Fort George and Old Town NOTL Heritage Tour by Private Car

Parks Canada's own visitor page for Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake, says it plainly: there is no regular public transportation to the site. For a visitor staying at the Falls, that leaves three choices: rent a car and learn the roads, join a coach tour on someone else's timetable, or hand the day to a driver. For older travellers in particular, the third option changes the character of the trip. You walk the ramparts at your own pace, sit down when you want to, and the car is at the gate when you are ready for lunch. This is how NiagaraFallsLimo.net plans a heritage day around Fort George, Queenston Heights and the Old Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

How far is Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake, from the Falls, and how do you get there without driving?

The Parkway route is the one to take. It follows the river north from the Falls past the Floral Clock and through Queenston, then runs between orchards and vineyards until the road becomes Queens Parade at the edge of town. The fort is on the river side, just before the Old Town grid begins. The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW, the main highway through Niagara) is slightly quicker for a direct run, but it skips everything that makes the drive worth doing.

Rounded distances on the heritage route:

• Fallsview hotels to Brock's Monument: roughly 15–20 minutes, 11 km (7 mi).
• Brock's Monument to the Laura Secord Homestead in Queenston village: under 2 km, a few minutes.
• Queenston to Fort George: about 10 km (6 mi), around 15 minutes.
• Fort George to Queen Street in the Old Town: a minute or two by car, or a short level walk.

A heritage day at an easy pace

This outline assumes a mid-morning start and a guest who would rather not rush.

9:45. Leave the hotel. The chauffeur collects you from the hotel entrance. From the Fallsview strip the first stretch of the Parkway passes the Horseshoe Falls, so the day begins with the view.

10:15. Queenston Heights. Brock's Monument stands 56 m (185 ft) above the escarpment, and the park around it has picnic areas, carpet-bedding displays and the Landscape of Nations Memorial, which honours the Haudenosaunee and Indigenous allies of the War of 1812. You do not have to climb the 235 steps to enjoy it. Our separate post on Queenston Heights and Brock's Monument covers this stop in detail.

11:15. Fort George. Budget two to three hours. Parks Canada suggests "a few hours" for the fort, explored on your own or on a guided tour.

13:30. Lunch in the Old Town. Queen Street is a short hop from the fort. Our Niagara-on-the-Lake restaurant guide lists places to book ahead.

15:00. A slow walk, then home. Shops, cafés and side streets of Victorian houses. The car meets you at an agreed corner, and you are back at the Falls in about half an hour.

Price a heritage day by the hour

What you will find inside Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Fort George was the headquarters of the British Army's Centre Division during the War of 1812, and Parks Canada's Fort George page describes it as a military post that defended Upper Canada against American attacks. The rebuilt fort gives visitors blockhouses, a historic powder magazine and cannons on the lookout, with costumed staff firing muskets and playing period music.

Two things to know before you go:

• Programs peak in summer. The site is open year-round, but musical performances and military demonstrations are at their fullest in the summer months. Check the daily program schedule on the Parks Canada site the week you travel.
• Facilities are good. The Parks Canada visit page lists accessible services, restrooms, a picnic area, a gift shop, an indoor exhibit and pay parking. Dogs on leash are permitted.

Our Fort George attraction page has more on the site itself. Behind the fort, on the open Commons, is Butler's Barracks National Historic Site: five wooden military buildings that tell the story of the site after the war. It is a gentle walk on flat ground, though the grass can be soft after rain.

Brock's Monument in 2026: what has changed

The Friends of Fort George, who run visitor programs at Queenston Heights, say on their Brock's Monument page that planned Parks Canada work means changed opening hours through the end of 2026. Usually, guided battlefield tours are a weekend affair in late spring and a daily one in high summer.

Brock lies buried at the monument, alongside Lieutenant Colonel John Macdonell, who served on his staff and died in the same battle. Niagara Parks dates its construction to 1853, with the unveiling in 1859. For many older visitors the most rewarding part is not the climb but the view from the park edge over the lower Niagara River, with New York State on the far bank.

The Old Town on foot, the car close by

Old Town Niagara-on-the-Lake is compact and mostly flat, which suits a slow afternoon. A few anchors:

• Queen Street for shops and cafés.
• The Prince of Wales Hotel at 6 Picton Street, one of the Old Town's landmark hotels.
• The Court House Theatre, where the Shaw Festival began in 1962 and returned for its 2026 season after a rebuild. Our Shaw Festival page explains the theatres and timings.

What makes the car valuable here is short hops rather than long ones. Fort George to Queen Street is easy for most walkers; Queen Street back to the fort after lunch, in the afternoon heat, may not be. Ask the chauffeur to collect you from the restaurant door. For guests staying the night, our page on Niagara-on-the-Lake inns covers the Old Town hotels.

If you want to slow the afternoon further, a carriage ride along the old streets is a lovely way to see the houses without walking; see our post on horse-drawn carriage rides in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Making the day easy on knees and hips

Heritage sites are, by nature, old. Here is how to keep the day comfortable:

1. Choose the vehicle for the step height. A Standard Sedan (Cadillac XTS or similar) or a Mercedes-Benz E / S-Class is lower and easier to get in and out of than an SUV for many guests. Tell the reservations desk about any mobility needs.
2. Use the wheelchair option. The booker includes a wheelchair option; the accessible transportation page lists what to tell us.
3. Plan rests. Queenston Heights Park has benches and picnic tables. Fort George has a picnic area. The car itself is a rest stop with the heater or air conditioning on.
4. Skip the stairs without guilt. Brock's Monument has 235 steps. Laura Secord Homestead, which Niagara Parks lists as partially accessible, has a second floor reached only by stairs.
5. Book by the hour. It removes the clock. If lunch runs long, nothing needs rescheduling.

Trained service animals are welcome in our vehicles.

Seasons and what is open

• May to October: the Laura Secord Homestead in Queenston is seasonal, May to October, and Niagara Parks shows it closed for the season from mid-October 2026.
• Summer: Fort George's demonstrations are at their busiest, and the Old Town is at its liveliest. Weekend traffic on the Parkway and on Queen Street is heavier.
• Autumn: harvest colour in the orchards along the Parkway. The Shaw Festival's 2026 holiday shows run through December 23.
• Winter: Fort George is open year-round, but programming is lighter. Call the site before a winter visit.

Chauffeur vs rideshare vs taxi for this trip

Rideshare does operate in Niagara, and a single trip from Old Town back to the Falls in the afternoon is usually possible. A multi-stop heritage day is another matter.

The honest verdict: if you only want to go from your Falls hotel to Queen Street and back, a taxi or rideshare will do it. The WEGO pass now includes the Niagara-on-the-Lake shuttle, with transfers at the Floral Clock, and suits a traveller who enjoys buses. For a day with three or four stops, a guest who tires easily, or anyone who wants Brock's Monument and the fort without studying timetables, a chauffeur is the comfortable choice. Our guide to booking a limo explains the booking modes.

Booking it with NiagaraFallsLimo.net in 3 steps

1. Set the route. Pickup is your hotel; the first drop is Brock's Monument or Fort George. For a day with several stops, choose "By the hour"; for a simple trip, see our Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake route.
2. Choose a comfortable car. Fixed, all-in fares appear beside each class. A sedan or the E / S-Class is right for two; a Standard SUV suits a family group of up to six.
3. Add the details. Passengers, mobility notes, wheelchair option, any extras. Pay securely; the confirmation comes by email.

Arriving from Toronto? Pearson to Niagara-on-the-Lake is about 120 km (75 mi), usually 1 h 15 – 1 h 40 off-peak. See our Toronto Pearson transfer page.

Reserve your heritage tour car

Who this day suits

Seniors and their families are the natural fit: history at a walking pace, rests built in, and a car at the door. Couples often add a winery lunch and finish with an evening at the theatre. Individuals travelling alone get a driver who knows the stops and will wait without fuss. Groups, such as a history society outing or a multi-generation family, fit in a Standard SUV, an Executive Sprinter seating up to twelve, or a coach on request.