Maid of the Mist Planning Guides
Planning guides for the Maid of the Mist — ticket price and season, hours, boat vs Cave of the Winds, US side or Canada, wait times, and riding with kids.
Maid of the Mist Hours and Season 2026
The 2026 Maid of the Mist season runs April 24 to November 8; first boat 9am daily, closing 5pm to 8pm by period. The full schedule, boats every 15 minutes, and the best time of day to ride.
Read guide →Maid of the Mist Ticket Price: the Booth Price and the Bundle Arithmetic
The 2026 Maid of the Mist ticket is $30.25 adult, $19.75 child 6–12, free under 5 — sold only by Maid of the Mist, not timed, first come first served. What tour bundles add to it and when they are worth it.
Read guide →Maid of the Mist vs Cave of the Winds
The boat puts you in the Horseshoe's roar for 20 minutes ($30.25, not timed); the Cave of the Winds puts you 20 feet from the Bridal Veil on the Hurricane Deck ($23, timed). Which first, which is wetter, and the passes that do both.
Read guide →Maid of the Mist Wait Times
Maid of the Mist tickets are not timed, so the wait is the boarding line: minutes on a May weekday, an hour-plus on July–August afternoons. What decides it, the best hours, and why buying online doesn't shorten it.
Read guide →Maid of the Mist With Kids
Children 5 and under ride the Maid of the Mist free, 6–12 pay $19.75; there is no minimum age, ponchos come in child sizes, and there are no restrooms on board. How to do it with children — and which passes work for families.
Read guide →Maid of the Mist — US Side or Canada?
The Maid of the Mist boards only in Niagara Falls, New York; the Canadian boat is Niagara City Cruises (formerly Hornblower), a different company and ticket. Passport rules, the Rainbow Bridge, and the tours that cross for you.
Read guide →Want the whole US side handled in one morning? See the boat + Cave of the Winds pass →