Port Huron Crossing

[GSCookeMnster]

I'll be heading across Ontario on the 401 toward the Port Huron crossing on Rt 402. Plan is to cross the Sat or Sunday before the rally. Just wondering how busy that crossing is, any better crossing south of there? Better times to cross (Sunday morning vs Sat daytime)? Looks like a heavy truck route and just don't feel the need to sit in line, so alternative are welcomed.

Brian

[PAULBACH]

Hi Brian:

I will be staying in Port Huron the first night on the road. I called ahead and 402/94 is the only crossing. The advice I got was to cross at night or at mid-day.

Here's a site for current Border Wait Times (http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/)

[ender848]

Brian,

I live about 1 hour from the Port Huron crossing. If you hit it at the wrong time it can be 1-2 hours wait. Don't even try to cross on Sunday evening. Last year I had a hour wait the Monday after the rally, around 4:30 PM. The good news is that it is a nice view from the bridge when you are stopped.

Good Luck,

Joe

[srb]

And don't forget your birth cert. or passport. They are starting to crack down on checking citizenship, and a driver's license doesn't mean much.

[jdmetzger]

My family goes camping up that way every year, so I've crossed there a number of times. Sunday morning (10am) has always been a pretty smooth crossing; very little waiting. Saturday around noon gets a little busy (maybe 10-15 minute wait). I surely would try to avoid a mid-day crossing during the week.

I agree that if you get stopped, it's a very nice view from the bridge; plus there is usually a nice breeze.

As for other crossings; your other choice by land would be one of the Detroit/Windsor crossings. I would stick with Port Huron. One of my coworkers (half Canadian) likes to take the Blue Water Ferry to cross. They claim it's $3 to cross with a motorcycle. It runs from Sombra, ON to Marine City, MI, and is a 15-20 minute trip. Might be an interesting alternative. Their website is here:

http://www.bluewaterferry.com/

[vetbmwrider]

That must be a little local secret. I wish I knew about that last year when I came back from Vermont. We spent about 30-45 min on the bridge that was a Monday morning and was just waved thru the border crossing check point. The next time I am up that way I will try the ferry.

[Fritzc]

I agree that if you get stopped, it's a very nice view from the bridge; plus there is usually a nice breeze.

Just pray you don't get stuck next to one of those Toronto Garbage trucks hauling into Michigan on a hot muggy day! PPEEEWWWWWW!:sick :sick :sick

[DrRaoulDuke]

At the Rally in Canada several years ago I got tipped off to the ferry that runs across to Canada from Algonac Michigan. It was as fast as rodeo. Highly recommend that route.

Cheers,

"Every honest man is ashamed of the government he lives under"

[byronlatter]

I don't know about Algonac ferry but there is a Closer ferry downriver in Sombra Ontario to Marine City Michigan about 15 or 20 miles, nice drive on booth sides of river. Love there area.

[marcopolo]

At least the Sarnia -Port Huron bridge was doubled a couple of years ago, but it's still a heavy truck route. So, too, is Windsor-Detriot -- I'd avoid that.

There are lots of little border crossings, like the ferries mnetioned earlier, that the locals don't tell anyone about lest they get clogged with tourists. We discovered one like that two years ago for the crossing from Calais Maine to New Brunswick. There was a good long line-up at the main crossing, but only two cars ahead of us at a small crossing less than a mile away. Luckily someone tipped us off before we left on our trip.

[enginerod]

I work on a ship and go under the Blue Water Bridge a couple of times a week. The trucks are lined up at a stop most of the times I go under. I live on I-69 east of Lansing and will head for the rally early on the 12th. I am planing on crossing on the ferry from Muskegon on the morning run. You might try crossing the St. Clair River on a ferry, might be quicker.