Crossing the boarder at Buffalo

There are Nexus lanes on the bridges being discussed. They all have No RV permitted for those lanes. We have Nexus and although we show it when crossing in the coach we wait in the passenger car lanes. When in the car we cross the Whirlpool St Bridge since that is Nexus only, never a wait.

That is just FYI not useful to the OP.

Tom/Barb wrote:

mtrumpet wrote:
I only live about 15 minutes from the Peace Bridge.

I recommend using the Peace Bridge at Buffalo or the Rainbow Bridge up at Niagara Falls (You'll also get a nice view of the falls when crossing the Rainbow Bridge).

Can you get a 40' class A across the "Rainbow Bridge" I thought the sign says "no RVs"

I don't recall ever seeing such a sign. Unless that's something that has been recently added? I haven't been across the Rainbow Bridge in awhile now. They do let tour busses cross back and forth, so the size of the vehicle is not an issue.

Here's a link to the Niagara Falls Bridge commission web page. It only mentions "No Commercial Trucks" with regard to the Rainbow Bridge, but says nothing about RV's.

Niagara Falls Bridge Comission

As others have said, non-weekend, and non-holidays are much easier for crossings. I find that late morning seems to work well when I have to cross in either direction. Of all the crossings that I have done, the Peace Bridge is probably the easiest place to cross of all the major high volume crossings.

Considering May 1, 2014 is a Thursday, I wouldn't anticipate as much of a wait as if it were Friday.

mtrumpet wrote:
I only live about 15 minutes from the Peace Bridge.

I recommend using the Peace Bridge at Buffalo or the Rainbow Bridge up at Niagara Falls (You'll also get a nice view of the falls when crossing the Rainbow Bridge).

Can you get a 40' class A across the "Rainbow Bridge" I thought the sign says "no RVs"

wny_pat wrote:
As long as it isn't a Canadian holiday, you shouldn't have any problems. But if it is a holiday, all bets are off. And often the Queenston - Lewiston Bridge is quicker is quicker than the Peace Bridge/. But the last I was up there, the I-190 north of Grand Island was quite rough.

I cross all the time and can't remember the last time when Queenston was better than Peace Bridge. Most times of the day Queenston is 30 minutes or more so we simply avoid it.

It's always a good idea to check the border wait times web sites so you can adjust before committing to any one crossing. I find the US border crossing estimates are fairly realistic most of the time.

I only live about 15 minutes from the Peace Bridge.

I recommend using the Peace Bridge at Buffalo or the Rainbow Bridge up at Niagara Falls (You'll also get a nice view of the falls when crossing the Rainbow Bridge).

I do not recommend the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge. Many times, the Lewiston-Queenston is backed up twice as long (time wise) as the Peace Bridge. Also, there are a lot of "trainees" working the Lewiston-Queenston which slow things down, especially when commercial traffic is high.

The Rainbow Bridge up at Niagara Falls does not allow commercial traffic, but you're OK in a motorhome. It is also the shortest bridge to cross. However, you will have a lot of auto (tourist) and even pedestrian traffic, but it moves along pretty well.

Bea:
I told them to look out for you. LOL

Also if you are the quota for that week to be searched. We were held up an hour 2 years ago crossing into Canada being searched.

Wow, you got a lot of good and accurate answers. We cross into Canada and back multiple times in a year, and often in our coach. The only thing I would like to add is that you are best to have passports and other certificates that matter (like rabies for the dog) in hand and pass then along as soon as possible. The Canadian customs people are always a pleasure. The American side - Well, Be sure you give answers that are a brief as possible and do not volunteer anything. Coming into the US, you will be very restricted as to what food stuffs you can bring along. We find the smart move is to take (into Canada) only what you expect to need. We were held up once because we had a can labeled "Canadian Salmon". The were going to confiscate it until I showed them that it was canned in Ketchikan AK.

Safe Travel.

Matt