Best route: Chicago to Niagara Falls late June

I must say our crossing could not have been easier or more pleasant. Just a normal wait in the line of vehicles. We had a big dog in the back seat eagerly wanting attention from the customs official. We had all the necessary papers but he never asked one word about the dog.

It was just a bit more 'serious' coming back into the US, but really no problem.

I'm sure it could be different, but this was our experience.

Call customs at each crossing, they will give you all the information needed to make a plesant crossing. Canadian at Sania & US at Niagara Falls. Each inspection could take a few minutes to a couple of hours it's hard to tell.

I-90 is a known distance and time, no inspections to an from another country!

Canada only if the animals have the proper paperwork.

I would personally favor the I-94 to I-69 to cross over into Canada at Port Huron/Sarnia. This completely avoids Detroit and the crossing at Port Huron is so much better than that in Detroit.

We enjoyed staying a few days at 50 Point Conservation Area on the shores of Lake Ontario. This is a beautiful park and allows an easy drive to visit the Canadian side of the Falls.

We crossed back over into the US at Niagara Falls, NY and visited the Americans side of the Falls.