Niagara Falls To Niagara-On-The-Lake: The Best Travel Options By A Local 2025

As a professional tour guide in Niagara Falls, I always tell my guests to enjoy a day trip from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake if they have an extra day during their visit to Niagara Falls. I live in Niagara Falls but spend a lot of time visiting Niagara-on-the-Lake and absolutely adore it.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a beautiful, historic, and quaint town surrounded by stunning wine land. It makes for a calming respite from the tourist-busy, built-up Niagara Falls.

Come with me and I’ll show you how to get there!

Niagara Falls to Niagara-On-The-Lake

So, how can you get from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake? 

There are 5 modes of transport: car, bus, taxi/Uber/Lyft, biking, and walking. These all have their pros and cons for you to consider, so let me guide you through them.

By Car – The Fastest Way

Starting at the Falls themselves, at Table Rock Centre, driving your car to Niagara-on-the-Lake takes about 35 minutes. You can take the route through the vineyards, or follow the Niagara Parkway along the Niagara River. If you take the Parkway, there are lovely picnic spots along the river and other attractions to stop at as you go.

To make a full day out of your trip, I recommend stopping at the Laura Secord Homestead, the McFarland House, or a vineyard on your way to Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Or if you only have time for a pit-stop, get an ice cream or some fresh produce at Walker’s Country Market.

The only con for taking a car is the parking situation when you get there. Street parking and parking lots charge parking fees and fill quickly on weekends.

By Bus – The Cheapest Way

If you’re starting from the bus station at Table Rock Centre, you will take the WEGO 603 green line to the Floral Clock which takes 45 minutes. Then, you will transfer to the WEGO 604 orange line/Niagara-on-the-Lake shuttle bus that will take you the rest of the way to Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This orange line going one-way takes 30 minutes but only arrives once per hour, so check bus schedules for exact timings.

How long it takes to get from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake by bus depends on how long your transfer takes, but I would give it at least 1h 30min.

The WEGO bus system is operated by Niagara Parks, and is separate from the Niagara city buses. 

So, to access this bus route, you will need to buy either a WEGO Pass. You can get a 24-hour WEGO Pass for $13+tax, or 48-hours for $17+tax for adults. Then, when you arrive at the Floral Clock you will have to pay extra for the WEGO Niagara-on-the-Lake shuttle bus: $12 one-way and $24 round-trip.

Or, you can get one of the three Niagara Parks Passes, which also gain you entry into various Niagara Parks attractions. However, only the Adventure Pass PLUS, includes the fare for the shuttle bus to Niagara-on-the-Lake. 

The WEGO public bus system does not currently show up on Google Maps, so talk to any Niagara Parks info centre to get a map and more information. However, you could download the Transit: Bus & Train Times app (it’s green with a curvy line), and then you can access all local bus and train routes in the Niagara region.

Travelling by bus is the cheapest way to get from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake without a car.

By Shuttle – The Confusing Way

People will talk about the Niagara-on-the-Lake Shuttle, but I must make it clear:

There is NO DIRECT SHUTTLE from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake. The ONLY shuttle is the one outlined above that leaves from the Floral Clock near Queenston and goes to Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake. We call this the WEGO Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) Shuttle.

When you arrive at the Fort George stop, you are only an 8 minute walk from the downtown of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

However, if you are in Niagara Falls, New York, USA, there is a Discover Niagara Shuttle from the Aquarium of Niagara to Old Fort Niagara (across the river from Niagara-on-the-Lake) which takes about 42 minutes. But, it does NOT cross into Canada and therefore does NOT go to Niagara-on-the-Lake.

By Taxi, Uber, or Lyft – The Convenient Way

You can enjoy the speed and comfort of a car without the parking fees and hassle by travelling by taxi, Uber or Lyft. 

Approximate Cost going from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake one-way in 2024:

• Taxi – $45+
• Uber – $45
• Lyft – $40

Though the cost is higher than the other options, it might be a good option for you if there’s a group of you sharing the cost and not wanting to get a rental car. To use Uber and Lyft, you’ll have to download their app and create an account to order a pick-up.

Taking a taxi, Uber, or Lyft is super convenient as they pick you up and drop you off exactly where you want.

By Trail – The Adventurous Way

The Niagara River Recreational Trail is a paved trail that runs the entire length of the Niagara River, from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake. But, if you started at the Table Rock Welcome Centre, right at the Falls, and followed the trail downriver along the edge of the gorge, you would have an adventurous 6 hour walk (approximately) or about a 2 hour bike ride!

Along the way, you could stop at any of these attractions:

• White Water Walk 
• Whirlpool Aero Car
• Viewpoint of the Whirlpool at the Whirlpool Adventure Course
• Butterfly Conservatory
• Botanical Gardens
• The Floral Clock
• Queenston Heights Park (also a battlefield from the War of 1812)
• Laura Secord Homestead Museum in Queenston
• McFarland House Museum 
• Walker’s Country Market for some ice cream

The trail itself is very flat and easy until you reach the Niagara Escarpment between Queenston Heights Park and the village of Queenston. If you’re heading to Niagara-on-the-Lake, you’ve got a lovely slope down to the bottom, otherwise you’re trudging all the way to the top, but it is over fairly quickly and you get an amazing view from the top.

To make this bike trip from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake even more leisurely, consider renting an electric bike (e-bike).

Where To Stay in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake

A day trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake from Niagara Falls is very doable, but if you’d like to spend more time in either area, I’ve got my top accommodation recommendations for you!

Niagara Falls Accommodations

If you need ideas of where to stay in Niagara Falls, Canada, here are my top picks.

➡️ The Marriott Fallsview & Spa

➡️ The Grandview Boutique Hotel

Niagara-on-the-Lake Accommodations

Many people stay in Niagara-on-the-Lake to enjoy the quaint town and explore the wine region that surrounds it. To immerse yourself in the culture of the region, these are my top accommodation picks:

➡️ Suites On King – Lovely apartment-style suites are available in the heart of the town, just around the corner from Queen Street. These suites have everything you could want – including a balcony – without breaking the bank. Free parking and walking distance to everything downtown makes this ideal location a hidden gem!

➡️ Prince of Wales – Feel like royalty in the heart of town by staying at this Victorian-era hotel that comes with a spa, event rooms, and fine dining featuring local food and wines. Then step out your door and take a horse-drawn carriage tour around the gorgeous town.

➡️ Darlington House – With gardens and parks on your doorstep, this stunning B&B retreat provides an elegant and comfortable stay. Each room includes a seating area, ensuite bathroom, TV with streaming services, and a fireplace to cozy up by in the winter. The cherry on top is that their breakfasts are superb! They offer à la carte, full English/Irish, or American breakfast options. This is a great spot from which to launch your Niagara-on-the-Lake adventures.

FAQs

Can you walk from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Niagara Falls?

Yes, but it will probably take you about 6 hours to walk the 25 km/15.5 miles. The Niagara River Recreational Trail is a paved path that takes you along the river between Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls.

Is Niagara-on-the-Lake worth going to?

Absolutely! There are tons of things to see and do! You could explore the elegant town by shopping the boutique stores along Queen Street, taking a horse-drawn carriage tour, playing golf on the oldest golf course in North America, seeing Fort George, or visiting many of the stunning wineries in the Niagara-on-the-Lake region.

Do you need a car in Niagara-on-the-Lake?

No, once you arrive in Niagara-on-the-Lake, you do not need a car to explore all the main attractions. However, a car is recommended to get to the town and to be able to explore the area at your own pace.

How far is Niagara-on-the-Lake from the Falls?

By car along the Niagara parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake is 25 km/15.5 miles from the Niagara Falls and it takes about 33 minutes to drive from one to the other.

Sum-up

I always say the best way to get from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake is by car so you can stop at historical attractions or wineries (with a designated driver) along the way and get to travel at your own pace.

But, traveling to Niagara-on-the-Lake by bus in the summer is simple and cheap, without the hassle of parking when you get there. Alternatively, you can take a taxi, Uber, or Lyft for a higher cost but greater convenience.

For the fitness fanatics out there, don’t forget about the Niagara River Recreational Trail! Biking or walking to Niagara-on-the-Lake could be a great adventure with lots to see and do along the way. I would bring a picnic with you to enjoy the world-class parkland along the Niagara River.

I hope you have a fantastic time getting from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake and exploring this historical region of Ontario!