Arrive before 10 a.m, or don't bother driving.

Before 10 a.m, is the magic number on both sides of the border during peak season. Show up at 11 and you’ll be circling lots while families from three tour buses unload into the spot you were eyeing. On weekends and holidays the popular lots fill by midday and don’t clear until late afternoon. The calculus is simple: drag yourself out of bed an hour earlier than you want to, or pay $30+ for a spot that’s a 15-minute walk from the falls anyway.