Niagara Falls Day Trip From New York City Includes the Maid of the Mist cruise. This is the fastest option to visit Niagara Falls, as it gets you to and from downtown New York in one day. The Niagara Falls tour from New York City is done by bus, so it will be a busy day but totally worth it.

Yes, you can do a day trip from New York City to Niagara Falls in 2026, but it is an incredibly long and demanding journey. By bus, the round trip takes approximately 14 to 16 hours of driving time, meaning you would likely depart NYC at 11:00 PM the night before and return late the following evening. A much more efficient but expensive option is to fly; a one-hour flight from JFK or LaGuardia to Buffalo-Niagara International Airport (BUF) allows you to spend a full 8 to 10 hours at the Falls before flying back the same night. Many tour companies offer "All-Inclusive Air Day Tours" that handle the flights, ground transport, and "Maid of the Mist" boat tickets. Taking the Amtrak "Maple Leaf" train is also an option, but it takes roughly 9 hours each way, making it unsuitable for a single-day trip unless you stay overnight. For those determined to see the Falls in 24 hours, flying is the only way to avoid spending the majority of your day on a highway. It is a bucket-list experience, but be prepared for a very fast-paced and exhausting schedule.