sppunk

Greetings all! I'm needing to drive to Little Current, Ontario, this next weekend and am conflicted about directions near Buffalo/Niagra Falls/St. Catherine, Ontario. The directions I have from two different people vary greatly.

One set goes:
13: Merge onto US-15 N via EXIT 29 toward MANSFIELD (Crossing into NEW YORK). 74.4 miles
14: Merge onto NY-15 N. 39.4 miles
15: Merge onto I-390 N. 48.9 miles
16: Merge onto I-90 W / NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY W via EXIT 12 toward BUFFALO (Portions toll). 58.4 miles
17: Merge onto I-290 W / YOUNGMANN EXPY via EXIT 50 toward NIAGARA FALLS. 9.8 miles
18: Merge onto I-190 N toward NIAGARA FALLS (Portions toll) (Crossing into *CANADA* ONTARIO). 15.1 miles
19: I-190 N becomes QUEENSTON-LEWISTON BRIDGE (Portions toll). 0.4 miles
20: Take PROVINCIAL ROUTE 405 W toward QEW / TORONTO. 5.4 miles
21: Merge onto QEW. 62.8 miles

The other set, from my father-in-law, varies a bit:
Take 390 to 20A toward Warsaw/Buffalo
Take 400 to Buffalo
Follow signs to Peace Bridge/QEW

Can someone familar with this route give me a bit of advice? My concern is, looking at a map, I don't see where 20A and 400 meet up directly - I see having to take a variation of 90 north to meet 400.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

sppunk

What the mess - I totally had Rush on the brain.

My apologoes - NiagAra Falls.

rkkwan

Distance difference is about 30 miles. You'll be slower on US20A, but my wild guess is that it will still save you a few minutes and some gasoline. It'll definitely save you some toll. It's 60 miles of non-freeway vs 90 miles of freeway travel.

If you do the 20A route, you should get off I-390 at Exit 6, and go up NY36 to hit 20A. You can then pick up 400 just east of E. Aurora.

sppunk

rkkwan, thank you kindly. You're an invaluable asset to Fodors!

Is the part over the border and into Canada the best in your opinion as well?

Of course, all this depends on me being able to get out of Harrisburg Friday - the Susquehanna is set to crest between 25-30 feet Thursday evening - 17 is normal flood stage. This is looking dire.

rkkwan

I have always used the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge myself, but I've always used the NYThruway from MA. Using the Peace Bridge will save some miles coming on 400, but I don't know if there may be a wait on the bridge or not. I can say either way. Queenston-Lewiston is seldom congested, that I know.

wow

It's a holiday weekend (July 1st is a holiday in Canada...you knew that, right?) so, it will be busy all weekend but especially Friday, Saturday morning & Monday.
Did you do a Mapquest search?( www.mapquest.com) I find their directions pretty good. It's still a pretty good hike from the border to Littel Current...are you ok w/ that part of the trip?

BuffaloGirl

I agree with your FIL.

20A does, indeed, hook up with the 400 in East Aurora. (It's a very picturesque drive on Rt. 20A). However, the 400 ends at the I-190. Take the I-190 exit to Buffalo, and it's maybe 1/2 mile to the exit for the I-90 to downtown. (Don't be confused....it's 400, to I-190, to I-90). Follow the signs for the Peace Bridge. You'll be on the QEW as soon as you cross into Canada.

All the bridges will be busy due to the holiday weekend, so be patient and make sure to have a full tank of gas!

KathyK

Correction on post above. The 400 ends at the 90, NOT the 190. You would take the 90 towards Buffalo and then after a very short distance you take the 190 north towards downtown Buffalo. There will be signs for the Peace Bridge. The 190 and 90 are often confused. So it's the 400 to the 90 to the 190.

BuffaloGirl

Thanks, KathyK....I'm glad you caught that! (I had a dyslexic moment)!

KathyK

No problem Buffalo Girl, I hesitated in correcting you since you always give such great Buffalo/Niagara Falls advice, but I didn't want the original poster to get lost.

sppunk

Kathy, BuffaloGirl, thank you both kindly. If we get lost, I'll hold it against you two.

The river here isn't going to get as bad as projected - it appears we can still begin the trek on Friday afternoon.

Thanks, again!