Buffalo border crossing during Cdn Thanksgiving

[Valjean13]

Hi all
I am wondering if anyone is experienced in crossing to Buffalo on the Thanksgiving long weekend. I know it is Columbus Day in the states, so I am not sure if that makes the border extra busy both ways. With our dollar right now I imagine lots of Canadians will be taking advantage of shopping in the US....any guesses as to wait times at the border? We are willing to drive down early in the morning if that is better.

Thanks
Christina

 

[disneyfan2]

i have found the last month or so the weekends are really busy. There is alos alot of construction/traffic going to Niagara. I say go realllly early or later in evening if you are spending th night. We planned a labor day weekdn day trip on the Saturday and we had hit alot of trafic past Grimsby. Once we got to St Catharines, there was a sign stating 1-2 hr delay til border. So we turned around. Who knew how long we would wait at the border.

I got down frequently but now during the weekdays.

Here is a site that estimates border wait times, maybe check it out this weekend and try and see what times are best for when you go next weekend

http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/

 

[PrincessDoubt]

Yup...my boyfriend and I are heading down on the Saturday (October 6). We fly out of Buffalo just before 2pm...I've already told my boyfriend that I want to leave Toronto by 7am at the latest! I know that any traffic/boarder/construction hold ups can last hours and I want to get to Buffalo with tons of time to spare. The later in the day you go, the worse the traffic. If you're going from Toronto, traffic can start at the 403 split (just after Mississauga)...there's a slow down there and it can last until the overpass in Burlington/Hamilton. Then it will slow down around Beamsvilled/Vineland. This is later in the day around noon or later though.

Saturday's seem to be the busiest going from Canada to the US (other than rush hour, which I can't even imagine). I would suggest giving yourself a big window of time if you're flying out of Buffalo. You never know what the hold up could be.

It's also Columbus Day on the Monday in the US (not sure how big an event this is for them)...but I'm not sure that will affect any travel that weekend or not.

We'd probably have gone down on Friday night and stayed in Buffalo, but he's throwing a huge XBox Halo 3 party that night. (I know...pretty crazy)

 

[ntsammy5]

One hour delays are the normal wait these days. Columbus Day is not all that big, but most schools, government offices and banks are closed, so expect longer than normal wait times. Personally, I'm leaving town for the weekend and driving to NC.

 

[Valjean13]

Thanks everyone. We were just thinking of shopping, don't need to catch a flight...so we might play it by ear and just shop in Toronto instead if the border is busy.
Christina