Lynden/Aldergrove Border Crossing

[dtoste77]

Anyone have any experience with this crossing? We're going to Vancouver next month and considering it as an alternative to the Pacific Truck Crossing. I hear it's wider and has better wait times. We'd then take it to 1 and head over to Capilano where we're staying.

We're in a 32' Class A with toad. We're coming up from CA on the 5.

Thanks!

[Tom_Barb]

isa wrote:
"We just crossed at Sumas south bound, total time required = 6 minutes. (with the coach)"

You were lucky, most times I go thru there it is a 20min. wait or longer. The Hwy. 539 / Guide Meridian sometimes called the Aldergrove/Lynden border xing usually has the shortest wait times.

At the time we entered the gate, the sign said Sumas 20 minutes, alder grove 10 minutes, we laughed at the correctness of the times.

[isa]

"We just crossed at Sumas south bound, total time required = 6 minutes. (with the coach)"

You were lucky, most times I go thru there it is a 20min. wait or longer. The Hwy. 539 / Guide Meridian sometimes called the Aldergrove/Lynden border xing usually has the shortest wait times.

[Tom_Barb]

We just crossed at Sumas south bound, total time required = 6 minutes. (with the coach)

[slickest1]

I have been through with my car but not the Rv since they rebuilt but it seems the lanes look a little wider. They probably are not that much wider but every little bit helps. Going back into the US you can use the truck lane there and it is really wide.

[dtoste77]

slickest1 wrote:
I use both Sumas and Aldergrove crossings regularly. Sumas is often more busy than Aldergrove so we go there when that happens. I find Aldergrove easier with a Class A as the booths seem to be wider.
If you cross at Aldergrove it is a straight shot to hwy 1 and then straight into Vancouver. Yes the traffic is busy but if you do it in the late morning early afternoon it will probably be the best time. Sumas will take you farther east than you need to go for not much benefit. The Peace Arch and Truck crossings are usually busier and more traffic. I would do Aldergrove but that's just me.

Thanks everyone. At this point I think I'm going through Aldergrove. I'm never too concerned about time it takes. I get there when I get there. Thanks for the tips. I'll fill up before I get in and as far as a brake systems I use an RVI so I should be good to go.

Slickest1, you mention using Aldergrove frequently. Is the an RV Lane or is it just the standard passenger lane? I believe it was re-designed recently not sure if you've been there since.

[myredracer]

Tom/Barb wrote:
Going north it is easy, (at any port of entry). The Canadians do not hassle you like the American Bureaucrats.

And here I thought maybe it was just me... 😞 I got pulled over for a "random compliance" inspection the weekend before last at the truck crossing. US Border guy had a handful of the orange slips before I even pulled up to him and there was a few other RVs there before me. We've got NEXUS and they still think we are suspect? We've never been pulled over in our car, just with the TT. Last year I got pulled over 3 times for a compliance inspection. Some of the CBP officers sure can be pretty nasty. Never any sort of hassle going back into Canada and never get pulled over for an inspection.

[slickest1]

I use both Sumas and Aldergrove crossings regularly. Sumas is often more busy than Aldergrove so we go there when that happens. I find Aldergrove easier with a Class A as the booths seem to be wider.
If you cross at Aldergrove it is a straight shot to hwy 1 and then straight into Vancouver. Yes the traffic is busy but if you do it in the late morning early afternoon it will probably be the best time. Sumas will take you farther east than you need to go for not much benefit. The Peace Arch and Truck crossings are usually busier and more traffic. I would do Aldergrove but that's just me.

[Tom_Barb]

Going north it is easy, (at any port of entry). The Canadians do not hassle you like the American Bureaucrats.

[Tom_Barb]

Z-Peller wrote:
I think Tom/Barb is confusing Sumas with Aldergrove.

No, I don't get lost that easy.

Sumas is the most Laid back crossing you can do.

I spend less time crossing there, than any other crossing.

Once we spent 4.5 hours waiting in line, then another 3.5 hours have the coach inspected in the special lock down area.

And another time we were told we could not cross there, we had to return to Canada and cross at the Lynden commercial crossing because we were transporting a M/C on a trailer. That crossing took 4.5 hours because they wanted to check VIN numbers of the M/C. We had the M/C's Wa. license and registration.

[myredracer]

Northbound through the Pac. Hwy truck crossing is easy. They've just repaved the road right after the booths and they got rid of the annoying speed bumps they had. Hwy 15 is a good route and will take you to near the east side of the Port Mann bridge.

If it were me, I'd go through the Peace Arch crossing or truck crossing if heading on to the North Shore area. Going up the Guide Meridan (hwy 539) through Bellingham can be slow (esp. on weekends) and there's a series of annoying roundabouts (as mentioned above) that you have to pass through. You could turn right on 8th ave. after Peace Arch and hop over to hwy 15 and then go north. That'd be my pick...

Avoid going up hwy 99 towards or into Vancouver as there is no easy/direct route through Vancouver. You want to cross over the Iron Workers Memorial bridge and absolutely do not want to end up going over the Lions Gate bridge with an RV.

If you do decide to go through the Aldergrove crossing, I'd turn left/west on 16th ave. and go over to hwy 15. 16th ave. is one lane each direction and can be slow due to a lot of truck traffic but it is a scenic drive. Heck, you'd even be passing close to us too!

Don't know where you are heading on the return trip but DO NOT go south through the truck crossing. They made it really hard for larger RVs to maneuver through it, especially in the NEXUS lane. We take our 29' TT through there all the time in the NEXUS lane and there's inches to spare on either side of the steel posts. :E

Fuel up in or before Bellingham and NOT next to the border because they really jack the price up.

[romore]

They will need to deal with the toll bridge unless they use the Peace Arch crossing then either 99 or 91 both of which are less than ideal routes with a moho and toad to North Vancouver. The easiest and most direct route is the Pacific truck crossing then straight north to highway 1. 539 works but as mentioned you would be dealing with traffic and lights as well as several roundabouts (what genius decided those were a good idea?)You will lose time and gain nothing going to Sumas.

[Marine_By_Choic]

You will need a brake system for your toad in Canada. Or unhook it, drive it through, and reattach down the road!

[HouseApe]

Tom/Barb wrote:

HouseApe wrote:
That's a long way east off the I5 just to head back west again.

YEAH right about 5 minutes.

5 minutes eh?
You realize the OP is going to North Vancouver?
More like 30 minutes with normal traffic plus a toll bridge.

[Z-Peller]

I think Tom/Barb is confusing Sumas with Aldergrove. OP is right, Aldergrove is directly up 539 off I-5. Sumas is further east and not a direct route. 539 Will be slower than Pacific Crossing onto 15 though because you have Bellis Fair mall right there where you exit the 5 and many stores along the way for a bit so some congestion and lights. Check hours for Aldergrove as it is not 24 hr crossing.