We can't wait any longer! Were going to enter canada in late may, but now we are so anxious to head north to alaska that we're ready to cross the border now.
so, does anyone know of a campground in washington that is near the sumas border crossing? we want to spend the night before we cross in a nearby campground so that we can drive over in the tow vehicle and check out the crossing procedure and rules.
thanks.
Dominic & Sue Ambrosino
Fulltimers Travelin' the U.S.A. "All who wander are Not Lost"
2005 Beaver Patriot Thunder 42',Cat 525
For really nice camping, check out Whatcom County Parks, Silver Lake. It is about a 15 minute drive from Sumas towards Maple Falls.
However...if you are thinking you going to be able to to a recon on the border...I don't tink so, amigo. If you need to know specifics about what you can/cannot take across into Canada, ask. If you have all of that under control...go get in the border line up and welcome to Canada, eh.
We stayed at Hidden Village coming out of BC. Boondocked in Lynden before going in in May. Nice RV park and Lynden is a nice small city. The crossing at Sumas is a non-issue, not even worth the drive over to check it out. Very easy crossing, only procedures were the customs guy asking a couple questions about firearms and alcohol, no paperwork to fill out no permits to buy.
Harry
With wife Carole 10 yrs fulltiming
Retired U.S. Army
2002 Carriage LS 37' 5er; 2006 Lance 1181
2008 F-450 King Ranch 4x4 fully loaded
2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee toad
SKP # 54751
Geocacher "DosTortugas" Harry's BLOG
Sumas RV park is just at the south end of Sumas. You will see it on the right hand side of the road as you enter town. Don't know much about it however. You might find something on the web.
"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice" WSC
The KOA campground in Lynden is probably one of the nicest KOAs we have ever visited. It is not too far from the Sumas crossing. The Lynden area is well worth a visit IMHO. I crossed at Sumas southbound, in 2006, returning from Alaska. It was the longest wait I had in crossing the border that summer. Took over an hour, waiting in line, in the heat and exhaust fumes of the idling vehicles. Once I made it to the customs officer, it only took about 3 to 5 minutes to get cleared and sent on my way.
Thanks for all your inputs. We have a few questions that seem to have alot of ambiguous answers on the websites..
1. will be taking our shotgun (it is under the list of allowed firearms). we have the form filled out (but not signed)..want to confirm that we did everything correct before we bring it over
2. still unsure of what food is and isn't allowed. for instance-cheese? frozen dinners (with meat), bags of dried fruit, etc...
thankss
When we crossed at Sumas last May they asked no questions about food. Their interest was liquor, guns, drugs. Had no guns so can't answer your question altho I have heard form and something like $50 long gun only. Guns back into U.S.?? I don't believe we were asked about any of these thing crossing into Alaska from Canada on Top of the World Highway. Also we decided to drop our TOAD in Washington instead of towing it on that trip. We left it at a storage place in Lynden.
"Crossing procedures and rules" - these are things you find out beforehand by doing research or find out when you cross with your rig.
It may be a good idea to overnight in Lynden and cross in the AM if you want to avoid long, long lines (us Canadians are always returning from our shopping trips in the afternoon/evening - and there's A LOT of us!). The Lynden KOA is great and the shopping in Lynden is great, too - so it's a nice stop.
Enjoy your trip!
Paula
Larry, Paula and Two Kids (ages 4 & 2)
2006 Dodge Ram Power Wagon
2007 Jayco Jay Flight 20BH
2005 Suzuki RMZ250
There isn't a way of driving up to a border crossing, parking, and going into some office to ask questions - without intending to cross at that time. By the time you can see the border crossing, you are committed to going through (unless they reject you).
For commercial traffic there must be offices and brokers who can handle paper work, but for the rest of us, we just wait in line, answer a few questions, and continue on our way. If there are further questions, you will directed to park on the other side (Canadian). At that point you either go into an office to complete some paper work (such as for the gun), or an agent goes over your rig with a flee comb.
The basic crossing is much like paying the toll on a turnpike. You can't stop and ask about the fee before hand. But you can do research on the net before hand.
Canada bound the main questions have to do with destination, guns, pepper spray, gifts for Canadians, etc. They don't ask much about food. US bound, there are more food questions - I try to consume all meat and fruit before returning, though I've never had problems with deli meats.
paulj
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