Rochester to Niagara Falls drive: Distance, time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Rochester to Niagara Falls drive are Six Flags Darien Lake, Akron Falls Park and Buffalo. By car, the distance from Rochester to Niagara Falls is 86 miles. That makes for a driving time of one hour and 25 minutes.
Finding things to do between Rochester and Niagara Falls
The drive from Rochester to Niagara Falls heads across the north-west of New York State to the world’s most famous waterfall.
Rochester offers beaches on Lake Ontario, plus High Falls, a waterfall right in the city centre.
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.
Rochester to Niagara Falls distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Rochester to Niagara Falls is 86 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 25 minutes.
The quickest route largely follows the I-490, then the I-90.
The best road trip stops on the Rochester to Niagara Falls drive are Six Flags Darien Lake in Corfu, Akron Falls Park and Buffalo.
Rochester to Niagara Falls road trip stops: Six Flags Darien Lake
No-one is going to pretend Six Flags Darien Lake is the high point of the Six Flags amusement park empire. But it’s still a pretty good theme park.
Just south of the town of Corfu, NY, Six Flags Darien Lake also has a water park. It’s the rollercoasters that most visitors, will come for, however. Tantrum has a 97 degree drop, the Viper was the first coaster in the world to have five inversions and the Ride Of Steel climbs 208ft high, travelling at speeds of up to 72 miles per hour.
Things to do between Rochester and Niagara Falls: Akron Falls Park
Akron Falls Park hosts two waterfalls. Lower Akron Falls is taller than Upper Akron Falls – the water plunges around 44ft into the pool at the bottom. The bad news is that you’re not allowed to swim in the pool, and the falls can be fairly dry in summer.
Come after heavy rainfall or snowmelt, however, and Lower Akron Falls in particular is picture-perfect.
It’s a good spot for fishing, and plenty of wildlife can be seen in the park. Get lucky and you might spot raccoons and opossums along the walking trails.
Rochester 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.
More Rochester road trips
Rochester to Buffalo | Syracuse to Rochester.
More Niagara Falls road trips
Albany to Niagara Falls | Chicago to Niagara Falls | Cincinnati to Niagara Falls | Cleveland to Niagara Falls | Detroit to Niagara Falls | Pittsburgh to Niagara Falls | Syracuse to Niagara Falls.