operated by Amtrak and VIA Rail, running daily between New York Penn Station and Toronto Union Station. It stops at both Niagara Falls, NY and Niagara Falls, ON — making it the only way to arrive at the Falls by rail from multiple directions on the same train.

The full NYC–Toronto journey is about 12–13 hours (including customs at the border), but if you’re just going NYC to Niagara Falls, NY, it’s a 9.5-hour trip. The train departs Penn Station at 8:20 AM daily and arrives in Niagara Falls, NY in the early evening.

What’s onboard: Café car (Amtrak-managed on the U.S. side, VIA Rail on the Canadian side after the border), WiFi, electrical outlets at every seat, reclining coaches with plenty of legroom. Business class available with leather seating, footrests, and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.

Border crossing: At Niagara Falls, all passengers deboard for customs and immigration inspection before reboarding. This takes roughly 1–2 hours and you must have your passport (or passport card for U.S./Canadian citizens). The Amtrak crew hands off to a VIA Rail crew after the border.

🍁 Pro tip: For the best Hudson River views, sit on the left side of the train heading northbound. The scenery through the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes region is genuinely spectacular — it’s almost worth the trip on its own.

👉 Book the Maple Leaf at Amtrak.com 👉 VIA Rail information for Canadian passengers

The Empire Service

Also operated by Amtrak, the Empire Service runs between New York City and Niagara Falls, NY (with no Canadian leg). It shares some of the same route and stops as the Maple Leaf through the Hudson Valley and upstate New York.

🚌 Part Four: Getting Here by Bus

Greyhound

Greyhound operates regular service to Niagara Falls, NY from major Northeast and Midwest cities. The bus terminal is at 100 Walnut Avenue in downtown Niagara Falls, NY — about a mile from the Falls, walkable or a short Uber away.

Approximate fares and travel times:

New York City to Niagara Falls: 8–9 hours, ~$45–75 one-way depending on advance booking
Buffalo to Niagara Falls: 45 minutes, ~$10–20 one-way
Toronto to Niagara Falls: 2.5 hours (border crossing included), ~$25–40 one-way

✈️ Part Five: Getting Here by Plane

The closest and most convenient airport is Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF), just 25–30 minutes from the Falls by car or shuttle. It’s served by major domestic carriers including Southwest, Delta, United, American, JetBlue, and Spirit.

Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) is 90 minutes from Niagara Falls, Ontario and offers far more international flight options — useful if you’re coming from outside North America.

From the airport, options include rental cars, taxis, Uber/Lyft, and shuttle services. Several tour operators also offer airport pickup.

🛂 Important: Passports and the Border

If you’re planning to cross from the U.S. side to the Canadian side (or vice versa), you need a valid passport — or, for U.S./Canadian citizens crossing by land or sea, a passport card. This applies even if you’re just walking across the Rainbow Bridge for an hour. U.S. children 15 and under can use a birth certificate when accompanied by a parent.

Most tour operators that operate only on the U.S. side will note this clearly — the bus and guide don’t cross, but you can walk across independently and return to your group at the arranged time. Cross-border tours (like Gray Line’s) handle the border formalities as part of the experience.

💡 Quick Comparison: Which Option Is Right for You?

You’re in NYC and want the easiest possible day trip: Take a Royal City Tours or Golden Bus Tours overnight coach. Leave late, arrive early, sleep on the bus, spend the day at the Falls, home by midnight.

You want to see both the U.S. and Canadian sides properly: Book a Gray Line cross-border full-day tour from either side of the border. They handle everything including border crossing.

You’re already in Buffalo: Bedore Tours, Over the Falls Tours, or Gray Line offer great half-day and full-day options from the local area.

You love trains and scenery: Take the Amtrak Maple Leaf from NYC. Spend the whole day watching the Hudson River and upstate New York roll by, arrive at dusk, and cross the border into Canada in the morning.

You’re coming from Toronto for the day: Drive the QEW or book a day tour from Toronto — it’s 90 minutes and there are dozens of operators who will include boat tickets and wine tasting in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

You want a multi-day trip from the Midwest or East Coast: Look at the multi-day packages from TakeTours, Tours4Fun, or NiagaraFalls.tours, which bundle Niagara with D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, Toronto, or all of the above.

🔗 All the Links

Organized Tour Operators (from major cities):

Local Tour Operators (at the Falls):

By Train:

By Bus:

Greyhound

Airports:

🌊 The Falls — “We cover both sides so you don’t have to cross in this weather.”