How to Get from Toronto to Niagara Falls (5 Easy Ways!)

If you’re wondering how to get from Toronto to Niagara Falls, you’ll be pleased to know there are a variety of affordable options for you!

Planning a trip to Niagara Falls from Toronto to see one of the most famous waterfalls in the world? Visiting one of Ontario’s top attractions has never been easier.

There are lots of ways to get from Toronto to Niagara Falls, and your best option depends on your budget, timeline, season, and who you’re travelling with. Keep reading if you want my best tips and advice on how to get to Niagara Falls!

Let’s check out all the different ways to get from Toronto to Niagara Falls and start planning your epic trip to Niagara.

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How to get from Toronto to Niagara Falls

If you want to plan a trip to Niagara Falls from Toronto, your means of transportation will depend on your budget, how much time you have, and your preferred method of travel.

Since I love to promote affordable (and easy) ways of getting around, I’m providing you with my best recommendations to get from Toronto to Niagara Falls.

For the purposes of this blog, I am not recommending a taxi or Uber, since I find it insanely expensive. 

How much is a taxi from Toronto to Niagara Falls? 

You’re looking at about $350-$500 round trip (plus tips!) and that also depends on when you go. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather put that towards dining, or fun activities while in Niagara Falls!

If you want some affordable and easy ways to get to Niagara Falls from Toronto, keep reading!

Staying overnight in Niagara Falls? Check out your best hotel options here!

1. Toronto to Niagara Falls by Car

One of the most obvious ways to get to Niagara Falls from Toronto is by car. The distance from Toronto to Niagara Falls is 130 km and without traffic, you should be there in as little as 1.5 hours.

However, during the summer months, especially on weekends, the traffic is insane. I live in Beamsville and the traffic can become so congested starting in the late morning.

Driving early in the day (I mean, as soon as possible!) is one of the best ways to get to Niagara Falls from Toronto. The drive is super easy. Just hop on the QEW towards Hamilton and stay on it until you reach Niagara Falls!

Once you reach Niagara Falls, follow the signs and exit onto ON-420/Niagara Veterans Memorial Highway East. This will take you directly into downtown Niagara Falls, with easy access to hotels or parking lots.

If you have more time to play with or if traffic is bad, take the scenic route! There are lots of beautiful scenic drives along the way to Niagara Falls, including through Grimsby, Beamsville, and even Niagara-on-the-Lake.

If you don’t have your own vehicle, you can rent a car to drive so you are in control of getting to and from Niagara Falls!

P.s. If you’re visiting Niagara Falls for the day, or weekend, or at any other point during the year, I highly recommend purchasing a Niagara Parks Annual Parking Pass. It’s $40 for a year from the date of purchase, includes parking for two vehicles of the same household, and grants you parking at 17 parking lots across Niagara Falls. When parking costs $35 at Table Rock, the pass virtually pays for itself in just one visit!

If you do decide to self-drive to Niagara Falls, leave as early as possible to avoid any traffic. If you’re visiting for the day, I recommend leaving later in the evening and staying for the fireworks in Niagara Falls at 10:00 pm. You’ll have the best chance of avoiding any traffic jams and should have smooth sailing back to Toronto!

Related: How to Get from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake

2. Toronto to Niagara Falls GO Train

The GO Train offers an awesome service from Toronto to Niagara Falls on weekends. And there are finally more direct service routes available!

The best part is, on Saturdays and Sundays, and holidays, you can get a $10 one-day pass or $15 weekend pass! This saves a TON of money!

P.s. If you’re visiting Niagara Falls for the weekend, you can now purchase a combo GO Train/WEGO ticket for $17! This includes roundtrip transportation from Toronto to Niagara Falls and a 24-hour WEGO bus pass to get you around to Niagara Falls’ best attractions with ease! Weekdays are $29 round trip for adults. Check out the Toronto to Niagara Falls Niagara Parks GO Train packages to save on your journey to the falls! Pick from one-day pass, a two-day pass, and even a pass that includes travel to Niagara-on-the-Lake!

There is also a method of transportation that includes part GO Train and part GO Bus from Burlington, but I would recommend staying on the train the entire time. The GO Bus can be a lengthy ride once traffic comes into play.

The GO Train takes roughly 2.20 hours from Union Station to Niagara GO. This offers a very stress-free way to get to Niagara Falls from Toronto, plus you’ll be saving the headache from navigating traffic and finding parking.

If you travel during the week, GO Transit finally offers a few direct train trips a day and a Toronto to Niagara Falls train and bus route, connecting in Burlington. Check out GO Transit’s schedule prior to planning your trip!

The total travel time for this trip is around 2.20 hours one way for a direct GO Train ride, or closer to three hours if you are connecting by bus.

Tickets during the week cost $21.15 for one adult, one way ($42.30 round trip). However, if it’s more than just yourself travelling, you can save some money with Go Transit’s promotions! Also, if you have PRESTO, this will be less expensive.

GO Transit has some awesome money-saving promotions on if you’re travelling as a group during the week. Check out their Weekday Pass for groups up to 5. This is fantastic if you’re planning to travel during the week, but keep in mind this promotion doesn’t include travel on holidays.

How much is the train from Toronto to Niagara Falls?

• Weekdays: $21.45 each way for single riders
• Weekdays: $30 Weekday Pass for 2 riders
• Weekdays: $40 Weekday Pass for 3 riders
• Weekdays: $50 Weekday Pass for 4 riders
• Weekdays: $60 Weekday Pass for 5 riders
• Weekends: $10 One-Day Pass (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
• Weekends: $15 Weekend Pass (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
• GO Train/WEGO Combo Ticket: Packages available starting at $17 on weekends including a 24-hour WEGO pass. Check out Toronto to Niagara Falls train packages!

3. Toronto to Niagara Falls by VIA Rail

You also have an option to take the VIA Rail from Toronto to Niagara Falls. The only downside is there is only one train a day. 

It leaves Union at 8:20 am and arrives in Niagara Falls two hours later at 10:20 and returns to Toronto at 5:45 pm.

The VIA Rail option from Toronto is also more expensive. Base fares are $25 each way, so you’re looking at $50 roundtrip. 

Travelling from Toronto this way gives you roughly 7 hours in Niagara Falls, which is still plenty of time to see and do all the fun activities the area is best known for, like Journey Behind the Falls and the Whirlpool Aero Car!

Related: The Best Free Things to do in Niagara Falls (From a Local!)

4. Megabus to Niagara Falls from Toronto

Another affordable option to get from Toronto to Niagara Falls is by taking the bus.

Megabus is an inexpensive and reliable option with 30 daily departures during the week from Toronto Union Station. These busses offer a direct service to Niagara Falls and require no transfers!

A typical journey is just under 2 hours, depending on the traffic.

Tickets start at $19.99 each way plus a $3.99 booking fee (and any additional add-ons you may select), so you’re looking at just under $50 with tax. You can use the Megabus low-fare finder to help plan your journey. Some tickets are offered even lower, at $14.99, but honestly the times aren’t preferable at all, in my opinion. 

Related: Top 5 Ways to Save Money in Niagara Falls

5. Toronto to Niagara Falls Day Tour

For the easiest way to get from Toronto to Niagara Falls and have all your transportation and activities covered, book a tour to Niagara Falls from Toronto!

Your options are really endless with Niagara Falls tours. Pick from awesome excursions and activities, a visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake, a boat cruise with admission to attractions, and so much more!

Booking a day tour from Toronto takes all the planning off your hands! Tours are also a great idea if you have limited time and want to maximize your visit and see some of the top Niagara Falls attractions. Admission tickets are included in these tours, so you won’t have to coordinate any of that.

• This Niagara Falls tour from Toronto includes a day trip to some of the best sights and views of the Niagara Gorge and a visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake. It’s one of the most popular tours!
• Experience the best sights of Niagara Falls including maple syrup tastings and a ride on Hornblower Niagara with this Niagara Falls day tour from Toronto.
• How about a Niagara Falls day trip with a boat cruise, lunch, a sampling of Niagara wines, and free time to explore? Check out this highly rated Niagara Falls tour from Toronto!
• Celebrating something special? Book an evening tour with boat cruise and Fallsview dinner with this fun day tour in Niagara Falls from Toronto!

Related Posts

• 15+ Date Night Ideas in Niagara Falls for Under $50
• Best Places to Eat for Cheap in Niagara Falls
• 10+ Facts About Niagara Falls (You Probably Didn’t Know About!)
• Take an Unforgettable Ride on the Whirlpool Aero Car!
• Take a Journey Behind the Falls

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