A complete guide to Niagara Falls State Park (US side)

Traveling is always really exciting and if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to do some research beforehand to ensure you get the most out of your trip. These are our approved tips that will help make your travel planning easier and more relaxed. 

This complete guide to Niagara Falls will provide you with our personal recommendations from Niagara Falls hotels, Niagara Falls boat tours, the best locations for Niagara Falls photos and much more. 

After reading this complete guide to Niagara Falls, you will be extra prepared and ready to make beautiful memories during your trip to Niagara Falls State Park. 

This post is all about Niagara falls tips that every visitor should know before traveling to Niagara Falls State Park. 

A complete guide to Niagara Falls State Park.

Best Niagara Falls Tips

What is the best time to go to Niagara Falls State Park?

Each season has its own charm and advantages while visiting Niagara Falls. 

Late spring to early fall (May to September) has pleasant temperatures (60°F to 80°F/ 15°C to 27°C), making it perfect for outdoor activities. Attractions are also fully open from Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, boat tours and zip-lining. The falls are at their most powerful in spring (due to snowmelt) and water flow remains impressive throughout summer. However in this period there are larger crowds, especially in July and August. 

Autumn is best for foliage. The air is mild with cool temperatures ( 50°F to 70°F/ 10°C to 21°C). The beautiful fall colors enhance the scenery, making it great for photography and hiking. Fewer tourists compared to the summer peak, will make your visit more peaceful.

The winter (November to March), has freezing temperatures (15°F to 32°F/ -9°C to 0°C). The mist from the falls can create stunning ice formations, making these winter landscapes magical. While some attractions are closed, such as boat tours, you can still enjoy quieter experiences, and activities such as the Festival of Lights in December. You’ll find that accommodation prices are lower in this period. 

Early spring (April) is still chilly, but improving as the snow melts (40°F to 60°F/ 5°C to 15°C). Crowds are light, making it one of the most affordable and peaceful times to visit. You may get good hotel deals, but some attractions won’t be fully operational.

In conclusion, June to August is the best time for warm weather and full access to all activities, while September to October offers a quieter, scenic experience. For fewer crowds and budget-friendly travel, spring or winter might suit you better.

How to prepare?

Before you visit Niagara Falls State Park, you need to pack. Thankfully you can find our free downloadable packing list which will make this step so much easier! 

To get the most out of your trip, you might want to include these Niagara Falls essentials. 

Packing should primarily reflect the season in which you’re visiting. If you’re visiting in the fall/ winter, bring warm, layered clothing. When visiting in the summer months, bring light and breezy clothing with you.

However, you should add a few evergreen items to your suitcase regardless of when you go. These are your Niagara Falls essentials. 

Comfortable clothing and reliable footwear are a must! Niagara Falls State Park is pedestrian-friendly, so you may walk more than expected (even if only to capture that perfect Niagara Falls Photo). 

You might not need it, but you may want it.

In this blog, we solely explore the Us side of Niagara Falls. But let us say you would like to also visit the Canadian side, then make sure to bring your passport. 

Bringing your valid passport allows you to explore both sides of the Falls and experience each country’s unique attractions, vistas, and historical sites.

Accessibility of the park 

The park is very accessible for those that use wheelchairs. All of the attractions, minus some areas of Cave of the Winds, and most walkways are fully accessible. Wheelchairs are also available for free on a first-come, first-served basis at the visitor center.

How to get there?

Flying to Niagara Falls 

If you’re visiting from the US, the best airport to visit Niagara Falls is the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport (BUF). American, United, Delta, and Southwest all fly into this airport and have non-stop flights from many major destinations.

For Canadians, you could definitely fly into this airport as well, as it is the closest to both sides of Niagara Falls, but the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) may be cheaper and easier for you.

Driving to Niagara Falls 

The US side of Niagara Falls is located very close to I-90, a major US Interstate highway that runs through many US cities (including Buffalo), making it a convenient road trip stop.

Note: Many highways in this area have tolls, so if you do not want to take a toll road, make sure to turn off tolls on Google Maps.

How to get around?

As we mentioned before, Niagara Falls State Park is pretty pedestrian- friendly. So once actually in the park, you can easily park your car in one spot and walk to all the sights. 

You have a few options. If you stay at a hotel, you can leave your car parked there. Or you can use one of the four major parking lots, one of which allows RVs and buses. Find the information here.

Now let’s say you flew to Niagara Falls. This gives you either the option of renting a car or taking a Lyft/ uber or other taxi service. Depending on where you’re staying, this may not be super cheap, but it may still be cheaper than renting a car. We suggest doing some price comparison using the Lyft Fare Estimator.

Another option is to use the Niagara Scenic Trolley, which will take you around the park. You can hop on and off as you please. Tickets cost $3 per adult and $2 for children over 5. 

And lastly, there are many tours that exist that will drive you all around the park. More about that later in our blog.

Where to stay?

We stayed at the Wingate by Wyndham hotel and were very pleased. This is a family friendly hotel that is within walking distance from the main locations in Niagara Falls. So we were able to park the car here and walk to the falls with ease. 

Depending on what your preferences are, you can find the perfect hotel for you on Booking.com. 

We recommend booking at least one night as you’ll want to spend a full day and night at the park to get the true experience of the US side of Niagara Falls. We personally spent 2 nights and three days at the park and this was perfect!

Best locations

Niagara Falls is composed of three waterfalls. From largest to smallest, it contains: the Horseshoe Falls (also known as the Canadian Falls), American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

Niagara Falls is not the tallest waterfall in the world; however, the beauty of the Falls comes from its height and the incredible volume of water running over the Falls at a given time. During periods of peak flow in the summer and fall, more than 700,000 gallons of water per second pour over Niagara Falls.

What are the best viewpoints?

1. Maid of the Mist

The Maid of the Mist Boat Tour is the most iconic attraction on the US side of Niagara Falls. Get up and close to the Horseshoe Falls. Tickets are $28.25 as of the time of writing this blog. Find more on tickets Here.

Tickets can be purchased in advance but you’ll still have to wait in line. So it is recommended to come as early as possible. A poncho will be given to you and you’ll be taken to the elevator that leads to the boarding area. Once you board the boat, it will be packed. Nevertheless, the views that you will witness during the ride are exquisite! 

2. Crow’s nest

After the ride, make sure to go up to the Crows Nest, which are stairs you’ll see to your right after getting off the boat. It is a smaller version of Cave of the Winds, but at American falls.

3. Niagara Observation Tower (Prospect Point Tower)

Your boat ticket also includes the Observation Tower, which is just at the top of the elevator you’ll ride up, so don’t forget to stop and enjoy the views from higher up too! If you didn’t book the boat ride, it will cost $1.25.

4. Terrapin Point

Terrapin Point is the closest and best viewpoint of Horseshoe Falls on the US side and is located on Goat Island, just a quick walk away from the second parking lot.

5. Nikola Tesla Monument

Just a short walk from Terrapin Point is the Nikola Tesla Monument, which not only has some nice views of Bridal Veil Falls and American Falls, but also features a statue of Nikola Tesla.

6. Luna Island

Luna Island is an island between Bridal Veil and American Falls and can be accessed from Goat Island, via a bridge. Once on the island, there are viewing areas on three sides of the island, letting you see Bridal Veil Falls from above (as well as the Cave of the Winds decks below) and a great view of the top and side of American Falls.

7. Cave of the Winds

Cave of the Winds offers an excellent viewpoint and is a wonderful excursion to book. We had so much fun! For us, this was probably our favorite part! 

Cave of the Winds is located on Goat Island and despite its name, it is not actually a cave. In the 1800’s there was a rock overhang which felt like a cave and allowed people to stand under the falls. However, the “cave” collapsed in the early 1900’s, but they continued calling it a cave.

This attraction is a series of wooden walkways that lets you walk right up to the Bridal Falls. Stand on the Hurricane deck and have a shower under the falls.The feeling is unbelievable.  

You cannot get your tickets in advance. You can buy them on location at the window and per group, you’ll be called forward to start the tour. You can find the ticket prices here. We find this worth every penny.

You’ll first be taken to a small museum exhibit where you’ll be shown a short video about the history of Niagara Falls. This was very interesting and educational.

You’ll be given a pocho and the next part of the tour can begin. 

Once on the decks, you can stay as long as you like, which makes the experience even better.

8. See Niagara falls a night

The view of Niagara falls at night deserves a spot in itself. From dusk till 2 AM, the falls are lit up with different colors signifying different charities or causes. These photos are from when we went there during the fourth of July. 

Additional things to do in Niagara Falls

1. Whirlpool State Park

This state park is home to a natural whirlpool in the river, which you can see along the 3.5 mile Niagara Gorge Rim Trail and Whirlpool Rapids Loop. This park is located only about 10 minutes from Niagara Falls, but is much less visited. 

2. Devil’s Hole State Park

Devil’s Hole State Park is another free state park that offers more views of the Niagara River and Gorge. It’s very close to Whirlpool State Park with a popular hike between both parks along the 5 mile Devil’s Hole and Whirlpool Trail.

3. Three Sisters Islands

Three historic walking bridges link Goat Island to the Three Sisters Islands where you get a unique view of the upper rapids as the water races for the Falls.

4. Fort Niagara State Park

Fort Niagara State Park is located on both the Niagara River and Lake Ontario and is home to Old Fort Niagara, which is the oldest continuously occupied military site in North America. The fort was important for many years due to its location on the Great Lakes, but with the completion of the Erie Canal, it became less utilized, although it still remained an active military post. Find more information here.

5. Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center

The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center is an important piece of history, sharing stories from the Underground Railroad in Niagara Falls. This museum has interactive exhibits that can be explored in about an hour. Find more information here.