Booking choice: The all-inclusive USA side tour, from $120 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Both big stops hand you a poncho, and both still soak your lower half. The Cave of the Winds no longer hands out sandals, so your own shoes take the water.
Here is what guests wish they had worn, and how to adjust for the season.
The quick answer
Wear quick-dry clothes, shorts or light trousers you do not mind soaking, and shoes that can get wet with a good grip. You get a poncho on the boat and at the cave. Bring a waterproof phone pouch, dry socks and a change of clothes, plus cash for the guide's tip.
What should you wear on a Niagara Falls tour?
Quick-dry clothes and shoes that can get wet: the boat and the Cave of the Winds will soak you below the waist.
Guests' advice is consistent: wear water clothes and water shoes, or bring a change of clothes. Avoid jeans, which stay heavy and wet for the rest of the day.
Dressed for spray? Check your date for the all-inclusive day with pickup.
Check dates for the all-inclusive USA side tourWhich shoes are best for Niagara Falls?
Water shoes or sport sandals with a strap and a grippy sole: the Cave of the Winds no longer gives out sandals, and the steps are wet.
One guest wrote that flip flops and shorts were the best option; another, on the stairs, simply said "wear good shoes". A closed water shoe covers both: it drains, and it grips the wooden steps.
Do you need to bring a poncho?
No: the Maid of the Mist includes a souvenir poncho, and you get one at the Cave of the Winds too.
Guests suggest doing the boat first and keeping the blue boat poncho, which they find heavier than the yellow one. Hold it closed at the front when the boat turns into the spray.
How do you keep your phone and spare clothes dry?
A waterproof phone pouch around your neck, and a small bag under your poncho with dry socks and shoes for afterwards.
That second tip comes straight from a guest, and it is the one people thank them for. Leave anything you cannot get wet on the bus or at the hotel.
Want somewhere to leave your bag? Hotel pickup means a quick change before dinner.
Explore the all-inclusive USA side tourWhat should you wear in spring and autumn?
Layers: a light jacket under the poncho, and quick-dry trousers rather than shorts.
The spray is cold on cooler days, and the boat runs until November 8 in 2026. Bring a dry top layer for the ride back, and gloves late in the season.
What about winter?
Dress warmly: the boat is closed and the cave becomes a Gorge trip, so you spend more time outdoors at viewpoints.
In winter the all-inclusive tour adds a wine tasting instead of the boat, and the Autumn/Winter option includes a hot drink and a cookie at a local bakery. Waterproof boots with grip beat water shoes on icy paths.
What should you pack in your day bag?
Pack light: you carry it on the boat, the elevator and the walkways.
- Dry socks, a towel and a change of clothes
- Waterproof phone pouch
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Cash for the guide's tip and for lunch (the coupons help)
- A passport only if you are crossing the border
What if it is a hot summer day?
Shorts, a hat and sunscreen; the tour includes bottled water, and the spray cools you down.
Guests on some tours report standing in the heat while other passengers are picked up, so keep water handy. For families, see Niagara Falls with kids.
Ready for the spray? The tour includes the boat, the cave and bottled water.
Check dates for the all-inclusive USA side tourFrequently asked questions
Can I wear flip flops at Niagara Falls?
Guests do, and one called flip flops and shorts the best option. Water shoes with grip are safer on the wet stairs at the Cave of the Winds.
Will my clothes get wet on the Maid of the Mist?
Your top half stays mostly dry under the poncho, but trousers and shoes usually get wet.
Do I need a raincoat?
Not for the spray, because ponchos are provided. A light jacket helps on cool days.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
All-Inclusive USA Side Tour with Boat Ride
- Maid of the Mist boat ride with poncho (in season)
- Cave of the Winds and the Niagara Falls Observation Tower
- Goat Island, Luna Island, Terrapin Point and Prospect Point with a guide
American Side Tour with Maid of the Mist
- Maid of the Mist boat ride (late April to early November)
- Cave of the Winds (late April to early November)
- Prospect Point Observation Tower; American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls viewpoints
