Directions help - Toronto to Niagara Falls

[esulerzy]

Hope some Canadian Dis'ers can help me out. I am spending a long weekend in Niagara Falls, Ontario in April. I am flying into Toronto and will be picking up a rental car at the airport and driving to my hotel: Ramada Plaza Fallsview - Niagara Falls.

Can anyone provide me with good (scenic?) driving directions including times and tips for the area?

TIA!

 

[tone.def]

Sadly, nothing about the airport area is very scenic - you're going to see a lot of industry and urban build up for an hour out of a 90 minute drive...

From the airport - take the 427 south... you're going to hit a 10 lane highway, don't panic and don't move all the way to the left or else you'll end up being sent down the Gardiner Expressway to downtown Toronto. Stay relatively to the right (but not all the way, you might be forced off to an exit) because the 427 splits, the 3 right lanes head to the QEW towards Niagara Falls. The most basic directions to Niagara Falls is 427-QEW-420 and you're there... If you want something scenic, there's a few diversions you can take...

In Mississauga, along the QEW, you can get off at Huronontario and go south to Port Credit. They have a beautiful waterfront and shopping area area and a lovely brewpub.
http://www.portcredit.com ... You can basically get back on the QEW the next exit to the west - Mississauga Road or keep driving down the lakeshore for a bit and get back on at Cawthra Rd.

Mississauga Road is actually quite spectacular north of the QEW as well... I call it millionaire's row.

Hope this helps!

 

[esulerzy]

tone.def,

Thanks! That helps alot!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Are you planning on visiting the states while you are there? There are a good deal of outlets just 15 minutes or so from the border. There is alot to keep you busy on the Ontario side too but much to my husbands dismay if I get too close to the border the call of the mall gets too strong for me to ignore. I sweat, my pulse races and I must answer. No amount of canadianna niagara falls pumps out can beat it. I am weak..... perhaps you are stronger.

 

[Questforthemouse]

Hi esulerzy...

The two most direct and quickest routes to Niagara Falls from Pearson Airport are...

427 South to QEW West (Niagara/Hamilton bound) to 420 with exits to Niagara Falls

or

427 South to 401 West to 403 West to QEW West (Niagara/Hamilton bound) to 420 and the Falls

...in terms of something truly scenic along the way to Niagara Falls...You could get off the QEW just after St. Catherines and head down to Niagara-On-The-Lake and then drive the Niagara Parkway from NOTL to Niagara Falls. The NOTL region is a premiere winery region and the small town of NOTL is full of B & Bs and small shops and is also home to the Shaw Festival (3 theatres with plays from George Bernard Shaw and other writers). People come from all over the world to visit this region and busloads come up from the states spring/summer/fall. If I were you I'd head straight to the hotel in The Falls, get checked-in and then have them give you maps to NOTL and the region. Basically, you drive out of your hotel parking lot, head down to the falls, hang a left on the Niagara Parkway (which runs along the falls and the Niagara River opposite Niagara Falls/Lewiston/Jamestown in New York) and about 15 mins later you're in NOTL. You should find plenty of info at www.niagaraonthelake.com...

In terms of timing...it depends what day and what time you are heading out from Pearson Airport. I live in Burlington (along the QEW and Lake Ontario) about half way between Pearson Airport and Niagara Falls. Takes me 45 mins from my house to The Falls. On a clear day with no traffic it takes about 35 mins from my house to the airport but during a weekday and any time near rush hour (7:30am - 9:30am and 4:00pm - 7:00pm) it will take 75 mins. On a day without traffic you should be in The Falls in roughly 80 mins but if there's heavy traffic in the Toronto to Burlington corridor it could take you a couple of hours. If you haven't already bought your tickets and you aren't planning on seeing the Toronto area I would seriously consider flying into Buffalo, renting a car there and driving across the border. The Buffalo airport is about 20 - 30 mins from The Falls.

Let me know if I can be of any other help

 

[esulerzy]

Diamondintheruff, we were not planning to visit the states - and now I'm glad. Outlet shopping is a vice with me! When visiting WDW, I always plan a day just to visit the Premium outlets! Here in Maryland, I'm only 45 minutes from the huge Delaware outlets - tax free shopping So I know that feeling!

Questforthemouse, Thanks! the timing helps. We actually have bought our tickets (if only we had known). We are flying up on a Wednesday for a wedding; flying back home on Sunday. We will arrive in Toronto around 11 am so I think we will be okay with traffic. The Sunday flight should be interesting as it leaves Toronto at 7:30 AM Ugh, we will be up bright and early that morning

 

[HappyLawyer]

I am going to Niagara from Buffalo, where do i get my passport stamped, is it at the border patrol?

Thanks

 

[Questforthemouse]

Diamondintheruff, we were not planning to visit the states - and now I'm glad. Outlet shopping is a vice with me! When visiting WDW, I always plan a day just to visit the Premium outlets! Here in Maryland, I'm only 45 minutes from the huge Delaware outlets - tax free shopping So I know that feeling!

Questforthemouse, Thanks! the timing helps. We actually have bought our tickets (if only we had known). We are flying up on a Wednesday for a wedding; flying back home on Sunday. We will arrive in Toronto around 11 am so I think we will be okay with traffic. The Sunday flight should be interesting as it leaves Toronto at 7:30 AM Ugh, we will be up bright and early that morning

If I only knew then what I know today...How many times have I said that to myself? Such is life...

If you land at 11:00am you should be leaving with your rental shortly after 12:00pm. You should be in The Falls no later than 2pm. IMHO I wouldn't hang around the Toronto/Mississauga area if you have no need to. All you need is to hang around there till closer to rush hour, have one good accident occur on the QEW and you won't be into The Falls until suppertime.

On Sunday morning during the wee hours you should make it form your hotel to the airport in roughly 90 mins.

Have a great trip!

 

[Questforthemouse]

I am going to Niagara from Buffalo, where do i get my passport stamped, is it at the border patrol?

Thanks

I presume you are driving across the border...Your passport will be looked at or scanned by Canadian border security when you cross the bridge into Canada. I don't think your passport will be stamped. US Customs does not stamp our passports when we enter the US. Expect to pay a toll when crossing the bridge into Canada (usually around $2.50 US).

 

[HappyLawyer]

I presume you are driving across the border...Your passport will be looked at or scanned by Canadian border security when you cross the bridge into Canada. I don't think your passport will be stamped. US Customs does not stamp our passports when we enter the US. Expect to pay a toll when crossing the bridge into Canada (usually around $2.50 US).

does anyone know where i can get it stamped then?

 

[mickeywho?]

We've only ever had ours stamped going through customs at airports. US customs doesn't stamp ours when we are driving through any border station.

 

[tone.def]

does anyone know where i can get it stamped then?

in an airport.