Niagara Falls, New York, is the U.S. gateway to Niagara Falls State Park. From a downtown hotel near Old Falls Street you can walk to Prospect Point and the Maid of the Mist. Cave of the Winds and Terrapin Point are on Goat Island, over the park bridges.
From Prospect Point on the U.S. bank, look across the American Falls and down into the gorge. The Observation Tower and Maid of the Mist departure are nearby. Follow the park paths over to Goat Island for Luna Island, Cave of the Winds and Terrapin Point beside Horseshoe Falls. The island has viewpoints but no hotels.
Old Falls Street links the park entrance with downtown restaurants and the convention center. Third Street and Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino are farther inland. From a hotel on Niagara Falls Boulevard, the falls are usually a drive or a bus ride away, so look at the address before you take the lower rate.
North along the river, the Aquarium of Niagara and the Schoellkopf ruins lead toward the gorge trails. Whirlpool and Devil’s Hole State Parks are farther from the main falls, so take a shuttle or drive. Read up on trail difficulty before you head down into the gorge.
Niagara Falls, Ontario, is a separate city across the Rainbow Bridge. A U.S.-side hotel is not on the Canadian promenade, and you need the right travel documents to cross the border. Buffalo Niagara International Airport is about 30 miles from the state park. Amtrak’s Niagara Falls, NY station is away from the main falls.