Does anyone know how long the average wait time is at the border going in to Buffalo on a Sunday? I'm going to see Metallica at the HSBC Arena on Sunday, and I'm just wondering how much extra time I should give myself for travelling. Is there a Bills home game this Sunday? Do they affect border crossing times much?
Thanks
The last time I crossed on a Sunday afternoon (and not on a long weekend either), it took me 3 hours at the border alone. If you go early in the morning, it's fine...maybe a 15 minute wait. Then you could shop, see some sites, get some eats...
Holy crap! 3 hours at the border
cratch: I forgot that this was a long weekend too. I guess I should maybe leave before noon so I can try to beat the traffic at the border (it's about a 3 hour drive for me to the border.) Last time I crossed over was for a Sabres game in December of 99, and I think we were maybe an hour at the border (since it was getting close to the dreaded Y2K) and we ended up missing most of the first period.
At least there isn't a Bills home game this Sunday, so maybe that will cut down a bit of the traffic.
I personally don't care if I'm a little late and miss some of Godsmack (since I'm going to 6 shows on this tour), but my friend that is coming with me really wants to see them... so I guess we better get there early.
What is there to do to kill a day in the area of the HSBC?
bills are in new york, so you won't have football fans to deal with. but it will be busy with long weekend traffic.
You could shop...hit up Anchor Bar for some wings and pizza...and watch some football games on the TV's in the afternoon. Just a thought. Again, the last time I crossed in Fort Erie, it was about 3pm on a Sunday, and it was just after 6pm that I FINALLY got across! What a nightmare. Now, whwnever I go to Canada to visit my family, I leave their place (2 hours from the border) at 7am...get to the bridge at 9am, and have maybe 5 cars ahead of me!!
Sunday might not be as bad this weekend...I bet Monday will be the busier traffic day.
Thanks... I think I'll try to head out early so we make sure we are there in plenty of time. Better to be early than late.
Wow 3 hours! I never waited more than 25 mins to cross.
Your other option is to cross at the Queenston Lewiston Bridge and then follow the Robert Moses Parkway or 190 back around to Buffalo. My husband and I crossed every weekend for the past 2 years, before I moved to Rochester and it varied depending on the weekend. If they Bills are in town then the border is crazy busy.
What we use to do is check the website for border wait times. If you know someone who is at home, call them from your cell around St Catherines and have them check the border times for you at each crossing, take whichever bridge is the least busy. Sometimes the Niagara Falls bridge is the least busy of the 3.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html">http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html</a><!-- m --> That is the Canadian site.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/">http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/</a><!-- m --> That is the US site
The Canadian site usually updates every hour. It also shows you times for both US and Canada bound traffic. The Canadian site is usually pretty accurate as to the wait times. I think in the two years we crossed, there was only once where it said there was no delay when in fact there was a 30 minute wait.
Good luck and enjoy the concert!
Ill be at the Metallica show too, should be a good one!!!