Border Crossings Between Canada and United States

Stretching over 8,891 kilometers, the boundary between Canada and the United States stands as the world’s longest undefended international border. When you decide to travel between these neighboring countries, you are participating in a daily exchange of culture and commerce that has defined their relationship for centuries.

With more than 100 official land ports of entry, your options are plentiful. You will find major crossings such as the Ambassador Bridge connecting Detroit to Windsor, the Peace Bridge from Buffalo to Fort Erie, and the Rainbow Bridge offering views of Niagara Falls. Further west, the Peace Arch crossing links Washington state with British Columbia. Dozens of smaller crossings, like the one between Derby Line, Vermont, and Stanstead, Quebec, dot the landscape, each serving local communities.

Be aware that wait times can increase significantly during holidays and summer weekends. Winter travel, particularly in the prairie provinces and northern states, can be impacted by severe weather, so checking road conditions before you depart is always a good practice. An unusual feature of this border is the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, purposefully constructed straddling the line in Stanstead and Derby Line; you can enter the building in one country and sit in the opera house in the other. Make sure you have your passport and any required travel documents accessible for inspection.