Washington State Canadian Border Crossing

Driving Across the U.S. / Canadian Border in the State of Washington

The State of Washington has 13 drivable border crossings across its 687 kilometers (427 miles) border with British Columbia, Canada. By far, the busiest crossings are the 4 that serve the Seattle / Vancouver area. The vast majority of the 32,000 vehicles that cross the Washington border every day pass through the Peace Arch, Blaine, Lynden, or Sumas ports. These ports are predictably very congested, with wait times of up to 4 hours.

Information on Each Seattle / Vancouver Area Border Crossing

Below are links to our pages with detailed information on each of the Seattle / Vancouver area border crossings. These pages include travel tips, current border wait times, road conditions and other real-time information. As you read down the list, you are seeing the border crossings running from West to East.

With four primary border crossings in this area, you may be able to choose one that has the shortest wait times. The Peace Arch crossing tends to be the busiest port and frequently has the longest delays. The Blaine / Surrey Pacific Highway (Truck Crossing) is generally faster than Peace Arch, although that is not a sure thing. You will see traffic information displayed on overhead electronic signs along I-5 in both Canada and the U.S., so you may be able to make a last-minute decision as you approach the border. Lynden / Aldergrove and Sumas / Huntingdon are lower volume ports that typically have shorter delays and may be faster if they are not too far out of your way.

Commercial vehicles are not allowed to use the Peace Arch port.

Central and Eastern Washington State Border Crossings

Below are links to detailed information on each of the border crossings in the Central and Eastern part of the state. These pages have specific information on each border crossing including hours of operation, current traffic information, wait times at the border, contact information and more. As you read down the list, you are seeing the border crossings running from West to East.

The Oroville / Osoyoos and Frontier / Patterson ports are the only 24-hour crossings in Central and Eastern Washington. All other crossing have limited hours.

Peak Traffic Periods for Seattle / Vancouver Area Border Crossings

Peak Months: August, July, then September. All other months are roughly equal.
Peak Days: Weekends and holidays.
Peak Times: Daytime on weekends, and during commute hours on weekdays.

Travel Tips for Washington / British Columbia Border Crossings

You can get customized traffic information for Washington over the phone using the 511 system. Simply dial 5-1-1 and say “traffic.” Next say the road number, such as “5,” and receive up-to-the-minute updates on the road segment you plan to use. If you cannot dial 511 on your phone, you can also use the toll-free number 1-800-695-7623.
See our Traffic Calendar for all of the events that may affect your border crossing. Below are some events that especially affect the State of Washington. Use alternative border crossings if your trip allows.
The Northwest Washington Fair is typically in late August in the town of Lynden. It is located near the border crossing on Hwy 539, which leads to the border port.
4th of July – Travel on Puget Sound highways will increase significantly just before the 4th of July weekend. Post-holiday traffic will also be heavy. Work on most construction projects around the state will move off the highway during the holiday weekend, but drivers should prepare for shifted lanes, roadway detours, and reduced speed zones in places. Drivers should expect longer-than-typical wait times at ferry docks and Canadian border crossings most of the holiday weekend. Travel times are significantly lighter the a day or two before or after the holidays.