On our way into Canada, one route we're considering is the 15N thru Coutts crossing. I read that it is one of the busier commercial crossings. I'm assuming the commercial group is separate from the mere mortals in passenger cars and us RV'ers:)?Any opinions on is this going to be a backed up crossing area? Or other suggestions for crossing over into Canada? We are going to be East of the Washington and Idaho area crossings. Which works wellfor us as we do travel with wine on board. One plus, if I've got this right, is the Alberta fees for wines are much less per bottle then the BC crossing. We sure will answer correctly that we have wines on board, and if asked will show them every bottle, so not trying to hide anything. (I get the impression it is the individual agents judgement on if they want to bother with filling out the paperwork for collection of these fees.)As I read about this, I picked up that small border crossings vs large ones like Coutts, have different feels about them? But got the impression that sometimes the smaller crossing staff have more time to spend on the border crossing process:)!Mostly looking for opinions on how busy Coutts is for non commercial traffic, and if others have crossing along Montana they specifically like.Thanks,Smitty

Being Canadian perhaps our experience is not the same as for US citizensbut we cross there all the time. We try to get there early in the morning, usually stay in Shelby the night before but we have never been held up for more than 15 minutes and we find the agents to be very nice. We have at times been over our allowance and told them so and have never been asked to pull over or pay duty. One time we had to purchase new tires for our truck as we had a flat that could not be fixed. Being an unusual tire size, we had to purchase 4 new tires in Idaho. They were not cheap so when we went through customs we declared them along with all the other things that we had bought over our winter stay in AZ. We fully expected to pay duty and did double check to make sure that the agent had hear us and their comment was, that we were honest, so have a nice day!We don't normally have liquor, sometimes a few bottles of beer but do have cigarettes which we always declare. My advise is always to be honest and you should not have any trouble.Have a safe trip.

We have used the Sweetgrass/Coutts crossing many times going into Alberta. The commercial part is off to the right from where you will go but there could be a bit of a back up, or nobody for miles, for us regular folk :). Just answer the questions that you're asked and no more. They may or may not ask about liquor but probably will. In Sweetgrass just before you go to Canada you will see an exit for Sweetgrass. There's a duty free shop there if you want to get something. Just for your info, there's been a dust up about the customs agents using their discretion about letting people go through when there is duty to be collected, so they might not be letting people through that they might previously have. You might be paying for extra wine etc. Good luck.

I passed through there a couple years ago. I got into the wrong lane and it was a nightmare to change lanes with the TT. I answered all the standard questions and then went on to be questioned about the TT. They wanted a lot of info as to when, where, how much was paid... They were only satisfied when I showed them the original bill of sale and registration documentation from Canada.

We cross there every year. VERY EASY. Stay in the left lane. Never waited more than 10 minutes. Good luck.

Cross there most years in April (going north). Never had much to declare so can't comment on that, but have never got through in less than an hour. My average is 1.5 hr wait. I usually get there between 11 and 12.

Montana to Canada Border Crossing - Coutts | Good Sam Community

Elizabeth24
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
Being Canadian perhaps our experience is not the same as for US citizens
but we cross there all the time. We try to get there early in the morning, usually stay in Shelby the night before but we have never been held up for more than 15 minutes and we find the agents to be very nice. We have at times been over our allowance and told them so and have never been asked to pull over or pay duty. One time we had to purchase new tires for our truck as we had a flat that could not be fixed. Being an unusual tire size, we had to purchase 4 new tires in Idaho. They were not cheap so when we went through customs we declared them along with all the other things that we had bought over our winter stay in AZ. We fully expected to pay duty and did double check to make sure that the agent had hear us and their comment was, that we were honest, so have a nice day!

We don't normally have liquor, sometimes a few bottles of beer but do have cigarettes which we always declare. My advise is always to be honest and you should not have any trouble.

Have a safe trip.
Pipeman
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
We have used the Sweetgrass/Coutts crossing many times going into Alberta. The commercial part is off to the right from where you will go but there could be a bit of a back up, or nobody for miles, for us regular folk :). Just answer the questions that you're asked and no more. They may or may not ask about liquor but probably will. In Sweetgrass just before you go to Canada you will see an exit for Sweetgrass. There's a duty free shop there if you want to get something. Just for your info, there's been a dust up about the customs agents using their discretion about letting people go through when there is duty to be collected, so they might not be letting people through that they might previously have. You might be paying for extra wine etc. Good luck.
danager
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
I passed through there a couple years ago. I got into the wrong lane and it was a nightmare to change lanes with the TT. I answered all the standard questions and then went on to be questioned about the TT. They wanted a lot of info as to when, where, how much was paid... They were only satisfied when I showed them the original bill of sale and registration documentation from Canada.
John___Angela
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
We cross there every year. VERY EASY. Stay in the left lane. Never waited more than 10 minutes.

Good luck.
netjam
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
Cross there most years in April (going north). Never had much to declare so can't comment on that, but have never got through in less than an hour. My average is 1.5 hr wait. I usually get there between 11 and 12.
pigman1
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
We've been through at that site a number of times, the latest being last May. Never had a problem, or a question, but we're always sure we're below on all alcohol and tobacco limits. Take off your sun glasses, answer just what you're asked and there shouldn't be an issue. As others have said, RV's are in the LEFT lane, commercial vehicles in the RIGHT. We've never had more than 6 ahead of us and minimal delays.
rag-ftw
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
On the "other crossing" track, we crossed at Piegan, MT around 8am enroute to Cardston. It took just over 4 minutes to cross! Obviously no one in front of us and no detailed inspection. The agent, my wife, or myself did not move from our chairs during the entire crossing.
We refueled in Browning, MT
Murphsmom
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
We crossed just north of Eureka MT last summer. Had all our documentation for the dogs, etc., so we could go to Fernie for the day. They didn't even care about the dogs' certificates and vet letters, and the only question we were asked (because of our Idaho plates) was whether we had any firearms on board. Zipped right through going north, but it was really backed up headed south in the way back to Eureka. Probably something to do with it being the Canadian long August weekend. It still didn't take much more than 20 minutes, though.
bradyk
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
As a regular traveller that direction and live not far from there I prefer either going through Peigan as was suggested earlier or cross a bit sooner at Roosville and come through BC along the way depending on if you would be going through Glacier park area or not. Going through Sweetgrass would be doubling back if you are coming from the coast and these 2 others would save a bit of travel especially Roosville if you are not doing the Glacier area.We like Peigan the best as it is always quiet and no one there and is pretty much straight north to head to Calgary.
Keep in mind custom fees are based on federal govt. Just watch provincial sales taxes along the way as we have none in Alberta and you get gouged in B.C.
grooveman
Explorer
Apr 14, 2014
I used to live and work at Sweet Grass. Coutts generally is never very busy except for the time around the first week in April when all the Canadians decide to return to Canada at the same time then it can be a long wait time to get across.. Most of the time however its not very busy.
Generally the wait time averages less than a half hour to go North.