Canada Day weekend is by far one of the busiest weekends that Niagara Falls sees every year and nothing is worse than coming from Toronto bound and coming to a complete stand-still on the highway. It’s inevitable there WILL be traffic delays, so either leave FIRST thing in the morning or pay the consequence! I have worked on Clifton Hill for 10 years now, commuting from St.Catharines. On the Canada Day weekend what is usually is a 15 minute drive to Clifton Hill can take me up to an hour. HOWEVER, the last 3 years I have smartened up and took three differing routes that took me no time to get to Niagara Falls…and unless you are a local, you probably don’t know of any alternate routes other than taking the 420 to Victoria Av. or the 420 to Stanley Av. (in other words, following what the signs tell you to do). I will share a couple of alternate routes with you and hopefully they help to get you to the “Street of Fun by the Falls”, Clifton Hill, and down to the events at Queen Victoria Park quickly and efficiently. Be sure to print this out and bring it with you on your drive for reference! 🙂
Alternate Route #1 and BEST in my opinion:
-Take the QEW Niagara bound to McLeod Rd.
-Take a left on McLeod Rd. to Stanley Av.
-Take a left on Stanley Av. to Robinson St.
-Take a right on Robinson St. all the way to the end and instead of heading into the Skylon Tower parking lot, take a left into that lot. The parking is cheaper and you will be closer to Clifton Hill and the lot is much more spacious.

*end of Robinson Street. Follow the arrow to the left into that lot*.
Alternate Route #2:
-Take the QEW Niagara to the 420.
-Get off at the Drummond Rd. exit and instead of turning LEFT like everyone else is trying to do, take a RIGHT instead (Frederica St.).
-Take a left on the first stop sign which is called Highland Av.
-Take Highland Av. all the way down to Lundy’s Lane.
-Take a left on Lundy’s Lane to Main St.
-Turn right on Main St. to Robinson St.
-Turn left on Robinson St. all the way to the end and instead of heading into the Skylon Tower parking lot, take a left into that lot. The parking is cheaper and you will be closer to Clifton Hill and the lot is much more spacious (see map above).

Alternate Route #3:
*Take this route if you decide to take the 420 and the Drummond Rd. cut-off looks a mess.*
-Take the QEW Niagara to the 420.
-Get off at the Stanley Av. cut-off and turn right.
-Take an immediate left on the first street called Kitchener St.
-Follow Kitchener St. down to Macdonald Av.
-Turn right on to Macdonald Av.
-Turn left on Centre St. which turns into Clifton Hill.
-Turn a right on the driveway just after Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum and follow it into the parking lot behind the Clifton Hill Niagara Falls Hotel .

These are three faster ways to maneuver around the city into the heart of the tourism district. Stanley Rd. and Victoria Av. will be jammed solid, so these options will definitely shave off some time.
If you enter the rear parking lot from Robinson Street there is a stairwell at the center of the dead end that will lead you super quick down to the Queen Victoria Park concerts and fireworks without having to battle the crowds down Clifton Hill to the Niagara Parkway. Attached is the photo. If you refer to the very first photo posted in this blog, you will see it from a further distance. This photo is a close-up, and be sure to wear the proper footing when taking this route. *This is not ideal if you require a walker or have a baby stroller*.


*This is a photo heading down the stairwell….

…and into Queen Victoria Park! Enjoy the festivities!
Have a fantastic and safe Canada Day holiday weekend!

Christine
www.cliftonhill.com
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