Planning a trip to Niagara and Toronto this summer. Wondering if anyone has any experience there and can let me know if this itinerary sounds reasonable.

Day 1 - flight into Buffalo, rent a car, drive to Niagara Falls, Canada. Arrive there mid afternoon.

Day 2 - Full day at Niagara Falls

Day 3 - day trip to Niagara on the Lake, back to same hotel in Niagara Falls that night.

Day 4 - drive to Toronto, planning on going to a concert that night.

Day 5 - explore Toronto

Day 6 - drive from Toronto to Buffalo for flight home departing around 12:00. Would plan on leaving Toronto by 7:30 that morning to pass through customs and return the car in time to catch 12:00 flight.

Open to suggestions. Are there better ways to get around this area than renting a car? Doesn't seem like trains travel very often between Niagara and Toronto (only once a day at inconvenient times from what I've seen). Hiring a car service is a possibility, but I wonder if that's possible when we have to go through customs, especially going from Toronto to Buffalo the last day.

I looked into flying to/from Toronto, but it's more expensive, and I have points I can use for flights through Buffalo.

2 ...

Report Post

Posted by RudeDog11

Central LA

Member since Dec 2009

387 posts

Posted on 2/23/25 at 11:37 pm to medtiger

It is definitely doable. Just be aware that the drive to Toronto and back will take longer than maps says. If it is not that much more expensive I would fly out of Pearson as opposed to Buffalo. You can get around Toronto without a car, there are plenty of options from the subway, streetcars, or uber/cab. You can take the train from Union Station directly to the airport for $10. Also,parking anywhere in Toronto is expensive so be prepared if you have a rental car.

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by Suntiger

STG or BR or somewhere else

Member since Feb 2007

34651 posts

Posted on 2/24/25 at 6:14 am to medtiger

I know that it usually cost more to return a rental to somewhere other than where you rented it from, but is it worth it to return the car in Toronto and fly back out of YYZ?

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by RudeDog11

Central LA

Member since Dec 2009

387 posts

Posted on 2/24/25 at 7:59 am to Suntiger

I would say it depends on how much more it will be to return it in Toronto, and the difference in cost to fly out of Pearson instead of Buffalo. The drive to Toronto from Niagara Falls will be at least 2 hours, I would say closer to 2 1/2 because traffic is always bad around Toronto. Then you factor in parking, it will cost you a minimum $25-$30 to park anywhere in the city, and hotels are more daily. It is a great city to visit but the traffic is a nightmare. You probably will have to rent a car for the drive to Toronto, you can take the GO train but it does not go all the way to Niagara, you have to take the GO bus to the train station.

This post was edited on 2/24/25 at 8:08 am

Page 1