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Niagara Parkway
Winston Churchill called it the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world.
Overview
The Niagara Parkway is a 55-km river road that runs from the genteel Victorian town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, past the Falls, to historic Fort Erie at the source of the Niagara River. Churchill's quote is on every brochure for a reason — it is a perfectly choreographed drive of vineyards, orchards, historic forts, and the most famous waterfall in the world.
Start at Niagara-on-the-Lake, the prettiest small town in Ontario, with the Shaw Festival, a hundred wineries within ten kilometres, and a main street that has barely changed in 150 years. The Parkway then traces the river south past Queenston Heights (a War of 1812 battlefield), the Floral Clock, the giant whirlpool of the Niagara Gorge, and the Falls themselves — better viewed from the Canadian side than the American.
Beyond the Falls, the river road quiets considerably. The Parkway runs through Chippawa, past Old Fort Erie (the largest reconstructed War of 1812 fort in Canada), and ends at the Peace Bridge to Buffalo. The whole drive can be done in a long afternoon, but the wineries and the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake reward an overnight.
The route
From start to finish
An approximate path through 3 key waypoints along the drive.
Approximate route · 3 of 3 stops mapped
Day by day
The itinerary
A suggested route designed to balance driving time with the stops that matter.
Niagara-on-the-Lake to Fort Erie
Morning in Niagara-on-the-Lake (wineries, Shaw Festival, the lakefront), afternoon at the Falls and Whirlpool, evening in Fort Erie or back at NOTL for dinner.
Signature stops
Don't miss
Niagara-on-the-Lake heritage town
Niagara Falls Canadian viewpoints
Whirlpool Aero Car
Old Fort Erie
Where this road leads
Related destinations
Good to know
Frequently
asked.
Practical answers from travellers who have driven this route.
- Is the Niagara Parkway the same as the QEW?
- No — the QEW is the multi-lane freeway from Toronto to Niagara. The Parkway is a slower, scenic river road that begins at Niagara-on-the-Lake and parallels the Niagara River south. Always take the Parkway for the views.
- How long does the drive take?
- 55 km of pure driving is about an hour, but with stops at wineries, the Falls, and Fort Erie, plan a full day. An overnight in Niagara-on-the-Lake is recommended.
- When are the wineries open?
- Most NOTL wineries are open year-round, with shorter winter hours. May through October is the best window — patios open, the icewine harvest in January is its own special trip.
Planning the bigger trip?
Read our full guide to Canadian road-trip itineraries.
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