10 American States That Border Canada (& How To Cross)

The US is one of the largest countries in the world by land mass, so it’s no surprise that many American travelers find themselves having domestic adventures. Sometimes, however, certain experiences require going international.

Now, embarking on an international trip from the US doesn’t mean hopping on a plane for an all-day journey. Canada, our neighbor to the north, is ready to welcome travelers from across the world looking to explore the country’s natural, historical, and cultural wonders. After all, the many attractions that can only be experienced in Banff National Park are enough to make an international travel day worthwhile.

While there are more than 100 airports in Canada that act as ports of entry for American travelers, anyone who has a passport can make their way across the border. Canada has over 120 land crossings across 11 states, and dozens of ferry crossings as well.

These 10 states in the contiguous United States all have at least one land crossing along their shared border with Canada.

10 Washington

13 Land Crossings

Starting on the West Coast of the US, Washington has a wide variety of ways to cross the Canadian border.

The busiest of these crossings are those around Seattle and Vancouver. There are four border crossings in the Seattle/Vancouver area: Peace Arch, Blaine, Lynden, and Sumas ports. These ports allow the passage of approximately 32,000 vehicles every day. Wait times at these ports can sometimes reach four hours.

Washington also has several ferry options in the Puget Sound area. Some of these ferries are for passengers only, while others, like the Black Ball Ferry Line, allow vehicles to cross as well.

9 Idaho

2 Land Crossings

Moyie River Canyon Bridge over the Moyie River in Boundary County, Idaho near the Canadian border

Despite being a relatively large state, only a small portion of the Gem State shares a border with Canada. In that small section, there are two border crossings: Porthill and Eastport.

The Porthill Port is the busier crossing for passenger vehicles, but even this port sees far less traffic than Washington, averaging just over 7,000 private vehicles a month.

Idaho also lacks major cities along its shared border, making it a quieter international crossing experience. Bonners Ferry is the largest city near Idaho’s international border and has established itself as the best city for those looking for a stopover while crossing the border.

8 Montana

13 Land Crossings

Glacier National Park, Montana straddles the U.S.-Canadian border. The Canadian side of the park is in Alberta and is known as Waterton Lakes National Park.

Montana has one of the largest shared borders with Canada, spanning nearly 550 miles. The lengthy shared border connects some of the most inviting towns in the Rocky Mountains with three Canadian states: British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

Like Idaho, Montana’s is more frequently used by truckers crossing the border. Montana’s busiest ports include Roosville Grasmere, Piegan Carway, and Sweetgrass Coutts, all primarily trucking routes.

The Sweetgrass Coutts crossing sees the most traffic in and out of Montana, thanks to its direct access to I-15. This major north-south freeway not only runs through Montana but connects through Salt Lake City in Utah and all the way down to Las Vegas. This makes the port an accessible choice for other visitors looking to take advantage of Montana’s border status.

7 North Dakota

18 Land Crossings

One of the least populated states in the US, North Dakota is full of small towns worth visiting, including several right along the northern border it shares with Canada.

North Dakota has 18 ports of entry, despite only having around 300 miles of shared border with Canada across the states of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Pembina, Portal, Peace Garden, and Neche are the busiest ports in North Dakota, servicing major truck routes and private vehicles each day.

6 Minnesota

8 Land Crossings

Sun setting over Lake Superior’s Port City, Duluth

Minnesota may have nearly 550 miles of Shared border, but the massive shared border has only eight land-based ports of entry granting access to Canada.

Situated on Lake Superior, Minnesota also has several water ports of entries, including the Port of Duluth, one of the busiest ports in the state. In addition to connecting the US and Canada, the Port of Duluth is also the most inland Port that can be accessed by ocean ships, making it a major international connection for Minnesota.

5 Michigan

4 Land Crossings

Ambassador Bridge along the Riverfront in Windsor, Ontario, Canada connecting to Detroit City in Michigan, USA

No state shares more miles of border with Canada than Michigan, primarily due to the expansive shorelines of the shared Great Lakes. Canada has the most lakes of any country in the world, and its largest sits right on the shared Michigan border. In total, Michigan shares over 700 miles with Canada.

There are only four land crossings between Canada and Michigan; Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, Blue Water Bridge, Detroit Windsor Tunnel, and Ambassador Bridge, and they rank as some of the busiest ports of entry along America’s northern border.

More than 40,000 vehicles cross through the Windsor-Detroit port each day. All four crossings are utilized by truckers and tourists regularly. Thankfully, these ports are prepared for the massive flow of traffic, so delays are rare, although queues can reach up to an hour on peak travel days.

4 New York

17 Land Crossings

Aerial view of Niagara Falls and the Rainbow Bridge international crossing from Niagara Falls City, Ontario, Canada

New York is another state that features busy ports between the US and Canada. New York shares 445 miles with Canada, with 17 ports of entry scattered throughout.

Perhaps most notably, New York shares one of its biggest natural attractions, Niagara Falls, with Canada. While there is lively debate about which country offers the better view, most guests would agree that the best option is to simply walk between Canada and the US along Niagara Falls along the Rainbow Bridge border crossing to enjoy both vantage points.

The Rainbow Bridge is just one of several border crossings in the Buffalo/Niagara area. Other crossings include Peace Bridge, Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, and Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, all of which see a very steady flow of traffic on a daily basis.

With multiple major cities right along the border, New York is one of the most convenient places to cross the border into Canada, particularly for those making a quick trip.

3 Vermont

15 Land Crossings

Historic ports of entry and customs stations in Beebee Plain, Vermont

The tiny but mighty state of Vermont only shares 90 miles of border with Canada, but it makes the most of every one of those miles. There are 15 land border crossings between Vermont and Quebec, Canada.

The busiest of Vermont’s border crossings is the Highgate Springs–St. Armand/Philipsburg Border Crossing, which connects US-89 in America and Route 133 in Quebec. The port is so popular that it is currently being replaced. The construction of a new, larger port in the same area in the early stages of construction.

Vermont has several other notable connections to Canada, including some of the most historic ports of entry along the US-Canada border. The Alburg Springs Land Port of Entry is on the National Registrar of Historic Places, while the Beebe Plain Land Port of Entry is one of only 12 surviving buildings from 1931 to 1937 built along the Vermont-Quebec border.

2 New Hampshire

1 Land Crossing

Pittsburg, New Hampshire Border Station

New Hampshire only shares 58 miles with Canada, but it still manages to fit in one port of entry along its shared border. The Pittsburg Chartierville Border Crossing is relatively remote, especially compared to the border crossings of neighboring states.

Pittsburg, New Hampshire is a fairly small town, adding to the quiet nature of this international connection. In total, only around 10,000 vehicles pass through the Pittsburg Chartierville Border Crossing each year, including both private vehicles and commercial trucks.

1 Maine

24 Land Crossings

Bridge across Saint Croix River connects Calais, Maine, USA and Saint Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada

The New England gem of Maine isn’t exactly large, but it shares more than 600 miles of border with Canada and has no less than 24 ports of entry, the most of any contiguous US state.

Madawaska Edmundston, Houlton Woodstock, and Calais St. Stephen are the busiest of Maine’s ports, with Calais being Maine’s busiest passenger vehicle-only port. Thankfully, the abundance of crossing options in Maine means that even mixed-use ports move pretty quickly most of the time.

References: Canada DUI Entry Law; US Department of Transportation; U.S. General Services Administration