Border crossings from Montreal into the US (New York State)
Jul 1st, 2009, 10:51 AM
#1
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Border crossings from Montreal into the US (New York State)
A few years ago, maybe when the new identification rules were first in effect , the wait at the border going into the US was almost 3 hours on a Sunday morning in July.
How have the waits been lately? I took the main border crossing-- Lacolle to Champlain NY. Is there a good alternative smaller crossing? I don't want to go too far out of my way, heading to Lake George NY.
How have the waits been lately? I took the main border crossing-- Lacolle to Champlain NY. Is there a good alternative smaller crossing? I don't want to go too far out of my way, heading to Lake George NY.
Jul 8th, 2009, 10:58 AM
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You can find border wait times on various websites...
Whenever we see a backup coming down Route 15, we get off at Exit 1, go east to 221 South, then west on Route 9 to I-87. This route adds only 5-6 miles. There's never been any line at all, as most people either don't have maps or have no idea there's another route so nearby. If there's backup ahead of that, you can get off at Exit 6.
Whenever we see a backup coming down Route 15, we get off at Exit 1, go east to 221 South, then west on Route 9 to I-87. This route adds only 5-6 miles. There's never been any line at all, as most people either don't have maps or have no idea there's another route so nearby. If there's backup ahead of that, you can get off at Exit 6.
Jul 8th, 2009, 02:11 PM
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djkbooks , Thank you for the alternate route suggestion. That's the kind of detail that could really help!
I know about the border crossing websites. The US one is what's needed here since the Canadian site only talks about traffic in the opposite direction. I tried to explain that once to a concierge in a Montreal hotel and he thought I was nuts. He didn't know (or care) that the US immigration and customs provides that information too!
The websites don't give historical information, as far as I can tell, just current conditions. Therefore, it doesn't help me figure out if a Sunday morning will be a bad idea. Oh well.
I know about the border crossing websites. The US one is what's needed here since the Canadian site only talks about traffic in the opposite direction. I tried to explain that once to a concierge in a Montreal hotel and he thought I was nuts. He didn't know (or care) that the US immigration and customs provides that information too!
The websites don't give historical information, as far as I can tell, just current conditions. Therefore, it doesn't help me figure out if a Sunday morning will be a bad idea. Oh well.
Aug 10th, 2009, 11:19 AM
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An update:
I checked the US website before I left Montreal and it said there were only 10-15 delays at the main Lacolle to Champlain border, so I chanced it. When I arrived at the border 50 minutes later, the wait really was about 15 minutes. I thought about taking road 202 to an alternate border crossing if necessary (from exit 2, I think) but the road was closed . The only way to get to 202 would then have been from exit 1, which is just by the Lacolle border crossing area anyway, If that border had been busy like in past years, the detour would have been useless since you'd have to get through the traffic right at the border just to get to an alternative crossing.
I think many fewer people from the US are traveling to Canada, at least to Quebec because of the economy in general, the exchange rate, and the passport regulation.
I checked the US website before I left Montreal and it said there were only 10-15 delays at the main Lacolle to Champlain border, so I chanced it. When I arrived at the border 50 minutes later, the wait really was about 15 minutes. I thought about taking road 202 to an alternate border crossing if necessary (from exit 2, I think) but the road was closed . The only way to get to 202 would then have been from exit 1, which is just by the Lacolle border crossing area anyway, If that border had been busy like in past years, the detour would have been useless since you'd have to get through the traffic right at the border just to get to an alternative crossing.
I think many fewer people from the US are traveling to Canada, at least to Quebec because of the economy in general, the exchange rate, and the passport regulation.
