Travel to Niagara Falls from Toronto : Parenting To Go

One of the most frequent questions we hear is “How do we get from Toronto to Niagara Falls”. More often than not I confirm that they mean the Canadian side of the falls, because there is the U.S side of Niagara Falls too! If you’re trying to figure out the best way for your family to visit Niagara Falls for a day trip or stay a bit longer, I have some options to share. Travelling from Toronto to Niagara Falls is easy enough but I know it can be a bit confusing for Toronto visitors because we have different options for different times of the day!

Toronto to Niagara Falls : Best Ways to Make the Journey

Let’s break down the Toronto to Niagara Falls travel options shall we? I’ll do my best to make it as simple as possible because I know you’re rushing through this article!

What is the Best Way to get to Niagara Falls from Toronto?

There are various factors to keep in mind when attempting to answer this loaded question. If you’re looking to travel in the middle of the night then renting a car is your best bet. If you’re looking to explore during rush hour, then taking the GO Train to Niagara Falls from Union Station (or another Go Train location) would be your best bet but your are bound to a set schedule. We also have organized bus tours for those looking for some hand holding and you also have to factor in cost which depends on how big your family or friend group is. So I really can’t tell you the best way to get to Niagara Falls from Toronto but I can tell you that I try to align our travels with the GO Train schedule as frequently as possible because it’s the most convenient for us as a car-free family living in downtown Toronto.

Can you do a Day Trip from Toronto to Niagara Falls?

Absolutely! A one day trip to Niagara Falls from Toronto is easily do-able via car or train! Or private jet… if you’re fancy. We’ve done a Niagara Falls day trip quite a few times but of course spending a night at the Sheraton Hotel is always a great option , especially if you want a day at Fallsview Waterpark.

Does the GO Train Run to Niagara Falls?

Yes the GO train departs from Union Station and arrives at Niagara Falls Train Station however the direct trains are not that frequent. I time my visits around the direct Toronto to Niagara Falls train schedule as it’s the most convenient for us. However keep in mind that when the Niagara GO Train isn’t available, you can jump on the Lakeshore West GO Train to Burlington and transfer to a GO Bus Route 12 to get to Niagara. It will drop you off at the Niagara Falls Bus Terminal, across the street from the Niagara Falls Train Station.

Toronto to Niagara Falls train : Union Station Weekday departures

Union Station d 9:10 a.m. – 11:26 a.m. Niagara Falls

Union Station 10:50 p.m. – 1:12 a.m. Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls to Toronto train : Niagara Falls Weekday departures

Niagara Falls 1:09 p.m. – 3:27 p.m. Union Station

Niagara Falls 9:09 p.m. – 11:28 p.m. Union Station

* Up to date week day schedule can be found here.

Toronto to Niagara Falls GO Train schedule WEEKEND

Saturday schedule:

From Union Station at 9:03 am, 1:05 pm and 6:21 pm
From Niagara Falls GO Station at 12:04 pm, 4:04 pm and 9:06 pm

Sunday Schedule:

From Union Station at 9:03 am, 1:05 pm and 5:05 pm
From Niagara Falls GO Station at 12:04 pm, 4:04 pm and 8:17 pm

* Up to date weekend schedule can be found here.

How Much Does it Cost to Take a Train from Toronto to Niagara Falls?

It can cost as little as $10 per person but it all depends on when you’re travelling. Keep in mind that kids 12 and under ride FREE on GO Transit. As for adults travelling from Toronto Union to Niagara Falls, it costs $21.15 each way and seniors have a cheaper rate at $10.60. If you happen to have the PRESTO pass or tap with your credit card then it’s about $3 cheaper. Just remember that you have to tap on at the station you depart from and then tap off when you get out at Niagara Falls. This Trip Planner will give you the exact pricing.

On the weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and holiday Mondays, you can buy a day pass that gives y0u unlimited travel for $10. These passes are only available for purchase online.

You can buy a week day group pass as well and it comes with unlimited travel for one day. This actually works out quite decently for groups of 2 or more.

2 people – $30
3 people – $40
4 people – $50
5 people – $60

All that pricing is for the GO Train. You could explore costs on VIA Rail as well because they have sales and you might luck out with a great deal on the Toronto to Niagara Falls train.

Driving to Niagara Falls From Toronto

If you have access to a car then Niagara Fall is usually 1.5-2 hours drive from Toronto. Yes there can be accidents and delays more often than not. In fact, on a few long weekends we’ve spent 4 hours each way. But don’t let those two horror incidents deter you too much because the other 30 odd times in a car have been fine. In fact my parents drive from Niagara on the Lake to Toronto every other week to see us.

Rental cars in downtown Toronto can be pricey though so that’s something to factor in (and the gas). If you have a ZipCar or Communauto membership, there’s ways to crunch some numbers to see if it’s worth doing that because you have a flat rate and don’t need to worry about gas pricing.

Keep in mind that parking in Niagara Falls is also tedious and you don’t need a car to explore Niagara Falls. It will most likely remain parked for your entire time there. Speaking of parking, if you’re staying overnight then check the hotel packages or the Honk Mobile parking app to see overnight lots (I like that Honk shows the lots and pricing). Niagara Falls parking lots usually have a $15-35 full day option if you can find a spot and you can find hourly rates oscillating between $1.50 to $3.00. If you visit a couple times a year, then the Niagara Parking Pass at $45 is a great option because it allows unlimited day parking all year long at all 17 Niagara Parks (not overnight though).

Toronto to Niagara Falls Bus

There are a couple ways to get to Niagara Falls by Bus from Toronto. First up there are organized tours that will have a guide on the bus and will include some additional Niagara Falls attractions included. I haven’t done any so I don’t have one to recommend but you will find plenty online.

Then there are the traditional bus companies who will drop you off and there’s nothing beyond that. I’ve taken the Megabus from Toronto to Niagara Falls before and they do have sales you can jump on. Their regular rates are between $15 to 20 each way but the perk is that they have buses going nearly every hour. You also have Flixbus but they are usually pricier (though worth checking to see if there’s a sale).

And I should mention that if you’re into gambling, then Fallsview Casino has some free and nearly free bus options from Toronto to Niagara Falls if you hold one of their loyalty cards. You can find more details about the Niagara Falls casino buses here.

Special occasions | VIP style Toronto to Niagara Falls

Well sometimes you need to be bougie and live it up. Luckily for those occasions, you can travel from Toronto to Niagara Falls in a Helicopter or take private jet. You can also order a Limo service, as we have done in the past!

Well there you go! I hope this has helped y0u figure out the best way to get from Toronto to Niagara Falls. As I mentioned, my go to method is timing my travels with the direct trains from Union Station to Niagara Falls.