With Christmas and Boxing Day falling on a Thursday and Friday this year, many Canadians are set to enjoy a four-day holiday weekend from Dec. 25 to 28 — and for those with family in the United States or plans to hunt for cross-border Boxing Day bargains, a road trip south may be on the agenda.
Before packing the car, travellers are being urged to plan ahead. The Canada Border Services Agency recommends checking border wait times before leaving home and avoiding peak travel periods, such as weekend evenings, when lineups tend to be longest. Early mornings are often the best bet for a smoother crossing.
Despite the holiday appeal, Statistics Canada reports that Canadian-resident return trips by car from the U.S. totalled about 1.4 million in October, a sharp drop of 30.5 per cent compared with October 2024. Still, holiday traffic is expected to pick up at major crossings.
Drivers using navigation apps such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze are advised to explore different routing options — including fastest or shortest routes — to help identify the least busy port of entry. Once at the border, travellers will be directed to the primary inspection booth, where an officer will ask questions and review passports and other travel documents.
The CBSA says it plans extensively for long weekends and holiday travel. In 2023 alone, officers processed more than 86 million travellers and intercepted over 72,200 kilograms of prohibited drugs, cannabis, narcotics and chemicals — nearly a 30 per cent increase from the year before.
To keep things moving, travellers should have all documents ready and easily accessible. Those travelling with children who are not their own should carry a consent letter from a parent or legal guardian authorizing the trip, as this may be requested by officers.
Border wait times can be checked online through the CBSA’s website, which provides updates at least once an hour, 24 hours a day, for 28 of the busiest Canada–U.S. crossings, including the Ambassador Bridge and Windsor–Detroit Tunnel, as well as several Niagara-area bridges. For Niagara crossings specifically, the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission website offers frequently updated wait times for the Queenston–Lewiston Bridge, Rainbow Bridge, Peace Bridge and the Whirlpool Bridge, which is reserved for NEXUS cardholders.
While these tools are helpful, the CBSA reminds travellers that reported wait times are estimates and can change quickly depending on traffic volumes and operational demands.
The agency also offers a range of online travel resources, including border checklists and guidance for those travelling with pets, to help Canadians prepare before they hit the road.
For the return trip, Canadians should be ready to make a full and accurate declaration of everything they bring back, including purchases, food, plant and animal products, and any cash or currency exceeding $10,000, as well as any firearms or weapons.
Duty- and tax-free personal exemptions depend on how long you’ve been away. After a 24-hour trip, travellers may bring back goods worth up to $200. After 48 hours or more, the limit increases to $800. These exemptions do not apply to same-day shopping trips, meaning taxes and possible duties will apply even for small purchases.
To avoid surprises at the booth, travellers can use the CBSA’s online duty and taxes estimator to calculate what they might owe before heading home.
With a little planning, checking wait times, and knowing what you can bring back, Canadians heading south this holiday season can make their border crossing part of the trip — not the stress.