how bad do you think a border crossing

[momtoamulan]

would be on a weekend in Sept.?

We are using Southwest to fly to Disney...we are taking a later flight..but, now i noticed we could fly at noon (which means we would have to be in the States around 10 am)....

Do you think the border would be really bad?

 

[Princess Stitch]

Not sure where you're from, but we always take the rainbow bridge to go over. I went two weeks ago on a Saturday morning around 10 am and didn't wait longer than 20 minutes to get through. I try to avoid peace bridge and Lewiston bridge because we always seem to get stuck there for over an hour.. we've NEVER had to wait that long at the rainbow bridge..

Good luck on your trip!

 

[momtoamulan]

of those bridges...lol.

Queenston has been really slow getting across lately.

 

[Princess Stitch]

of those bridges...lol.

Queenston has been really slow getting across lately.

Yeah I'm not sure if people either can't be bothered to get off the highway to get to rainbow, or just don't know it's there, but it's always been such a time saver for us!

 

[calgarygary]

Here is a site that should help you judge the border crossing times but I would always allow for an unexpected delay as the crossings can back up at a moments notice. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html

 

[101DalmFan]

My girlfriend's sister and her husband used Queenston-Lewiston to cross last weekend (Sat morning) -- they had a 2 hour wait! DH and I used Queenston-Lewiston to cross last September (Saturday, about dinner time) and we had well over an hour wait. In June and again in July I crossed at Rainbow and had basically no wait, once was a Friday morning and the other time was early on a Saturday morning. I also crossed early on a Saturday morning in June at Fort Erie and didn't have a wait.

Rainbow is great because there are no trucks allowed, and there are usually several booths open. And if it's near lunch time, you're only a few minutes away from the WONDERFUL Como restaurant!!

 

[101DalmFan]

One other thing ...... if you have a noon flight out of Buffalo, I would SERIOUSLY consider either staying overnight the night before (get in some last minute Walmart and Target shopping.... and you're very relaxed then on Sat morning too), or cross super early Saturday morning. The problem is that if you get stuck in a horrendous lineup, it's usually too late to bail and drive away to a different crossing. Back in September 05 my girlfriend and I had a flight out of Buffalo that left around noon, and we left Toronto about 6:30 a.m., because we didn't want to get stuck in any rush hour traffic (it was a weekday) and we wanted to allow for any border wait.

 

[Ham Ham]

Part of the problem at the Queenston-Lewiston crossing is that Lewiston is a training center for US customs. Therefore higher chance of officers in training and secondary inspection.

Rainbow & Fort Erie are always better options.

Tune into WBEN 930 AM at the top and bottom of the hour. They often include delays at the crossings.

If I had a flight at noon I would plan to cross non later than 8:00 AM. As mentioned earlier staying overnight is an option, but you are at the mercy of the hotel shuttles.

Here's US customs delay info.
http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/

 

[momtoamulan]

I think we will be moving early, and heading to the Peace Bridge..skip Queenston/Lewston..

The last time we went on a weekend, it was an hour and a half wait for Queenston...

DH says he doesn't mind getting up a little earlier to make sure we make our flight! Yes, I changed the flight, so we can get to Florida in the afternoon, as opposed to the evening!

My parents are on the same flight...so, maybe, if one of us our late, they can hold the plane for us...lol.

 

[OntFamily]

I echo the favourable comments for crossing @ Fort Erie. Most of the time, it has the fastest crossing. On my way to the border, I use the web browser on my cell phone to go to www.gc.ca, click on "services", then "border wait times". I then check to determine which crossing has the shortest wait.


Also, I found today this link
http://www.sheratonniagarafalls.com/webcam-bridgecam

It aims a webcam at the Rainbow Bridge (best resolution during daylight hours).

 

[101DalmFan]

I echo the favourable comments for crossing @ Fort Erie. Most of the time, it has the fastest crossing. On my way to the border, I use the web browser on my cell phone to go to www.gc.ca, click on "services", then "border wait times". I then check to determine which crossing has the shortest wait.


Also, I found today this link
http://www.sheratonniagarafalls.com/webcam-bridgecam

It aims a webcam at the Rainbow Bridge (best resolution during daylight hours).

THANKS for that link to the bridgecam!

 

[jeannief]

timely for me, thanks!
We originally had flights out at 4 pm, but then I found out the 21st is a PA day.... so I changed the flight to the 12:25 so that we could get in while it is still light out and get the kiddos to be early. I'm toying with the idea of staying overnight the Thursday and using the morning for some shopping, but I think it just be too much planning/work/excitement.
We figure leaving around 8 am from north of Toronto and taking the 407 would get us there in plenty of time to still have a quick bite in Buffalo before heading to the airport.

 

[Ham Ham]

timely for me, thanks!
We originally had flights out at 4 pm, but then I found out the 21st is a PA day.... so I changed the flight to the 12:25 so that we could get in while it is still light out and get the kiddos to be early. I'm toying with the idea of staying overnight the Thursday and using the morning for some shopping, but I think it just be too much planning/work/excitement.
We figure leaving around 8 am from north of Toronto and taking the 407 would get us there in plenty of time to still have a quick bite in Buffalo before heading to the airport.

This should work as long as you don't have any delay with traffic, border or at the airport.

Myself I would probably leave at 7:00 just to be sure.

 

[jeannief]

Ham Ham, you have a point! We will probably do that and if we are early... well I'm sure the Target near the airport will keep me busy.