USA to Canada and Back

[sprintnut]

I would like to plan a trip for a week to Niagara Falls, ON. Can anyone assist me with what I need for this trip. Crossing the Borders, Papers needed for Adults and Children,Duty Free, Duty Free Stores, Money Exchange and other helpful information. Can we take food, Tobacco, Alcohol and firewood into Canada? Are there other issues I should be aware of? Traffic during the day and any other driving hints going in and out. Thanks, Russ

[sprintnut]

I would like to plan a trip for a week to Niagara Falls, ON. Can anyone assist me with what I need for this trip. Crossing the Borders, Papers needed for Adults and Children,Duty Free, Duty Free Stores, Money Exchange and other helpful information. Can we take food, Tobacco, Alcohol and firewood into Canada? Are there other issues I should be aware of? Traffic during the day and any other driving hints going in and out. Thanks, Russ

[RV Wizard]

Russ & Dottie, I have added a shortcut to the Canada region of the forum near the bottom of the main page. Hopefully you will soon have the info you need. Good luck and enjoy!

[chasfm11]

Like Russ and Dottie, we are planning a trip to ON this year. We expect to enter around Niagara Falls and re-enter the US at Port Heron for some time in Michigan.

DW and I both have current passports. I'm a frequent visitor to Canada, including Toronto (I even have a couple of Loonies from my last visit) so I'm familiar with many things. This will be our first time with the MH and I know there are sets of somewhat "fluid" restrictions that will apply to us. I'm very well aware of firearms and alcohol regulations and know how to comply with those. I'd appreciate guidance about where to monitor everything else. We won't be going until summer but it is never to early to start understanding where to look.

[brad03ca]

Hello all and enjoy your trip to Canada. Here is a link that will explain most questions, but I'm here for any questions you need additional help with...HERE Let me know how I can help....Brad
There are generally NO problems bring food into Canada, proper ID is required, don't forget ID for kids , pets need Immunization paperwork etc. If you don't like Jails, don't bring handguns. Other than that, things are generally quit layed back.

[GaryKD]

Go here for USA passport rules for Canada. Go here to read a thread on this topic. Go here for a Canadian view of traveling with minor children.

I carry passports for all those traveling with me. In addition I have, for each grand child, a notarized letter from each parent authorizing international movement of the minor child. Lastly I have a power of health care letter for each minor child.

[Groveite]

Firewood is generally prohibited from crossing the border either way in an attempt to control plant pests such as the emerald ash borer that is decimating the On and Mi ash trees.
Ian

[Kyle241]

Canuck here, and frequent traveller (used to be every week) back and forth.

Passports
Alcohol - limit per person used to be a 24 of beer or 40oz bottle, could be more now.
Tobacco - limit just don't know what it is
Firearms - definitely not
Firewood - prohibited and not wise to bring with you anywhere you go due to the pests that Groveite points out. There is also one affecting Spruce and Pine as well.
Fruit - prohibited but many people bring them along in RV's

Duty free stores exist in all major crossings (note: major), the back country crossing generally do not. As for money, there are endless possibilities - change it before you leave home, go to an ATM in Canada and you will get CAD$ or go to a exchange house up there (sometimes harder to find)

Safe travellers!

Kyle

[chasfm11]

Thanks for all the good information and especially the links.

We are non-smokers, won't be carrying any fire wood (trip is 4,200 miles - too much weight) and definitely know the leave the firearms at home.
We would probably take advantage of duty free to replenish our booze stock . ATMs would also be our choice for currency conversion, though not necessarily the cheapest method.


Stories on other forums indicate problems in the food area. Meats, for example, including dog food (we don't have a dog now and this is only an example) have been confiscated in the past. We expect to be in Canada for a couple of days and would likely by some provisions. We just didn't want to have to empty the 'frige of meats and fruits. Perhaps these areas are now old news.

Frankly, I'm as worried about re-entry into the US and was hoping for guidance there as well.

[Bushman512003]

Eggs and any Beef are a no no .Just buy for the time You are in the other Mans land You will be fine and as said have Your paper work .Pass Port and photo ID..Bushman

[chasfm11]

Thanks for the information, Bushman. It was exactly those sorts of things that I'm hoping to find out. I guess that I expected to find the beef and egg prohibitions somewhere on the links but did not. That is what is worrying me.

We will be on the road for another week after our visit to Canada. I just didn't want to have to re-purchase all of our on-board food items in Michigan to accomplish that.

[Tom N]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Kyle241:
Alcohol - limit per person used to be a 24 of beer or 40oz bottle, could be more now.
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

There is no limit on alcohol, just declare what you have and pay the duty.

-Tom

[Skrams]

Dry and canned goods will be ok. Just meat, fruit and eggs will be the major problem items. Heading back into US will be a problem with these items too if bought in Canada.

[chasfm11]

Thanks, Skrams. I've looked at both the US and Canadian Border websites and neither provides this level of information easily, at least not as far as I can see.

Besides food, firearms, alcohol and tobacco, are there any other exposures? We will have all of documentation and information ready so I'm not in the least concerned about that.