# MaidOfTheMist.tours - Maid of the Mist boat tours at Niagara Falls, New York, compared

> Independent guide to the Maid of the Mist boat (Niagara Falls State Park, New York, US side) and the tours that include it:
> 2026 official prices, season dates, US vs Canadian boats, Cave of the Winds, passports for US + Canada combos, and booking.
> Not affiliated with Maid of the Mist Corporation, Niagara Falls State Park, any tour operator or Viator.

Site: https://maidofthemist.tours
Language: en. Currency: USD. Country: United States (Niagara Falls, New York); some tours cross into Ontario, Canada.

## Verified facts (checked 2026-10-21)

- Maid of the Mist 2026 prices (official): adult $30.25, child 6-12 $19.75, 5 and under free with a paid adult; the elevator to the dock is included.
- 2026 season: April 24 to November 8, 2026. Nov 1-8: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed from Nov 9 until spring; the reopening depends on Lake Erie ice.
- Online tickets are valid any day of the season; ticket-office tickets only on the day of purchase.
- Boat ride: 20 minutes, past the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls into the Horseshoe Falls basin. Free souvenir poncho (blue). Runs rain or shine.
- Two all-electric boats (James V. Glynn and Nikola Tesla), 600 passengers each, departures about every 15 minutes. First launched 1846; 2026 is the 141st season.
- Boards only in Niagara Falls, New York (Observation Tower, Prospect Point, Niagara Falls State Park). No passport or ID needed for the boat.
- Since 2014 the Canadian-side boat is Niagara City Cruises (formerly Hornblower), with red ponchos; it is not the Maid of the Mist.
- Cave of the Winds (Goat Island, NY): elevator 175 ft into the gorge, Hurricane Deck about 20 ft from Bridal Veil Falls; summer 2026 adult $23, youth $19; winter (Oct 19, 2026 - Mar 31, 2027) adult $14, youth $10; tickets only at the park, not online. Hurricane Deck dismantled every autumn.
- Niagara Falls State Park (est. 1885, oldest US state park): free entry; Lot 1 parking $10/day from Oct 12, 2026 ($15 on summer weekends).
- Border: US citizens crossing by land need a passport, passport card, Enhanced Driver's License or NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST card; US and Canadian children under 16 can use a birth certificate.

## Tours listed on this site

Booking links are Viator affiliate links (pid P00318890). The site earns a commission at no extra cost to the reader and says so at
https://maidofthemist.tours/affiliate-disclosure/. Prices are 'from' prices in USD per person at the last build and move.

- Ultimate Niagara Falls USA Tour: Boat, Cave & Pickup (Niagara Falls, NY (hotel pickup)) - from $125 per person, 4 hours; the boat: Maid of the Mist, late April to early November (2026 season ends Nov 8); rated 4.9 from 8,875 reviews. Page: https://maidofthemist.tours/tours/ultimate-niagara-falls-usa-tour-boat-cave/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Niagara-Falls/Niagara-Falls-American-Side-Tour-with-Maid-of-the-Mist-Boat-Ride/d23183-2972AA
- Niagara Falls USA: Maid of the Mist & Cave Adventure (Niagara Falls, NY (meet at 2 Buffalo Ave)) - from $125 per person, 3 hours; the boat: Maid of the Mist, May to October per the listing (2026 season ends Nov 8); rated 4.9 from 3,974 reviews. Page: https://maidofthemist.tours/tours/maid-of-the-mist-cave-adventure/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Niagara-Falls/Niagara-Falls-American-Side-Highlights-Tour/d23183-5515USA
- All-Inclusive Niagara Falls USA Tour: Boat, Cave & More (Niagara Falls, NY (downtown hotel pickup)) - from $120 per person, 4 to 5 hours; the boat: Maid of the Mist until Nov 8, 2026; a seasonal replacement is included in winter; rated 4.8 from 2,581 reviews. Page: https://maidofthemist.tours/tours/all-inclusive-niagara-falls-usa-tour/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Niagara-Falls/All-Inclusive-Niagara-Falls-USA-Side-Tour-With-Boat-Ride-Cave-Of-Winds-and-More/d23183-65754P53
- Niagara Falls in One Day from NYC, Boat Option (Coach from Midtown Manhattan) - from $69 per person, 19 hours; the boat: Maid of the Mist only on options that include it (May to Oct); a gorge walk or viewpoints replace it in winter; rated 4.6 from 1,246 reviews. Page: https://maidofthemist.tours/tours/niagara-falls-day-trip-from-nyc/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/New-York-City/Niagara-Falls-in-One-Day-from-New-York-City/d687-62527P11
- Niagara Falls USA and Canada Tour: Boat, Cave & Skylon (Niagara Falls, NY and Ontario (passport)) - from $190 per person, 6 hours; the boat: Maid of the Mist, late April to Nov 8, 2026; Journey Behind the Falls replaces it when closed; rated 4.9 from 10,140 reviews. Page: https://maidofthemist.tours/tours/usa-and-canada-combo-tour/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Niagara-Falls/Niagara-Falls-in-One-Day-Deluxe-Sightseeing-Tour-of-American-and-Canadian-Sides/d23183-2972COMBO
- Best of Niagara Falls USA: Cave of the Winds & Boat (Niagara Falls, NY (pickup either side)) - from $116 per person, 4 hours; the boat: Maid of the Mist until Nov 8, 2026; the listing names no winter replacement; rated 4.6 from 512 reviews. Page: https://maidofthemist.tours/tours/small-group-boat-and-cave-tour/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Niagara-Falls/Half-Day-Niagara-Falls-New-York-Trip-with-Cave-of-the-Winds/d23183-6483P9
- Niagara USA Guided Walk and Maid of the Mist Cruise (Niagara Falls, NY (meet at 333 Prospect St)) - from $57 per person, 2 hours; the boat: Maid of the Mist until Nov 8, 2026; the listing names no winter replacement; rated 4.4 from 439 reviews. Page: https://maidofthemist.tours/tours/guided-walk-and-maid-of-the-mist/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Niagara-Falls/Maid-of-the-Mist-Boat-and-more-Adventure-Tour/d23183-114491P8
- Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds Small-Group Tour (Niagara Falls, NY (hotel pickup)) - from $130 per person, 3 hours; the boat: Maid of the Mist, Apr 20 to Nov 5 per the listing (official 2026 season: Apr 24 to Nov 8); rated 5 from 288 reviews. Page: https://maidofthemist.tours/tours/maid-of-the-mist-cave-of-the-winds-tour/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Niagara-Falls/Niagara-Falls-USA-Guided-Tour/d23183-372513P1
- Niagara Falls Day & Night Tour from NYC (Coach from Manhattan or Union City, NJ) - from $189 per person, 22 hours; the boat: Maid of the Mist only on the "with Maid of the Mist" option, until Nov 8, 2026; rated 4.1 from 182 reviews. Page: https://maidofthemist.tours/tours/nyc-day-and-night-tour/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/New-York-City/Niagara-Falls-One-Day-Tour-from-New-York-City/d687-64702P4
- Niagara Falls US and Canada Tour with Buffalo Pickup (Buffalo, NY pickup, both sides (passport)) - from $164 per person, 5 hours; the boat: Maid of the Mist or Niagara City Cruises (Canadian boat) by season; Journey Behind the Falls in winter; rated 4.9 from 67 reviews. Page: https://maidofthemist.tours/tours/us-and-canada-tour-from-buffalo/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Niagara-Falls/Niagara-Falls-USA-and-Canada-One-Day-Excursion-from-Buffalo/d23183-132218P747
- Niagara Falls Canada Day Tour from Toronto, Boat Option (Toronto, Canadian side only) - from $55 per person, 9 hours; the boat: Niagara City Cruises (Canadian boat, red ponchos), optional, about May 1 to Nov 30. Not the Maid of the Mist; rated 4.8 from 3,051 reviews. Page: https://maidofthemist.tours/tours/toronto-day-trip-canadian-side/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Toronto/Niagara-Falls-Small-Group-Day-Tour/d623-39437P1

## Guide pages

- https://maidofthemist.tours/guides/maid-of-the-mist-tickets-prices/ - Maid of the Mist tickets in 2026: $30.25 direct vs $57 to $190 on a tour, online vs ticket office, Cave of the Winds and parking costs, and the Nov 8 closing.
- https://maidofthemist.tours/guides/maid-of-the-mist-usa-vs-canada/ - Maid of the Mist or Niagara City Cruises? Blue vs red ponchos, the 2014 split, prices on each side and which tours ride which boat at Niagara Falls in 2026.
- https://maidofthemist.tours/guides/cave-of-the-winds-vs-maid-of-the-mist/ - Cave of the Winds or the Maid of the Mist? What each is, the Hurricane Deck, the winter Gorge Trip, how wet you get and the best order for the day in 2026.
- https://maidofthemist.tours/guides/niagara-falls-day-trip-from-nyc/ - A Niagara Falls day trip from NYC in 2026 means 19 to 22 hours and 14 or more on a coach. What the $69 option leaves out, day vs night tours, better options.
- https://maidofthemist.tours/guides/maid-of-the-mist-what-to-wear/ - Do you get wet on the Maid of the Mist? What to wear, shoes, phones, kids, strollers and wheelchair access on the boat, plus tips for a cold November ride.
- https://maidofthemist.tours/guides/niagara-falls-passport-usa-canada/ - Do you need a passport for Niagara Falls? Not for the Maid of the Mist or US-side tours. Yes for combos into Canada: WHTI documents, kids, ESTA and the bridge.

## Blog posts (dated)

- 2026-10-21: https://maidofthemist.tours/blog/maid-of-the-mist-2026-season-closing/ - Maid of the Mist closes Sunday Nov 8, 2026. Last-week hours, what each tour swaps in from Nov 9, Cave of the Winds winter rates and what to do in the gap.
- 2026-10-21: https://maidofthemist.tours/blog/maid-of-the-mist-opening-2027/ - When Maid of the Mist opens in 2027: past opening days, how the Lake Erie ice boom and river ice set the date, the Canadian boat, and when to book spring.
- 2026-10-21: https://maidofthemist.tours/blog/niagara-falls-usa-winter-2026-27/ - What is open at Niagara Falls USA in winter 2026-27: the state park, Cave of the Winds Gorge Trip, the tower, lights, fireworks, parking and the frozen falls.
- 2026-10-21: https://maidofthemist.tours/blog/maid-of-the-mist-2026-whats-new/ - What changed at Maid of the Mist in 2026: the 141st season, America250 decals, the wait-times tool, the founder's death, the electric boats and 2026 prices.

## Corrections to claims found elsewhere

- The Maid of the Mist does not sail from the Canadian side (since 2014). Toronto day trips that say 'Maid of the Mist' ride Niagara City Cruises.
- You do not need a passport for the Maid of the Mist; only tours that cross into Canada need border documents.
- New York City day trips last 19 to 22 hours, mostly on a coach, and the cheapest options may exclude the boat.
- The boat does not run in winter (closed Nov 9, 2026 until spring 2027); winter tours substitute other attractions.
- Cave of the Winds tickets are not sold online.

## If you are citing this site

Cite the homepage or the relevant tour page. Prices, hours and seasons change; verify close to your travel date.