Canada bound

[hbravo]

Evening All,

We are going to be taking our TT to Montreal and Quebec City this spring. Does anyone have any hints and tips for getting across the border with minimal stress, any special docs like proof of insurance, etc, for camping in Canada

Thanks in advance!

[THE MEEKER]

A valid US passport that does not expire within 6 months is required.

Bring proof of insurance, registrations etc for TV & TT.

All Covid-19 restrictions have been suspended (for now). Some border crossings may require a Covid test for pre-random selected travelers.

Most important, don't bring firearms!

[THE MEEKER]

Also, NEXUS card satisfies requirements for U.S. citizens entering Canada

[hbravo]

I understand that even pepper spray can get you in a lot of trouble when crossing the border. I normally travel with bear spray for hiking. Since this trip will be about the two cities, I guess that won’t be an issue.

Thanks for the reply.

[garywilson]

No guns or ammo. A bank safety deposit box before you cross the border can take care of most items you might have with you.
Although not routine, be prepared for a vehicle search/inspection.
Check both Canada and US State department for info on produce, etc that may not be allowed. It changes from time to time.

[Mach1tosh]

Take a few minutes and go here;
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/menu-eng.html
Have a nice visit

[JB13502]

And be sure to check food restrictions prior to going. For example, eggs and poultry are banned if sourced from certain areas in the US.

https://inspection.canada.ca/food-sa.../1389630282362

[repeach]

pepper spray BAD
Bear Spray, ok

I had them ask to see my Bear Spray and along as it says "Bear Spray" on the can you will be fine.
No guns, ammo, taser, not even a cattle prod (unless you can prove you are going to a cattle ranch). Yes I specifically asked that question :- )

[Tunce the traveler]

Originally Posted by THE MEEKER

Also, NEXUS card satisfies requirements for U.S. citizens entering Canada

X 2 but the first time I pulled it thru I provided trailer docs. & they typed it in now I’m good to go.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by JB13502

And be sure to check food restrictions prior to going. For example, eggs and poultry are banned if sourced from certain areas in the US.

https://inspection.canada.ca/food-sa.../1389630282362

Last time I crossed (pre-covid) all fresh fruits and vegetables were band. Spend some time understanding food restrictions.

[FISTEP]

Cannibus is legal in Canada but it is not legal to bring it in with you. A pipe or pack of rolling papers will earn you a thorough search of your RV.

Importing wood into Canada is restricted because of the risks of pest species so don't even bring a box of firewood with you. We were once turned around at the border for having a milk crate containing a few pieces of wood.

You are only allowed a limited amount of alcohol and this is a problem since a lot of folks basically travel with a stocked bar in their RV.

Here's a link with some good advice for travelers coming into Canada.

https://rvtroop.com/crossing-the-can...order-in-an-rv

[AncasterDuo]

Not directly pertinent to your question... Quebec is very camping-friendly, with many, many excellent campgrounds. Some are a bit cramped though, so make sure your space is big enough for your rig.
If you speak a little French it helps; if you don't, most folks will help you in English. Around Montreal they can be a bit snooty about it, but you'll get by. Bon voyage!

[Kim Gass]

If you ferret enough you will find a passport is not required of US Citizens who enter Canada. A birth certificate ( not a copy. the real thing) and photo ID will do https://travel.gc.ca/returning/customs/entering-canada

Nor is it required for return to the US.. You will be asked extra questions of course. US Citizens cannot be denied entry.. You need as much documentation as possible and expect extra scrutiny.. Our RV was checked also.

Someone ( not saying who but not me) forgot to look at their passport until getting set to fill out Arrive Can last August ( Arrive Can is not required any more).. That someone found out it expired in May 2022.. We were set to go to Canada three days after that discovery.. We could only get an appointment to get a new passport expedited in Chicago at 9 am the next day..anything closer was fully booked.

We live in Maine.. Obviously we did not do that. Someone called Homeland Security and found out that the passport would make things easier but not required.

On return home the wayward traveler renewed his passport.

Handguns are a no
pepper spray a no Bear spray a yes. Make sure the canister has a bear picture on it

Too much booze.. watch the limits

No weed. Weed is legal in Canada and in our State but not at the border where the two meet. Go figure.

Answer what you are asked and no more.. Eye contact. Radio off.

[JohnK]

We are in the Explorer RV club and went to our first rally Last September.

It was at a place called Camping Transit in Levis QC (across the river from Quebec City)

Nice owners.
Owner speaks English, wife is learning, her English was better than our French.
Pretty sure they get many Americans have the flag up.
They have their own beer the wife liked. I don't drink
Roomy sites. A bit close to the highway but not too bad.
Free shuttle to the ferry which docks right downtown in the Old City.

Have a nice trip.

Regards,

John

[Isaacs]

Stop at a rest room before you get to the border. If traffic is heavy you might be there a while!

[TaftCoach]

We crossed from Maine then back through Michigan. It was a remote border check that was much more laid back than what I be expected from working in Mexico. YMMV

[Kim Gass]

Originally Posted by TaftCoach

We crossed from Maine then back through Michigan. It was a remote border check that was much more laid back than what I be expected from working in Mexico. YMMV

About five years back we crossed at a remote crossing from Canada to the US.

So remote we drove right past the border building.. There was no gate and the building was to the side.. Embarrassedly we had to back up five hundred feet when we realized our error..

The agent was not amused but got over it pretty quickly. He did not keep us for an hour.. That is a real possibility with these rural crossings.. When crossing from Quebec to Hereford VT I was the only customer that day.. The agent wanted to yak... yes yak.. about nothing official.. The weather . cows the future weather the dry spell etc. His wife saved the afternoon when she called "John ....Suppah's on."

[TaftCoach]

LOL same but we were heading north. It was a somewhat last minute route decision and we stressed for a day and a half about going into Canada. Checked and rechecked. Sent a case of wine back with my BiL who was heading back to Texas. The agent barely glanced at our passports. He did of course see Texas plates and asked what guns we were bringing. He seemed disappointed that we had none. He did offer plenty of travel advice and help.

One other interesting thing that happened at a private campground in Quebec somewhere. The dressed to go out to a fancy dinner person behind the campground counter ask me how many services I wanted. Noting the confused look on my face she asked if I wanted three way. Wow, I didn't think they had "those" types of campgrounds plus I doubted my wife was interested lol. Oops, electric, water, and sewer was the three way.

[FISTEP]

20 years ago or so, we were in the tiny, remote hamlet of Stewart BC (pop. 400) and wanted to go into even tinier, neighbouring Hyder, Alaska which is home to a handful of nice folks and a couple of soreheads. We didn't have our passports with us so we stopped by the hut beside the border.

We explained that we just wanted to check the place out and grab some fish and chips at the "Bus" that was recommended to us. The border guard said to go on in but stop and see him on the way out before 4:30 PM, which we did. We later learned that there was no border guard at all after 4:30, so if you were going to smuggle a load of rum, I guess you should wait until suppertime.

Anyway, when we stopped, the fellow came out to the truck and I swear he was the loneliest border guard you could ever have met. He put his elbow in the open window and after asking a couple of "official" questions, started telling us about his life. And I mean ALL about his life.

Half an hour later, we knew all about his job being relocated from Vancouver to Stewart, his kids that wouldn't talk to him, his wife that wouldn't move there, "I think my wife is leaving me, she just won't come up..." , the 30 feet of snow in the winter, etc, etc, etc...!

He just couldn't stop talking and I was afraid that if we tried to drive away, I'd run over his foot if he didn't let go. Finally, we managed to extricate ourselves from this very lonely man and drove away, looking back at him standing there in the rear view mirrors.

After a couple of thoughtful minutes of silence, my wife turns to me and says,

"Well, I guess that's what you get for making out with the boss's wife at the Christmas party."

[SkyBound]

As a born and raised Canadian, the only reason I could ever see an American wanting to spend time here is so they can appreciate their home country even more once they return home.

This place is crumbling. It's cold, it's expensive, and any sort of freedom is being eroded bit by bit. Nothing to be proud of.

"Oh Canada, our home on Native's land! True Socialist love, in all thy They's command."