Passenger vehicles
- Standard1 min
Pedestrians
- StandardClosed
Buffalo/Niagara Falls – Rainbow Bridge border wait time right now
LiveChecked with CBP 3 min ago · 5:45 p.m. (Tijuana time)
Now: passenger vehicles Standard: 1 min. Source: CBP, checked at 5:45 p.m. (Tijuana time) on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
Car · Standard1 min
Pedestrian · StandardClosed
Hours24 hrs/day
Statistics
What is the best time to cross at Buffalo/Niagara Falls – Rainbow Bridge?
Quick answer: at Buffalo/Niagara Falls – Rainbow Bridge (cars · standard), the hour with the shortest average wait is 7 p.m. (2 min) and the busiest is 4 p.m. (11 min). At this hour on this day the wait is usually 2 min. Average of 30 CBP reports between Sunday, November 8, 2026 and Sunday, November 8, 2026, in the crossing's local time (Eastern time).
Best hour Busiest hour
| Day | 12a | 1 a.m. | 2 a.m. | 3a | 4 a.m. | 5 a.m. | 6a | 7 a.m. | 8 a.m. | 9a | 10 a.m. | 11 a.m. | 12p | 1 p.m. | 2 p.m. | 3p | 4 p.m. | 5 p.m. | 6p | 7 p.m. | 8 p.m. | 9p | 10 p.m. | 11 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Tue | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Wed | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Thu | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Fri | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Sat | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Sun | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | 11 min | 6 min | 6 min | 2 min | 2 min | no data | no data | no data |
Less More · max. 11 min
View as table: average by day of the week
| Day | Average | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | — | 0 |
| Tuesday | — | 0 |
| Wednesday | — | 0 |
| Thursday | — | 0 |
| Friday | — | 0 |
| Saturday | — | 0 |
| Sunday | 5 min | 30 |
Methodology: simple average of the minutes CBP publishes in each report over the last 90 days; cells with fewer than 3 reports are not shown. It is a reference, not a prediction. All statistics
What is the Buffalo/Niagara Falls – Rainbow Bridge border crossing?
The Buffalo/Niagara Falls – Rainbow Bridge border crossing is a U.S. land port of entry operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, on the border between Niagara Falls – Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo – Niagara Falls, New York. Here you can see the estimated wait time to enter the U.S. in each lane and the number of open lanes, according to the latest CBP report.
CBP measures the delay from the moment you reach the end of the line until the inspection booth. If the report is more than an hour old, take it with caution: the line may have changed.
Approximate location: Buffalo – Niagara Falls, New York, United States (42.886, -78.878).
Other crossings in Niagara Falls – Fort Erie
| Crossing | Car standard | Car Ready | NEXUS | Pedestrian standard | Pedestrian Ready | Commercial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo/Niagara Falls – Lewiston Bridge | No wait | — | Closed | — | — | No wait |
| Buffalo/Niagara Falls – Peace Bridge | 7 min | Closed | No wait | — | — | 5 min |
| Buffalo/Niagara Falls – Whirlpool Bridge | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending |
Frequently asked questions
How long is the wait at the Buffalo/Niagara Falls – Rainbow Bridge border crossing right now?
Latest CBP report: passenger vehicles Standard: 1 min. This page refreshes automatically every 5 minutes.
What are the hours of the Buffalo/Niagara Falls – Rainbow Bridge border crossing?
CBP publishes these hours: 24 hrs/day. SENTRI and Ready Lane lanes may have different hours.
Which lane should I use at Buffalo/Niagara Falls – Rainbow Bridge?
If you have NEXUS, use its dedicated lane. With RFID-enabled documents (passport card, enhanced driver's license) you can use Ready Lane where available. Otherwise, use the Standard lane.
Useful guides
Documents & PaperworkSENTRI and Ready Lane: Differences, Requirements and How to Apply for SENTRIWhat SENTRI is, what Ready Lane is, which documents work for each lane and how to apply for SENTRI step by step to…Documents & PaperworkWhat Documents Do I Need to Cross Into the United States? Full ChecklistDocuments to cross into the US at a land border: passport, B1/B2 visa or laser visa, I-94, vehicle papers, minors and…Before You CrossCar Insurance to Cross Into the United States: What It Covers and What It CostsWhy your Mexican insurance doesn't work in the US, what coverage you need to drive in California, Arizona or Texas…Documents & PaperworkI-94 Permit: When You Need It, How Much It Costs and How to ApplyWhat the I-94 is, when you need it crossing by land, how much it costs, how to apply online before you reach the…