Most visitors to Niagara Falls arrive by car and need a place to park during their visit. We’ll try and help you figure out where the best place for Niagara Falls Parking actually is. Last updated April 11th 2024.
Niagara Falls Parking USA–
PAID PARKING
Paid parking offers convenience when visiting our area especially during the busy months of July and August. On the USA side of Niagara Falls you can find parking at one of the three lots managed by Niagara Falls State Park.
Parking Lot #1 is the closest parking to Prospect Point where you can board the Maid of the Mist boat ride and view the American Falls up close. It is very convenient and the price fluctuates according to the season. For mapping on your mobile device use: Niagara Falls Visitor Center Parking Lot 1 Niagara Falls NY.
Parking Lot #2 is located on Goat Island and is very convenient if you want to visit the Cave of the Winds and Terrapin Point. For mapping on your mobile device use: Goat Island Parking Area Goat Island Rd Niagara Falls NY.
Parking Lot #3 is at the east end of Goat Island is fine if you are visiting Goat Island only and don’t mind walking ten to fifteen minutes to view the Falls. Quite often there is no fee to park at lot #3. If you decide you want to park at lot #2 or #3 on Goat Island, signage will direct you to Lot #2 and there are two options- Pay and park at #2 or during the off season there is a good chance the booth at lot 3 is not collecting fees. At the entrance to Lot #2 you will see signage pointing to Lot #3 (keep left). For mapping on your mobile device use: Parking Lot 3, 50 Goat Island Rd, Niagara Falls, NY. Parking lot #3 is the only lot that accepts RV’s at Niagara Falls State Park.
If you would like to pay a lower rate yet still be close to Prospect Point we recommend the One Niagara Welcome Center. This privately owned facility is adjacent to the Niagara Falls State Park Lot#1 and offers ample parking. They have a great food court and gift shopping is available. For mapping on your mobile device use: 360 Rainbow Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY.
PARKING IS CURRENTLY $10.00 per vehicle at State Parking lots #1 & #2.
FREE PARKING – If you know where to look you can typically find free or discounted parking near the Falls. There are usually a few open spots and metered parking available curbside on Old Falls Street, Buffalo Avenue or Old Main Street during the off season. Remember that you cannot park overnight on city streets. Downstream of the Rainbow Bridge there is free parking at the Power Plant Ruins site. This is a great place to park if you plan on spending the entire day at the park. From the Power Ruins site to Three Sisters Islands is 1.5 miles. If you stop near the Cave of the Winds and Terrapin Point the route is two miles in length and is a 36 minute walk each way.
Please do not attempt to park in a private parking area and be sure to check signage where you park as some areas now request credit card payment at kiosks that are barely visible. Unauthorized vehicles do get towed and that will ruin your visit.
Niagara Falls Parking CANADA-
PAID PARKING
If you are interested in viewing Niagara Falls from Canada you will need to park near Queen Victoria Park. Niagara Parks of Ontario manages the park and manages the parking facility near Table Rock. The entry point is behind the Niagara Parks Power Station. For mapping purposes use 7005 Niagara Pkwy, Niagara Falls, Canada. Depending on which direction you are coming from you turn onto Fraser Hill and the entrance for parking will be on your right. During the off season this lot offers the most convenient parking close to the brink of the Canadian Falls. However during the busy season the lot fills quickly and you may be directed to a satellite lot and be offered to take a shuttle to the Table Rock Visitor Centre. This can be time consuming and you may want to consider alternatives.
Other paid parking options include the Skylon Tower parking or the Clifton Hill parking facility. Both facilities offer secure parking and have their advantages and disadvantages. In order to get to Queen Victoria Park you do have to walk downhill to get there and the change of elevation is about 200 feet/60 meters. If you plan on visiting Clifton Hill the choice is simple and use 4960 Clifton Hill Parking, Niagara Falls Canada on your mobile device. For directions to the Skylon Tower use: Skylon Parking Area A, 5200 Robinson St, Niagara Falls, Canada. The Skylon parking area adjoins Robinson Street which offers a convenient foot path directly to the park.
There are options at various local attractions which allow you to either pay for parking by credit card or get free parking depending on the attraction. The image above displays a device which allows credit card payment. To utilize this option scan the QR code using the camera on your mobile phone. As of this writing on 4-11-2024 parking is $5.35 per hour in Canadian dollars.
For reference purposes it is 2.2km/1.3 miles from the Power Station to the Rainbow Bridge. Walking between the two points would take 26 minutes each way.
Parking is currently $35.00 per vehicle at the Niagara Parks parking area adjacent to the Power Station – (Falls Parking, Lot A). This fee covers parking at all Niagara Parks attractions in Niagara Falls for 1 calendar day. Overnight parking is not permitted. More options available at Niagara Parks.
FREE PARKING
Free parking near Niagara Falls is almost impossible during July and August. You may find a few free spots on Fallsview Blvd near Robinson Street yet it seems the city has just about eliminated any free parking at all. If you are lucky you can sometimes find metered parking at “Niagara Garden Place Parking” off of the Niagara Parkway. It is very expensive at $10.00 per hour yet worth it if you want to park close by for a short time. This parking is located almost directly across from the American Falls. Property owners tend to be on the lookout for tourists who try to park on their property without permission. The towing business in Niagara Falls Canada is very profitable.
HOTEL PARKING
Just about every hotel in Niagara Falls Canada charges a fee for parking. Be sure to check before you book. The fees range from $10 to $60 per night and even more for valet service. While most of us hate to pay to park especially if you are from the burbs you have to remember that there is a limited amount of real estate and that property owners can and do charge a premium for parking. Don’t be offended, it’s just a fact of life these days. Niagara Falls NY hotels usually charge less than $15.00 per night.
PARKING AT THE CASINOS
There are two Casinos in Niagara Falls Canada- Fallsview Casino & Casino Niagara. Both offer parking for less than the Fallsview hotels typically charge. To receive the low rate you will have to enter the casino and sign up for their “players club” program and disclose personal information for their mailing lists. Parking here can be money saving but the convenience factor decreases in freezing weather.
The Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls New York offers secure parking typically for a very low fee.
RV PARKING AT NIAGARA FALLS
Please don’t even consider driving your gigantic Class A RV to the Falls in Canada. Most parking facilities do not permit RV’s. You may be able to sneak a smaller Sprinter type RV into some facilities. The Seneca Casino in Niagara Falls NY does offer a limited amount of overnight RV parking, we highly recommend you contact them beforehand.
NOTEWORTHY TIPS
If you are visiting Niagara Falls Canada and will only be taking the boat ride or the zipline, the Clifton Hill Parking or Skylon Parking are your best option.
The crime rate in Niagara Falls is very low yet car break-ins do occur. For this reason we highly recommend that you do not leave any valuables in plain site inside your vehicle. Always park in a well lit area when possible. Every year at least a few cars are broken into and unfortunately that will just ruin your entire visit.
Most paid parking areas do not allow overnight parking. Sleeping in a vehicle is not permitted and not recommended, try the local Wally World.
We have found the website www.parkopedia.com to be very useful.
