Niagara Falls Parking: Where to Leave Your Car

Niagara Falls State Park has four lots, and each puts you in a different part of the park. New York State Parks describes it as America’s oldest state park. You can walk into the park for free, so parking is the separate cost to plan for if you drive.

Lot 1 is at 333 Prospect Street, at Prospect Point. It is the closest lot to the Welcome Center and Maid of the Mist, and it accepts automobiles only—not RVs, trailers or buses.

Lot 2 is at 15 Goat Island Loop Road. Choose it for Cave of the Winds or Top of the Falls Restaurant; it is also for automobiles only, with no RV, trailer or bus parking. Lot 2 is open every day year-round.

Lot 3, at 50 Goat Island Road, is recommended for Three Sisters Islands. It accepts automobiles, RVs and buses, but RVs or trailers over 40 feet are not allowed, and RV parking is limited. Lot 4 is at 540 Discovery Way; it is seasonal and for automobiles only.

If you are driving, the park’s alternate GPS address is 10 Rainbow Boulevard, Niagara Falls, NY 14303.

Parking fees depend on the lot and, for some lots, the season and day of the week. Lot 3 costs $10 for cars, $20 for RVs and $35 for one-time commercial tour-bus entry. Seasonal omnibus rates are $400 for 1–16 passengers, $550 for 17–28 passengers and $650 for 29 or more passengers.

Lots 1 and 2 cost $10 daily for much of the year; during a seasonal period, the rate is $10 Monday through Thursday and $15 Friday through Sunday. Lot 4 is seasonal, and no established fee is listed. Since parking rates and operating details can change, check the official site before you go.

Lot 3 is free on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays year-round, and overnight parking is not allowed there. If you leave and return to a lot the same day, keep your receipt; re-entry is allowed only when space is available.

Empire Passport and Access Pass holders can tap their passes at designated parking equipment. New York State Golden Pass holders should scan the back of their New York State driver’s license. For help at the equipment, press the silver intercom button.

Dufferin Islands has a year-round Pay and Display lot at 6345 Dufferin Isle Road, with parking at $8 per hour. The Ontario greenspace covers 10 acres, with paths and wooden footbridges connecting small islands; it is partially accessible.

If this stop is part of your plan, you can read about how to visit Dufferin Islands from the Niagara Falls area. Niagara Parks also presents nature-themed light displays there from November through January as part of its annual Winter Festival of Lights.

Weekend parking, including Fridays, and holidays can fill early, and traffic entering from the Niagara Scenic Parkway may be heavy. The park suggests entering the downtown core via Route 62/Niagara Falls Boulevard from I-290 or I-190 to avoid Parkway backups.

For the drive, the route to Niagara Falls from Aarya Hotel is a useful part of planning your arrival. Before you set off, confirm the lot’s current fees, availability and any seasonal operating details with the park or Niagara Parks, depending on where you plan to park.

Can you enter Niagara Falls State Park without paying?

Yes. Walking into the park is free; parking fees are separate.

Which Niagara Falls State Park lot allows RVs?

Lot 3 accepts RVs, but parking is limited and RVs or trailers over 40 feet are not allowed.

Is parking at Dufferin Islands available year-round?

Niagara Parks provides a year-round Pay and Display lot. The greenspace is in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Can you leave your car overnight in Lot 3?

No. Lot 3 does not allow overnight parking.