Cleveland to Niagara Falls drive: Best stops, distance & time
The best stops on a Cleveland to Niagara Falls road trip are the Hubbard House Museum, the Westfield wineries and Buffalo. By car, the distance from Cleveland to Niagara Falls is 213 miles, with a driving time of around 3h20m.
Planning a Cleveland to Niagara Falls road trip itinerary
The drive from Cleveland to Niagara Falls, following the shore of Lake Erie, connects northern Ohio to the world’s most famous waterfall in New York State.
Top attractions in Cleveland include the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland History Center. Alternatively, Cleveland tour options focus on neighbourhood food scenes, the city’s best craft breweries and Downtown’s public art.
There are two cities called Niagara Falls, one either side of the infamous waterfall. The city of Niagara Falls, Canada, offers much more for tourists, and is something of a mini-Vegas. You’re better off crossing the border and choosing from a vast array of experiences in Niagara Falls, Canada.
However, for the purposes of this guide, we’ll assume you’re staying in the United States. Things to do in Niagara Falls, New York include the Maid of the Mist boat ride to the base of the falls, a Cave of the Winds highlights package tour and a mobsters tour full of stories that takes in the illuminated falls after dark.
Cleveland to Niagara Falls distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Cleveland to Niagara Falls is 213 miles. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and 20 minutes. The journey is almost entirely along the I-90.
The best stops to add to a Cleveland to Niagara Falls road trip itinerary are the Hubbard House Museum in Ashtabula, the wineries around Westfield, NY, and Buffalo.
Cleveland to Niagara Falls road trip attractions: Hubbard House Museum
The Hubbard House Museum in Ashtabula, Ohio, was a key northern terminus on the Underground Railroad. The home of William and Katharine Hubbard was often the last stop before freedom, as escaped slaves from the southern states would make their way over Lake Erie into Canada.
The Hubbard House Museum details the efforts the Hubbards went to in order to keep the escapees safe, and gives an overview of the whole underground railroad movement.
Attractions between Cleveland and Niagara Falls: The Westfield wineries
The town of Westfield is the hub of the western New York wine region, and there are several wineries that are open to the public for tastings.
Top choices include the Johnson Estate, the Mogen David Wine Corporation and Barger Vineyards.
There are also tastings available at the Grape Discovery Center, which aims to educate visitors about the wines grown in the area.
Cleveland to Niagara Falls drive: Buffalo
Buffalo is often written off as the gateway to Niagara Falls, but there’s more to the city than that. Cultural highlights include Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, the Buffalo Museum of Science and the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.
The waterside Buffalo Harbor State Park, meanwhile, offers paddleboard and kayak rentals plus a beach and playgrounds.
Good experiences in Buffalo include Best of Buffalo double decker bus tours, a history of chicken wings food tour and the Theodore Roosevelt Inauguration National Historic Site.
For excellent places to stay in Buffalo, try the historic landmark Richardson Hotel or the charming Hotel at the Lafayette.
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