Suggestions Niagara Falls

[Displaced2]

Beginning of May.

[CZNEDY]

Slowly I turned, inch by inch.......

[tipakajohn]

A few years ago we camped at KOA Niagara Falls in Ontario. Close to downtown and great grass sites. Be careful to stay away from the rear of the campground. Heavy used train tracks run along the backside.

[caper]

Are you camping on the American or Canadian side?

[bodzcampers]

Wine touring...don't forget the Ice Wine...Niagara on the Lake area.
Enjoy!

[Displaced2]

Prefer American side just not to deal with customs

[caper]

Customs are not a problem if you have the proper paper work and observe all the rules.
I have not camped on the American side but have heard good reviews about the KOA on Grand Island.

[KyDan]

If you want economy, we stayed at Four Mile Creek State Park - NYS Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
4 Mile Creek, NY state park last June.
Sites are fairly large and some have shade. Most are just grass and
a few can get muddy if it rains a lot but we'd go back no problem.
Easy drive to Niagara Falls.
Don't miss the Canadian side.
If you have pass ports boarder crossing is a snap.
IF you are hikers you can access the white water rapids up close
and personal by hiking the American side of the river.
This is as close as you can get and you save the $$ you'd pay for
elevator ride down to the boardwalk from the Canadian side.
We actually sat on a rock with feet dangling over the white water and
waved at folks on the boardwalk on the Canadian side!

[00buck]

+1 on Four Mile Creek. I've stayed there. Nice sites and an easy drive to the Falls. I haven't visited the Canadian side in a long time but the poor and tired condition of the American side is a national embarrassment.

[KMP44]

Originally Posted by caper

Customs are not a problem if you have the proper paper work and observe all the rules.
I have not camped on the American side but have heard good reviews about the KOA on Grand Island.

Yeah, customs is no problem once you get through the line! This summer we crossed into Canada at Detroit/Windsor, and back to the US in Niagara Falls (on the QEW). Took about an hour to get into Canada, almost 2 hours to get into the U.S. on a Monday.

Customs inspector going into Canada was a complete jerk. Never been hastled going into Canada before. Once we establsihed we had no guns and no firewood we got through. Going into the US was smooth once we got to the booth - we had only stayed 1 night and didn't buy anything. Lines started before the Canadian side of the bridge.

If you do cross, bringing any produce either way can create something just short of an international incindent no matter where you bought it. Also, there are some restrictions on some meat from Canada going into the U.S.

You miss a great view (and a bunch of tourist traps) if you don't go over to the Canadian side. Parking is a pain with an RV though. If you go over, recommend you cross at the Rainbow Bridge. Mostly just tourist traffic and it moves along.

Regardless of which side you are on, I would recommend the Maid of the Mist boat ride. Never done the stairs down behind the U.S. side, but that looks pretty cool too. Might be a little too "cool" in May...

We stayed at the Niagara Falls ON KOA. Very nice, great location, indoor & outdoor pool, and easily the nicest showers I have ever seen in a campground. Notr surprisingly, it was pretty pricey.

We are going to the Grand Isle KOA near Buffalo in June.

[mark0224]

Four Mile Creek State Park In may it's very quiet and about 15 to 20 Min, to Niagara Falls. To see the sights the Canadian side has more going on but a tourist Trap. Fort Niagara is 5 min from Four Mile Creek and it's worth the stop. There is another private camp ground on the Canadian side Right near the Lewiston Bridge It was nice 10 yrs ago and only 10 min to Niagara Falls. Try to be on the Canadian side on Friday night around 9 pm they shoot off fire works over the falls not sure what friday in may they start and do it all summer long.

[Displaced2]

Checked with Four Mile Creek and have availability without reservation. Traveling with no schedule so that helps also bringing toad to get around. Seems like I may be there longer then thought with all to see and do.
Thanks to all for suggestions and information.

[KyDan]

Even tho we have been thru HUGE barge size locks at the Ohio River both
in our small boat and in a river boat- I still enjoyed an afternoon ride
on the Erie Canal tour boat. It's really fun and not that expensive.
You'd want to check when they run in May. Might be every day or maybe
just Fri Sat and Sun. We really enjoyed it! Also some pretty nice bicycle
trails along the canal if you want to haul them there. It's less than an
hour drive from 4 mile creek. Well worth a look if you've got a spare
afternoon.

[mark0224]

There is so much to see within 50 miles. The Canadian side is a tourist trap but a must see, you can go in the tunnels behind the falls, there is Marine Land, best view of the falls, The casino if your into it, all the good food is on the Canadian side. On the American side go over to Goat Island and you can get close to the American and Canadian Falls because it's right in between both. That is where you go to get to stairs beneath the falls. So many things to do there we have been there 4 times and see something new every time. If you stay at Four Mile Creek go down to the lake and sit for a while last time saw a couple of large ships coming out of the mist , wish I had a camera, would have made a great picture.

[Dodge Guy]

We stayed at the Jellystone in Niagara Falls CA. never went through customs before so I followed the signs that say trucks only. well anywhere I go with the TT I`m considered a truck, speed limits and such. so I pulled up and thought great, no lines. well the lady wasn`t to happy with me using the truck lanes. I explained to her why I did it and said no more (even though I`m thinking if you don`t want RV`s in the truck lanes then put up a sign!) she just grabbed my passports and asked me the basic questions and I was on my way in 10 minutes!

Very happy we stayed in CA. you get very beautiful views of the falls and all the excitement is on the CA side too.

[KyDan]

Yeah, I sat in a line of cars with my trailer heading into Canada.
Saw the truck lanes off to the side and almost moved over....
When we got to the window the nice lady looked at our passports and
asked only a couple questions and we were on our way.
At that border- trucks means big rigs trucks and not pick up trucks and not even pickup trucks pulling 25' trailers!

4 mile creek has some sites on the lake shore but you can walk to the
shore from any site. There is a bit of a cliff so you don't sit on the "beach" but you do get a great view of Toronto across the lake and some pretty
good sunsets.
Here's Rita enjoying wine 0-clock while waiting for the sunset.

[Displaced2]

Thank you Sunset reminds me of Florida.

[mark0224]

Originally Posted by KyDan

Yeah, I sat in a line of cars with my trailer heading into Canada.
Saw the truck lanes off to the side and almost moved over....
When we got to the window the nice lady looked at our passports and
asked only a couple questions and we were on our way.
At that border- trucks means big rigs trucks and not pick up trucks and not even pickup trucks pulling 25' trailers!

4 mile creek has some sites on the lake shore but you can walk to the
shore from any site. There is a bit of a cliff so you don't sit on the "beach" but you do get a great view of Toronto across the lake and some pretty
good sunsets.
Here's Rita enjoying wine 0-clock while waiting for the sunset.

when I was there the haze was so heavy you couldn't see Toronto but it was a great view looking out and seeing ships coming out and going into the haze.

[sherman12]

Being a Western New Yorker living 30 minutes from Niagara Falls, which we take for granted, I am impressed with the reviews of "The Falls" and Four Mile Creek SP. Not a lot I could add except if you do stay a Four Mile, take some time to visit Lewiston, NY, just up the road less than 10 minutes or under 5-6 miles. Charming village with shops and several very good restaurants and an excellent brew pub. Niagara Falls, NY is a dump, though the falls view and attractions from Goat Island (part of the state park) is excellent. Do bring passports if you have them because that is the only way you'll get back into the US from Canada if you don't have an enhanced drivers license for each person in your party. Though the Canadian side right at NF is typical souvenir shops, Ripley's Believe It or Not mixed in with a couple of casinos, it it is tourist type fun. A 40 minute ride from NF on the Canadian side along the Niagara River is Niagara on The Lake, C A which is an exceptional town, though very pricey in Canadian $$. Along this route will take you past some world class wineries that have tastings and dining options not often experienced together. Another campground to suggest vs. the Grand Island KOA is Branches CG on Grand Island. Only a couple of years old and it has received very good reviews. One last travel tip is Buffalo, NY. It is about 25-30 miles south of Four Mile, Lewiston etc. Buffalo is a friendly mid-western type town with lots to do and see including world class restaurants, art galleries, museums and theater. Oh yeah, for those who may be so inclined, the bars stay open till 4AM!! Enjoy your trip to Western New York.

[rlocicero]

Grand Island KOA is nice. We have stayed there several times.