Summer 2012 Border wait times

[CanadaSweetheart]

We are planning a short jaunt cross border some time is month but are wondering which day is the best to go. We were hoping to go on a Saturday to make the most of our trip but when I've checked the bridge wait times for Saturdays, they've been upwards of 2 hours ... total buzz kill!

I was hoping to get your experience.. What day of the week did you go, which bridge did you cross at, and how long did it take you?

Thanks in advance!

[deltone]

I went across on a Thursday morning (two weeks ago) at around 7:30 a.m. at the Gananoque crossing and there was no wait at all. Came back this past Monday at around 3 or 4 p.m. and there was maybe a 5 minute wait. Weekends are always worse and of course, long weekends are horrible.

I notice you are in Toronto so you would be wanting to go to one of the Niagara crossings, I would imagine. Years back, the Queenston/Lewiston crossing was the best but now with GPS's and all the trucks, it's very busy. The GPS directs people to that crossing so it got crazy there. I prefer the Erie crossing now, if I happen to go via the Niagara region.

[yao416]

My magic balls says about 1 hour and 20 minutes wait time.

[woobie]

http://niagarafallsbridges.com/traffic_conditions.php3

This time of year the lines are long, and traffic slows on the QEW as far back as Beamsville or even Grimsby by mid day. Get up early and hit the border before 7 or 8am and your wait shouldn't be too bad, Have your passenger hit the border cam website when you reach St Catharines then decide weither to hit Lewiston or Rainbow, or depending on where your going even Fort Erie.

We go over Sunday mornings and cross at lewiston and our wait is normally 5-10 minutes tops around 7am, coming back at 11am ish the lines can be halway across the bridge to enter the US.

[jaysfan4life]

If you want to save time take the peace bridge

[hank755]

http://niagarafallsbridges.com/traffic_conditions.php3

This time of year the lines are long, and traffic slows on the QEW as far back as Beamsville or even Grimsby by mid day. Get up early and hit the border before 7 or 8am and your wait shouldn't be too bad, Have your passenger hit the border cam website when you reach St Catharines then decide weither to hit Lewiston or Rainbow, or depending on where your going even Fort Erie.

We go over Sunday mornings and cross at lewiston and our wait is normally 5-10 minutes tops around 7am, coming back at 11am ish the lines can be halway across the bridge to enter the US.

+1

[geronimo]

It depends on the day and which bridge you cross. A few weeks ago I went with a tour bus group and we had a long (i.e. 2-hour) wait at the Lewiston-Queenston bridge.

[bilingualmk]

Crossed this past Tuesday, 8am,Peace Bridge one car ahead of me
Returned on Friday, no wait at the Canadian side. Perhaps it is the times that I have crossed but I have never really had a long wait in the mornings returning to the Canadian side. Mornings crossing into the US during the week are generally hit and miss (generally between 10 and 40 minutes)

Otherwise if you are worried about the wait, cross late evening. I crossed the Queenston/Lewiston last year at 10PM into the US and there was no wait at all.

[Owbist]

Get to the border earlier, any time after 9 a.m. you can expect delays especially weekends. I like to cross about 8.30, do my shopping and be back early afternoon but I live only 30 miles from the border.

Also try the Rainbow or the Peace Bridge as the GPS has ruined the Queenston/Lewiston crossing, the GPS points all Torontonians that way and what was once a quiet little crossing has become a hectic spot frequently.

[Sum_guy]

it's not updated for the Peace Bridge but you can look at the twitter feed for Rainbow and Queenston bridges. Look at the historical feeds to get an idea what the wait times will be like. It's what I do.

[CanadaSweetheart]

Thanks for all the input. Since I'm going with my Mom, it will be just about impossible to get my twin babies organised and ready to go so early so I guess we will leave on a Monday. Didn't know about the twitter history thing - such a great idea.. I am going to see if there are any pockets of shorter wait times just in case..