Even though there’s an airport in Niagara Falls, New York, it’s a tiny two-terminal spot that doesn’t have many flights arriving or departing daily. That’s why the majority of Niagara Falls’ visitors must navigate their way from Buffalo instead.
Since it only takes 45 minutes to 1.5 hours to travel to Niagara Falls from Buffalo, it’s not really that big of a deal. Plus, it can be pretty cheap if you know how to find great deals.
Luckily for you, I’ve narrowed down every way to get to Niagara Falls from Buffalo so you don’t have to!
Choose from the cheapest option (like myself), the quickest, or somewhere in between. But these are the five best ways to get from the Buffalo Airport to Niagara Falls, Canada side.
How to get from the Buffalo Airport to Niagara Falls – Canada Side
1. Public Bus From Buffalo to Niagara Falls
By far the cheapest option for how to get to Niagara Falls from Buffalo is to take the public bus from downtown Buffalo to the United States’ side of Niagara Falls and walk across the bridge into Canada.
It’ll only cost you $2 each way — and that’s just about the cheapest price I’ve seen to go anywhere on public transportation in the U.S.
The only downside is that you’ll still have to get from the Buffalo Airport to the Buffalo Metropolitan Transportation Center to catch the bus. The two are just 10 miles apart, but getting a rideshare from the airport can always be expensive.
Bus service begins at 5 a.m. from the Buffalo Metropolitan Transportation Center (the closest stop from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport) and runs to 11:45 p.m. So unless you’re taking a red-eye in or out, there should be a bus available. Check the schedule here.
- Cost: $4 round trip
- Time: 1 hour
2. Megabus or Greyhound
Both Megabus and the Greyhound bus from Buffalo to Niagara Falls leave from the Buffalo Metropolitan Transportation Center and take you directly downtown to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.
The trip takes about an hour and a half, crossing the Peace Bridge in Buffalo and navigating through some pretty scenic parts of Ontario.
While the Megabus tends to be a little cheaper (Megabus is as little as $14 round trip and Greyhound is around $20 round trip), they both offer free wifi on board and comfortable seats. You can book a Megabus ticket through the Canadian version of the site or book a Greyhound ticket here.
- Cost: From $14 round trip
- Time: 1.5 hours
3. Rent a Car
Renting a car is going to be a little more expensive than the previous options, depending on what time of the year you visit and how long you need the car. But it’ll allow you to get out of Niagara Falls and explore cooler parts of Ontario, like Niagara-on-the-Lake and Hamilton.
You can find rental cars from $9 per day up to $30 per day in Buffalo. It’s a quick trip, with the drive time from the Buffalo Airport to Niagara Falls, Canada side taking about 45 minutes.
If the rental car rates are running high during the time you visit, I suggest taking the public bus for $4 round trip and renting a car in Niagara Falls.
Not many people rent cars in Niagara Falls, so I was able to get one for $7 per day in September, which is a pretty popular time to visit. Keep in mind that the American Dollar goes a little bit further in Canada!
- Cost: $7 per day to $30 per day
- Time: 45 minutes
4. Ride the Rails on an Amtrak Train
Another affordable option is to take the Amtrak train from Buffalo to Niagara Falls. The great thing about this route is you can take the Amtrak from the Depew Station in Buffalo, which is just 3.6 miles from the airport — plus it just costs about $30 round trip!
It takes you directly to downtown Niagara Falls, New York, so you’ll still have to walk a bit to get to the Canadian side. The only downside of taking the Amtrak is there are only about three services each day, meaning you’ll probably have to kill some time in Buffalo when you arrive.
- Cost: About $30 round trip
- Time: 1 hour
5. Take an Uber, Lyft or Taxi
By far the most expensive option on the list is to take a taxi or ride-sharing service from the Buffalo Airport to Niagara Falls, Canada side. This option will undoubtedly be the quickest, since there are plenty of drivers on standby.
I’m not sure on the exact laws of Ubers, but a few drivers said they actually can’t take people across the border since that would qualify as an American working in Canada. So they’ll drop you off right at the Canadian border and you’ll have to walk the rest of the way (which is only about 1.5 miles to the hotels).
- Cost: $60 to $120 round trip
- Time: 45 minutes
Bonus: Enjoy an Airport Shuttle
If the hotel you’re staying at provides a free or discounted shuttle from the Buffalo airport to Niagara Falls, go ahead and do that. It’ll probably be cheaper than every option except the public bus and it’ll be quicker than most, too.
However, I wouldn’t recommend booking a shuttle if your hotel doesn’t offer one because they’re usually pretty expensive since you’re getting an exclusive driver to pick you up and drop you off at specific places. Plus all the companies I’ve seen make you call in for a reservation. I mean, c’mon, it’s 2020, we should be able to book online.
- Cost: Free to expensive
- Time: 45 minutes
If you like this guide, don’t forget to share it! Also, check out these articles about Niagara Falls.
