niagara speedway

Ontario's own real-life Mario Kart track is officially open for the season

Pick your player and prepare to shift it into high gear, because this Ontario go-kart track that looks like something out of Mario Kart has officially re-opened for the season.

There's no shortage of fun things to do around Ontario once warm weather hits, like taking a stroll along the Niagara White Water Walk, checking out one of the province's breathtaking waterfalls or, hey, why not take a ride on the world's only roller coaster located atop a Burger King location?

If you're in the mood for something a little more high octane, though, it doesn't get much better than making the trip to Niagara Falls' Clifton Hill and taking a ride on the Niagara Speedway.

The 2,000 ft.-long go-kart track spans across 4 acres and reaches a top height of four storeys, making it the longest elevated track in North America and, more importantly, a really wild ride.

"Though riders may feel like they are flying over a cliff at certain points during the ride, extensive safety features were built into the Speedway attraction," a description of the ride on Clifton Hill's website reads. Don't mind if I do!

Each kart comes equipped with a 9-horsepower, 4-stroke Honda motor, which allows them to reach top speeds of 32 km per hour, and if that doesn't sound fast to you, just wait until you're feeling it while careening around corners and navigating drops over Niagara.

Unsurprisingly, the attraction is weather-dependent, so its availability can vary day-to-day, but it did officially open for the season in late March and, barring any major weather events, will stay that way until late fall.

Each race lasts around 5 minutes, and costs $13 per driver. Additional riders can tag along for $4, and tickets are purchased on-site at Clifton Hill.

Currently, Niagara Speedway is open from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Sundays.

While you're at Clifton Hill, you can also check out a number of other attractions like the Niagara SkyWheel, which is one of Canada's largest observation wheels, a dinosaur-themed mini golf course and the Movieland Wax Museum.

If, on your next road trip, you're feeling like you could do with some more exciting driving, this should most definitely be a stop on your itinerary.

Lead photo by

Erman Gunes/Shutterstock.com


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