OT-US Thanksgiving border crossing

[SherryG]

Just wanted to hear from anyone who has crossed the border from Ontario into Buffalo at US Thanksgiving time. My daughter has a hockey tourney in Pittsburgh that weekend & we were wondering when the best time to cross would be. Early on Thursday or later that day? What kind of wait times should we expect? Is one bridge better to try then another? Thanks for all your help!

 

[fanoftinkerbell]

We have found early mornings work better for crossing.. As fo which bridge it's hit or miss...

 

[SherryG]

Anyone else??

 

[SherryG]

Bumping!?

 

[OntFamily]

I believe all major stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday) so this will mean the border crossing will be not crowded during the day. However, many stores open for Black Friday sales at midnight (meaning as the night goes on, the lineups may increase).

Last year, I crossed at the Peace Bridge @ 9:30pm on Thanksgiving Day, and had no abnormal weight.

 

[MikeJ]

Just wanted to hear from anyone who has crossed the border from Ontario into Buffalo at US Thanksgiving time. My daughter has a hockey tourney in Pittsburgh that weekend & we were wondering when the best time to cross would be. Early on Thursday or later that day? What kind of wait times should we expect? Is one bridge better to try then another? Thanks for all your help!

We've done the Pittsburgh tournament the past two years, but we bussed down. We crossed at Fort Erie in the evening on Thursday and had little wait (but the bus line is different from the car line).

Coming back, however, was another story. Both years we've had a wait to get back into Canada (one year 90 minutes, the other, 30). CBSA has been diligent in enforcing payment on shopping trips and we've been caught both times. Two years ago, after waiting over an hour and watching two buses ahead of us get completely unloaded we dreaded when the agent came on board. She had two questions for us when she saw what we were: "Girls hockey tournament?" "Yes." "Anything to declare?" "No." "OK, away you go..." She wasn't even on the bus 30 seconds...

No Pittsburgh for us this year - Rhode Island instead. Now we have to find all the good Black Friday shopping places in the Cranston area.

- Mike

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I crossed last year around noon on the friday and around 10:30 am on the Sunday and it was fine. Less than a 5 minute wait each way.

 

[great white north]

One thing that may play out a little diffent this year is the fact that so many people use their GPS unit for travelling. They all seem to direct you to cross at the Queenston/Lewiston bridge. During the Long weekend in May their was a 90min wait at that bridge and nothing at the Peace Bridge or Rainbow bridge. The local radio stations were broadcasting for people to use the other bridges but people are set on following their GPS. My #1 tip is to call 1-800-715-6722 for Niagara border bridge times as you get closer to the border. They are updated every 30 mins.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Thank you I was searching for that number!

 

[SherryG]

Bumping!