Best Times to Cross the Border Into the United States

Typical weekday pattern

4 to 9 a.m.: the busiest time. Workers and students cross to arrive on time.
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: the line usually goes down. A good time for errands or shopping.
2 to 7 p.m.: it grows again as shoppers return and schools let out.
After 9 p.m.: usually the shortest wait of the day.

Weekends

On Saturdays lines build up by mid-morning because of shopping. Sunday afternoons are among the worst times to return to the US in cities like Tijuana, Mexicali and Ciudad Juárez.

Peak traffic seasons

Holiday weekends and long weekends in Mexico and the US.
Holy Week (Semana Santa) and summer vacation.
Black Friday, Buen Fin and December, because of shopping and paisanos returning home.
Farm season in San Luis Río Colorado and Yuma (November to March, in the early morning hours).

Tips to wait less

Check the live report before you leave and compare nearby border crossings.
Use Ready Lane if your document has a chip, or apply for SENTRI.
Keep your documents within reach and take off your sunglasses when you reach the booth.
Declare everything you are carrying: a secondary inspection will cost you more time.
Check the border weather: fog and storms can close lanes.

Keep in mind that CBP's wait time is an estimate taken at a specific time; if the report is old, the line may have changed.

Frequently asked questions

What time is the line shortest at the border crossing?

Generally between 9 and 11 a.m. and after 9 p.m., on weekdays.

What is the worst day to cross?

Sunday afternoon, and the return from long weekends or vacations.

Which seasons have the most traffic at the border crossing?

Holiday weekends, Holy Week, summer, Buen Fin, Black Friday and December, when paisanos return home.

This guide is for information only and does not replace official information from CBP, the US Department of State, Mexico's National Immigration Institute (INM) or Mexico's customs agency (ANAM). Requirements and fees may change.