meiji

You could have stopped the post there. I've done that crossing a fair bit and the Canadians were always complicated in terms of getting into their country. Far more questions than needed (I live in Europe and travel on an EU member state passport) and the general tone was aggressive and confrontational. The comparison coming the other way was night and day; even once when I'd managed to wash my passport, the US border people were polite and helpful in terms of restoring my mostly-vanished visa stamp.

In the end I switched to going into Canada via the truck crossing as they seemed to be more straightforward.

birdiedouble

A few years ago my wife and I wanted to cross the border at the Rainbow Bridge on our bicycles. My first thought was that we could walk them across the bridge, entering CA as pedestrians. When I researched if we could do this, I discovered we needed to cycle across with traffic. It wasn’t a big deal and was a pretty interesting way to cross the border.

Points Poppa

There is a $2 express bus from BUF to downtown Buffalo and then another $2 express bus from there to Niagara Falls, with a stop 3 blocks from the Rainbow Bridge. In Niagara Falls, ON its a $20 uber ride to the GO Station, and another $20 for the GO to Union Station.

However, I think is presently a minimum 3 day quarantine for visitors to New York State, so until that's pulled it could throw a wrench into things. How well it's enforced is a separate question.

sydneyracquelle

I have travelled through NY state 10+ times during covid. There are many liberal/generous exemptions for in transit passengers.

bitterproffit

If in Detroit/Windsor, there is always the tunnel bus. Accessible too.

https://www.windsortunnel.com/travel-windsor

Bartolo

Two days ago the NY State Covid hotline told me as an in-transit pax I had 4 days to leave the state after arriving at Buffalo airport. I would prefer to leave immediately but the late arrival and driving at night after a long travel day is problematic. Four days seems overly generous, though.

FlyerAl

In BUF, National Guard members carrying clipboards swarm you as you come out of the secure area to have you fill out the NY state Covid paperwork. You just write on it that you're in transit. No one actually checks it out, it's more "pandemic theatre" than anything else.

The most ideal bridge to walk across would be Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls because it's shorter in length and it's easier to be dropped off/picked up there. Keep in mind though that this time of year not only is it windy, but it's also freezing cold!

sydneyracquelle

Done this many times since last March. Fill in the online form in advance and take a screenshot of the big green checkmark and show this as you exit security at BUF. Saves time and needless conversation.

testycal

I posted on a different forum regarding whether neg covid test needs to be us based or not ....order in council having changed from us to not referring to us even though media outlets continuing to state us based. Secondly, what of the test at the border. Administered and on your way to await your results? who pays?

Bartolo

Thanks for raising this question. I was just about to.

TheCanuckian

The Star (paywall) has some info:

Bartolo

Thanks so much for this info. Helpful. When I read the list of sites, Whirlpool Bridge (Nexus) wasn’t one of them. Does this mean we can’t use it or, we’d just been given a kit to be done later?

Will people using land crossing be charged for kits?

testycal

Seattle Peace Arch Pacific Crossing transit information from Seatac ...in order for this to work you need to catch 230 shuttle bus from Seatac as this gives a 15 minute window to transfer to the local bus in Ferndale although you could take a taxi I suppose..total cost from Seatac $50 + $1 local transit Blaine Bus 75 that brings you to within 5/ 10 minutes walking distance of either crossing....total time approximately 4 hours to border crossing from Seatac. Shuttle arrives Ferndale exchange at 530. 75 bus leaves 545 and takes about an hour to the border area. Arrival around 640 pm. Alternative to one way car rental. There is a transit bus on the Canadian side near the 8th Ave interchange but that is around a 2 km walk. Takes you to Surrey exchange at which time you can transfer to Canada Line. Add another 1.5 hours for this option if you do not have a pick up or drop off of your own vehicle by friends.

GUWonder

The four days is very useful to get Covid-19 testing done which could then perhaps be used to meet some 72-hour testing requirement to travel onward from the state and the country. A BUF-departing passenger needing a Covid-19 PCR test to travel out of the country from elsewhere in the US may need the bulk of that 4 day period to take a test or two around Buffalo and then continue onward by air to get outside of the US and Canada since test-taking opportunities, costs and times are not uniform or even necessarily consistent.

rankourabu

For the purposes of this thread, I think we are more talking about arriving in BUF. Canadians cant really depart BUF at the moment...
I would be interested to know if someone can pick you up on the other side of the bridge and drive you home.

If Uber/public transport is ok, what about a relative?