15 Waterfall Boat Tours and Cruises in the USA to Book This Year

1.Best Niagara Falls US Tour W/Boat Ride, Cave & More Wonders!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8,372 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $139Our pick

This four-hour Niagara Falls tour combines hotel pickup in Niagara Falls, New York with the Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, Prospect Point Tower, and views of all three falls. Guides such as Shelly, Lenny, Dale, and Vic lead small-group outings of up to 32 people. Bring waterproof shoes, expect a brisk pace, and allow extra time in peak season.

“Excellent tour learning the history of Niagra Falls and how the power is generated. Susan, our tour guide took pride in her job making sure we heard about each fall, each site. Maid of Mist, safe, fun tour for families. A lot of fast paced walked to cover the sites in 4-5 hours. Highly recommend if on limited time. You’ll see all the highlights of Niagara Falls.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Niagara Falls USA: Maid of the Mist & Cave Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,924 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $125

Join Gray Line Niagara Falls US for a guided half-day tour through Niagara Falls State Park. Ride Maid of the Mist from May to October, stand above the gorge at the Observation Tower, and walk the Cave of the Winds Hurricane Deck. Guides such as Logan, Vic, Kat, and Rocco add local facts and practical help.

“Rocco was very friendly, always interested in answering all our questions and had a great schedule prepared (we went on a Thursday). The car was very clean. We had a great (and wet) experience. Very strategic meeting point, there was parking nearby ($10 per day). Super recomendado”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Niagara Falls Canadian Side Tour and Maid of the Mist Boat Ride Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,516 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $164

Spend about six hours seeing Niagara Falls from both countries. Ride up Skylon Tower, visit Table Rock and Queen Victoria Park, then take the Maid of the Mist from the US side when operating. In colder months, Journey Behind the Falls replaces the boat. Pickup is available from Niagara Falls hotels, not Toronto or Buffalo.

“This was a great experience! Jessica was knowledgeable and really showed us a good time. She was watching the schedule closely and noticed that there were a bunch of other buses lining up for the boat trip, so she pivoted and made that our last stop so we wouldn’t have to wait and got right in. We would not have been able to coordinate so many sights and stops on our own. I liked the ease of being able to see the sight and jump back on the bus for her to take us on to the next adventure. It was a really enjoyable day and I feel like this…”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.All Inclusive Niagara Falls USA Tour W/Boat Ride,Cave & Much MORE

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,902 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $79

This 4 to 5 hour Niagara Falls tour combines hotel pickup with Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, the Observation Tower, Goat Island, Luna Island, and Prospect Point. Guides such as Sunny, Jimmy, Debbie, and Christine lead the outing. Seasonal closures can replace boat and cave visits with other activities, so check dates before booking.

“Bring dry shoes. Have fun. Try to go with Jimmy and be his family for the day. !*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Niagara Falls 1 Day Tour from NYC with Maid of the Mist Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,049 reviews · 19 hours (approx.) · from $69

Leave Times Square at 4am for a full-day Niagara Falls outing with a bilingual English-Spanish guide such as Arturo or Roberto. Visit American, Bridal Veil, and Horseshoe Falls, stop at Prospect Point and Terrapin Point, and add Maid of the Mist from late May to October. Expect 7 to 8 hours each way, rest stops, and about three hours at the falls.

“The trip is long with breaks for bathroom and eats Guide was very helpful knowledgeable and friendly Although it was. Old the sites we so beautiful”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Maid of the Mist Boat & Falls Sightseeing

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 953 reviews · 2 hours · from $57

Meet your guide near Old Falls Street, ride Maid of the Mist from the American Falls to Horseshoe Falls, then walk Niagara Falls State Park. Guides such as Steve, Paul, Jennifer, and Howie share local stories, point out photo spots, and help with the boat boarding process. Allow two hours and expect to get wet.

“Tour guide knowledgeable and friendly. Boat ride fun. Got some great pics and videos for our memories!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Niagara Falls Tour with Cruise & Maple Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 767 reviews · 9h 30m · from $124

Spend about 9.5 hours with Gray Line Toronto visiting Niagara Falls, Table Rock, the Whirlpool Rapids, and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Your English-speaking guide handles the timing, skip-the-line access, and seasonal cruise or Journey Behind the Falls. Add lunch with a falls view, and expect maple syrup, chocolate, and fudge tasting along the way.

“A great day at Niagara falls and Niagara on the lake. Nice finale of the tour is the ice wine tasting. The guide has everything prepared and explains a lot about the history, the present and the culture of Canada.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.From NYC: Niagara Falls Full-Day Tour with Maid of the Mist

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 706 reviews · 19 hours · from $269

Leave Times Square at 4:00 AM for a full day at Niagara Falls, with a comfortable coach, Wi-Fi, bilingual English and Spanish guidance, and about 2.5 to 4.5 hours at the park. Add the seasonal Maid of the Mist for the closest view of the water, or use the phone audio guide instead.

“It was an amazing experience. So beautiful Niagra falls❤️ Worth guided trip with Arturo. Thank you so much guide and drivers who did great job!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Cave of the Winds, Boat Ride, & Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 680 reviews · from $90

See all three Niagara waterfalls with an English-speaking guide, then ride Maid of the Mist and walk the Hurricane Deck at Cave of the Winds. The trolley cuts down on park walking and stops at five locations. Guides such as Steve, Jen, Paul, and Howie are known for clear stories, humor, and patient help.

“Steven was excellent. Wished there were seats available us in the trolley ride”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.American Tour & Maid of The Mist

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 677 reviews · 4 hours · from $99

Spend about four hours exploring Niagara Falls from the US side with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, the American Observation Tower, Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, and Niagara Falls State Park. Guides such as Lenny, Randy, Nancy, and Pat are known for keeping the day organized, lively, and informative.

“Had a wonderful tour guide who was very knowledgeable about the history and surroundings of Niagara Falls. He made it very enjoyable!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Niagra Falls, USA Side: Boat, Cave and Shuttle pass Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 653 reviews · 3 hours · from $95

Spend three hours exploring Niagara Falls State Park with a licensed English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Ride the Maid of the Mist, visit Cave of the Winds, stop at Luna Island and Terrapin Point, and use the park shuttle. Guides such as Jacob, Brian, Cherie, and Billy add history, humor, photo tips, and practical help.

“Our tour guide was very informative and funny! Our shuttle driver was the same, also prompt. Maid of the mist is a must do because you're up close to the falls feeling the intensity of the mist!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Guided Tour with Maid of the Mist Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 645 reviews · 2 hours · from $56Best value

Meet your English-speaking guide outside Hard Rock Cafe for a two-hour Niagara Falls State Park walk and Maid of the Mist cruise. You’ll see all three falls from the Observation Deck, use the Crow’s Nest walkway, and hear local history and practical tips from guides such as Jacob, Brian, Ricky, and Bernie. Ponchos are provided.

“Jacob, our guide was engaging, entertaining and provided great information and tips. He was fantastic. We will come back and bring others to the Maid of the Mist. Thanks for an excellent experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Niagara Falls USA, Open-Top (Wet) Jet Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 600 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $73

Board an open-top Wet Jet in Lewiston for a 45-minute run through the Niagara River’s rapids and Whirlpool. A Coast Guard certified captain handles the boat while guides such as Adam, Tori, Jason, and Lexi keep the ride lively. You get a poncho and life jacket, but bring dry clothes and remember: Niagara Falls is not visible from this tour.

“Had a great time did it for my husbands birthday yesterday he had a ball would like to bring the family.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Niagara Falls USA: Cave of the Winds & Maid of the Mist Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 550 reviews · 3 hours · from $166

This three-hour USA-side tour pairs the seasonal Maid of the Mist with Cave of the Winds, Goat Island, the Observation Tower, and key waterfall viewpoints. Your English-speaking guide, often guides such as Jimmy, Saied, Dalton, or Touseef, handles driving, tickets, and timing in a luxury Mercedes van. Winter departures replace the boat with Niagara Virtual.

“Fantastic our tour guide was so knowledgeable. Very informative information was given to us . I would love to have him as a tour guide again . Hopefully next time .”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.All Attractions Niagara Falls American Tour with Boat Much More

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 549 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $79

Spend 4 to 5 hours exploring Niagara Falls from the US side with a guide, visiting the Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, Observation Tower, Goat Island, Luna Island, and Terrapin Point. Pickup is available in Niagara Falls, New York. Guides such as Debbie, Mark, and Jimmy have helped make this busy sightseeing day run smoothly.

“It was a fantastic experience our tour guide was the best and went above and beyond for us all. We would defiantly recommend”

Check availability →Read our full review