4-Day Roadtrip to Niagara Falls - Canadian Side (via Watkins Glen & Buffalo, NY) With Shabbos included!

Looking for an easy 3-4 day road trip from the NJ/NY area that mixes nature, adventure, kosher food, and awesome views? Here’s a perfect itinerary from our recent trip to Niagara Falls, taking the scenic route with a beautiful stop in Watkins Glen grabbing kosher food in Buffalo, NY, then heading to the Canadian side of the falls.

Day 1: Departure & First Stop – Highland Park, NJ

We hit the road Wednesday evening at around 6:00 PM from Toms River, NJ — the total drive time to Niagara Falls (Canadian side) is around 7 hours direct, not counting breaks. With the kids tucked in the back with pajamas, blankets, and Buc-ee’s pillows, we made our first stop about an hour in for supper at Bridge Turkish and Mediterranean Grill in Highland Park, NJ — a kosher Turkish spot with incredible food.-

We then drove another 3 and a half hours to Ithaca, NY, right near Watkins Glen State Park — our plan for the next morning. Ithaca has many hotels to choose from, literally dozens. We stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Ithaca by Marriott and booked a larger room for around $190/night — super clean, comfy, and included a great breakfast.

Day 2: Exploring Watkins Glen & Heading to Buffalo and eventually Niagara Falls!

In the morning, we hit the road and headed 40 minutes to Watkins Glen, stopping on the way in the super quiet but cool town of Montour Falls, where you’ll find a few gorgeous waterfalls right off the road — known as Shequaga Falls, and aunt sarah falls as well as others which we skipped 🙂

Those two falls are worth pulling over for a photo op. Just put those names into Waze – it is literally on the road to Watkins Glen!

Then it was off to Watkins Glen State Park, one of the most stunning spots in New York State. The Gorge Trail is about 1.5 miles with 800+ stone steps winding through jaw-dropping cliffs, moss-covered rock formations, and 19 waterfalls. Just follow signs for the gorge trail.

The walk took us about 1.5 hours, and the Kids loved it — it was not too hard, but felt like a real adventure. Our youngest was 6, and he made it with only needing to be carried at two points. So if you have little ones, it may not be your best place….

Note: Bring water, then a little more water!

From Watkins Glen, we drove about 2.5 hours to Buffalo for supper. Our destination: the kosher section in Tops Friendly Market at 3980 Maple Rd, Buffalo, NY 14226

NOTE: They close at 6 PM! We pulled in at 6:02 PM and just made it.

Tops had everything:

Pas Yisroel baked goods
Cholov Yisroel dairy items
Amazing kosher takeout with schnitzel, cold cuts, sides, even sour sticks for the kids

Pro tip: stock up here if you’re headed into Canada — it’s your last major kosher stop before the border.

Evening Arrival in Niagara Falls, Canada

From Buffalo, it was a 40-minute drive to the Canadian side. Border crossing was smooth — about 15 minutes. We checked into the Marriott on the Falls, where we were upgraded to a two-floor loft suite with a pullout couch. We added a rollaway bed for $20 CAD per night.

Note: Parking in Niagara Falls can be pretty expensive — many hotels charge around $45 per night for self-park. However, if you’re willing to walk a few minutes, you can easily find parking nearby for about $20 per night…

After a long day, the kids got into PJs, and just as we were settling into bed, we were treated to a perfect view of the 10PM fireworks right from our room, overlooking the Falls. It was the perfect end to Day 2!

Day 3 Friday: Exploring Clifton Hill, going on the jet boat, getting ready for Shabbos at Chabad!

We started our morning on the 22nd floor of the Marriott, enjoying the stunning views of the Falls. Since we had club access, breakfast was served on the 19th floor — a decent lounge with hot and cold options, coffee, juice, and sodas…. We then drove to Clifton Hill — the heart of entertainment on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. If you’re traveling with kids or identify as a kid 🙂 this is the place to be! Clifton Hill is like a massive carnival city.

Here are just a few of the most popular things to do:

Top 10 Things to Do on Clifton Hill:

Niagara Speedway – Part go-kart, part roller coaster, this is North America’s largest elevated go-kart track.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum – Weird and wonderful exhibits that entertain all ages.
Movieland Wax Museum – Life-size wax figures of celebrities, superheroes, and movie characters. NOTE: May have Tznius issues
Zombie Attack 6D Ride – A FUN gaming experience where you battle zombies in 6D. We did with with all ages, and it was a hit.
The Great Canadian Midway – A massive arcade with over 300 games, from classics to the newest tech.
Ghost Blasters Haunted Ride – A fun interactive dark ride where you shoot ghosts with laser guns.
SkyWheel – One of Canada’s largest Ferris wheels, offering amazing views of the Falls.
Wizard’s Golf – Indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf
Dinosaur Adventure Golf – Outdoor mini golf with life-sized dinosaurs and a volcano!
Fun House & Mirror Maze – Get lost in endless reflections and moving floors — fun for all ages.

We’ve done most of these top 10 attractions between this trip and past visits — it’s always a blast and truly one of the most fun spots in Niagara.

Protip: Check with Chabad of Niagara — they often offer discounted tickets and attraction packages, which can save you a bit compared to buying directly.

Our epic Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour experience

Next, we made our way to the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour — an unforgettable adventure through Class 5 rapids. It’s a 45-minute thrill ride where you’re guaranteed to get absolutely soaked and have an incredible time doing it. They have an option for a covered boat with a glass top – but we wanted the “real deal.”

Note: Whirlpool Jet Boat operates in both Canada and the USA, so make sure that you’re booking the correct location! Be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure to complete waivers and attend the required 10-minute safety briefing. They have no rachmanus if you arrive a little late. We’ve seen that happen…

The ride was really fun, but our poor little Shlomo (age 6) took a ‘direct hit’ from a massive wave early on and got a bit overwhelmed. By the fourth wave, the tears were flowing — but he stuck it out like a champ and earned his certificate!

It’s definitely a must-do experience. While it’s on the pricier side, the excitement makes it totally worth it.

After that, we made a quick stop at Walmart to pick up some games and activities for Shabbos, then headed back to the hotel to get ready for Shabbos Kodesh!

Shabbos in Niagara Falls (Canada)

Chabad of Niagara hosts a beautiful Shabbos experience, complete with three incredible seudos… It’s truly something special. The walk from our hotel as well the Marriott Fallsview, the doubletree and others is under 10 minutes.

They’ve also established an Eruv, which includes a few hotels directly across the street, specifically the Wyndham Fallsview Hotel (formerly the 4 Points by Sheraton), making it convenient for families with strollers or young children, or wheelchairs etc.

We stayed on the 22nd floor of the Marriott, so getting up and down for Shabbos meant a bit of a workout — we joked that we were training to be firefighters. Some guests, opted to use the elevator — definitely ask your LOR for guidance.

Chabad had everything well organized — including assigned seating for meals, and the atmosphere was warm, and lots of fun. You can learn more or sign up for Shabbos on their website.

After Shabbos, we packed up and began our long trip back home. We broke up the drive with an overnight stop in Corning, NY, which is about 2.5 to 3 hours from Niagara Falls and right along the route. The next morning, we continued on and made a stop at the Poconos Premium Outlets — also perfectly en route. We grabbed a few great metziahs there, and eventually made it back home — tired but time to start preparing for our next trip!

RECAP

Our trip to Niagara Falls was both incredible and really easy! Shabbos at Chabad was not only affordable but truly amazing. This destination is ideal for a quick, local getaway that’s easy to plan and full of awesome memories

While many of the major attractions are on the Canadian side, you can still enjoy agreat trip entirely on the U.S. side if needed. Chabad’s Shabbos meals and minyan are based in Canada, but there’s plenty to do from New York as well—including the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour, which departs from both countries.

Our top Niagara attractions:

Whirlpool Jet Boats – An absolute thrill and a highlight of the trip.
Journey Behind the Falls – A powerful, immersive experience of the falls’ strength. Took pretty short but well worth it.
Maid of the Mist / Hornblower Cruises – The classic boat ride into the mist of the falls. Maid of the Mist operates from the U.S. side, Hornblower from the Canadian side. It’s a bit pricey, so look out for coupons. Remember there are coupons here as well as with Chabad – they sell tickets and are pleasure to work with.
Zipline to the Falls – Epic views over Niagara with package deals available here.
Nightly fireworks at 10 PM (Free!)

We just wrapped up an exciting trip to Niagara Falls , and we’d love to hear your thoughts on our recap! Comment below! What city should we explore next? Whether it’s a favorite destination or a hidden gem, your suggestions are invaluable to us! Please comment below! To reach our travel team, click HERE

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