Explore Beyond the Boundary: States That Border Canada

The border between Canada and the US is the longest international border. Spanning a length of 8,891 km or 5,525 miles, it splits the North American continent into two. And while it may be the longest in the world, crossing it can still be a pain in the neck. Here, we will try to bring this border closer to you by looking at the border which the US states border and by discussing some of the more than 100 crossings between the two countries. 

Although many crossings between the two states exist, some of them do not work 24/7. Another useful piece of information is to know that some of these can get busy – resulting in a standstill at the crossing that can lead to 3-4 hours of lost time – all while waiting for your turn to cross the border and enter Canada. To avoid these issues, let’s read on and learn about the border. 

What Is a State Border?

A border is a natural or artificial line that separates two countries. If they are natural, borders usually follow the natural contours of rivers, lakes, and mountain ranges. If they are artificial, they are usually the result of a treaty or a war and are demarcated by fencing. Although this is not always the case, many countries are lifting their borders, making them truly abstract lines on a map. Many towns in the European Union have small demarcation lines, but the movement of people over the borders is unobstructed. 

So, borders are political boundaries. If you wish to cross one, you may need a passport or another ID. What type of ID you will need depends on how close the countries are: the closer they are, the less complex the crossing is. Some countries enable visa-free travel across their borders (for citizens of some countries). In contrast, others may need a visa, a special document issued to your passport that enables you to cross the border. 

Of course, there are other forms of borders and border crossings. They can be found in ports and airports. Since it would be impossible to guard an entire sealine and stop cruisers on the sea to control all the passengers and their documents, special border crossings, called point-of-entry, are established. The same goes for airplanes and crossings at airports – these allow you to cross a border while already in the country itself. 

Sometimes, if we speak of natural borders, they can shift and change. The best examples are meandering rivers which naturally change shape. In this case, the border is a question of political treaties (such as after a war) or an international agreement. Most borders have some form of protection to prevent illegal crossings. The border between Mexico and the US is one such border. 

And while some borders are open, meaning that the citizens can cross with no ID at all (the borders within the EU), some are closed. This means that you may need special permission in addition to your passport even to leave the country. Most countries are not very democratic and are known for human rights violations. They include North Korea, Cuba and Myanmar. The Chinese border is in between requiring its citizens to obtain both an exit and entrance visa and the visa of the country they plan to visit. 

Border crossings around the world are different, usually guarded and armed. However, the longest land border in the world is a peaceful one – although you will need an ID to cross. A passport is required for most countries whose citizens are trying to enter Canada. Here is a list of countries with visa-less entrance regimes for Canada: 

• The United States of America
• Saint-Pierre and Miquelon

No Visa is required, but eTA (electronic Travel Authorisation) is needed for entry via an airport: 

• EU & EEA
• United Kingdom
• Andorra
• Antique and Barbuda
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Brunei
• Chile
• Hong Kong
• Israel
• Japan
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Samoa
• San Marino
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Solomon Islands
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• The Vatican City

A visa (even a transit visa when transferring on Canadian passports) is required of all nationals of countries not on this list. 

Longest International Border in the World

The United States of America is the only country in the world where Canada shares a border. This is the longest international border in the world, with almost 9,000 km of border zone dividing the two countries. For the most part, the border is artificial, with long, straight lines dividing the two countries. However, there is one quirky border section between the two countries. 

Quirky Border Section in Canadian Border

The border section is the northernmost part of the contiguous US. It covers an area of 596 square miles or 1,543 square kilometers. The strange shape results from specific geography in the region and poor surveying. The Treaty of Paris (from 1783) drew the line between the two countries – often following the natural contours in the landscape. However, the poor surveying methods of the time resulted in the strange shape that persists today. 

Check Out Canada & The United States’s Bizarre Border:

13 States That Border Canada

Today, 13 US states share a border with Canada. The border was established after the American War of Independence. Although the 49th parallel was supposed to be a demarcation line between the two countries, the Great Lakes had to be shared, and the surveying tech back then made the line zigzag in some spots. Still, the border persists today as the longest land border in the world. 

The United States border with Canada is established along 13 states, including: 

• Alaska
• Washington
• Idaho
• Montana
• North Dakota
• Minnesota
• Michigan
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• New York
• Vermont
• New Hampshire and 
• Maine

US State Bordering Canada	Canadian Province Sharing the Border with the US State	Length of Border in KM	Length of Border in MI	Number of Land Border Crossings
Alaska	Yukon and British Columbia	1,538 mi	2,475 km	5
Washington	British Columbia	427 mi	687 km	13
Idaho	British Columbia	45 mi	72 km	2
Montana	British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan	545 mi	877 km	14
North Dakota	Saskatchewan and Manitoba	310 mi	499 km	18
Minnesota	Manitoba and Ontario	547 mi	880 km	8
Michigan	No Land Border, Lake Superior and Lake Huron are natural borders	721 mi	1,160 km	No Land Border
Ohio	Ontario, within Lake Erie	146 mi	235 km	No Land Border, 1 Ferry Crossing
Pennsylvania	Ontario	42 mi	68 km	No Land Border
New York	Ontario and Quebec	445 mi	716 km	16
Vermont	Quebec	90 mi	145 km	15
New Hampshire	Quebec	58 mi	93 km	1
Maine	Quebec and New Brunswick	311 mi	983 km	24

Alaska

Alaska has a total of 4 (used to be five, one is closed) border crossings with Canada. The United States border here connects with Yukon via two border crossings and British Columbia via three. The borderline itself is the longest individual international border between these two countries. Here is a list of all land border crossings between Canada and Alaska: 

US State	Canada – Province	Canada Port of Entry	US Port of Entry	Open
Alaska	Yukon	Little Gold Creek	Poker Creek	seasonal
Alaska	Yukon	Beaver Creek	Alcan	24/7
Alaska	British Columbia	Pleasant Camp	Dalton Cache	8:00–0:00
Alaska	British Columbia	Fraser	Skagway	seasonal

Washington

The entire Washington State border connects to British Columbia only. The border is 427 miles or 687 kilometres long and is a straight line along the 49th parallel. The borderline has 13 border crossings. Here is a list of all land border crossings between Canada and Washington:

US State	Canada – Province	Canada Port of Entry	US Port of Entry	Open
Washington	British Columbia	Boundary Bay	Point Roberts	24/7
Washington	British Columbia	Douglas	Blaine–Peace Arch	24/7
Washington	British Columbia	Blaine–Pacific Highway	Blaine–Pacific Highway	24/7
Washington	British Columbia	Aldergrove	Lynden	8:00-0:00
Washington	British Columbia	Abbotsford–Huntingdon	Sumas	24/7
Washington	British Columbia	Chopaka	Nighthawk	9:00-17:00
Washington	British Columbia	Osoyoos	Oroville	24/7
Washington	British Columbia	Midway	Ferry	9:00-17:00
Washington	British Columbia	Carson	Danville	8:00-0:00
Washington	British Columbia	Cascade	Laurier	8:00-0:00
Washington	British Columbia	Paterson	Frontier	24/7
Washington	British Columbia	Waneta	Boundary	9:00-17:00
Washington	British Columbia	Nelway	Metaline Falls	8:00-0:00

Idaho

The Idaho-Canada border connects the US to British Columbia. The border has only two border crossings for both passengers and the transportation of goods. The border is only 45 miles or 72 kilometres long. Here is a list of all land border crossings between Canada and Idaho: 

US State	Canada – Province	Canada Port of Entry	US Port of Entry	Open
Idaho	British Columbia	Rykerts	Porthill	8:00-0:00
Idaho	British Columbia	Kingsgate	Eastport	24/7

Montana

The Montana border to Canada connects the US to Alberta and Saskatchewan. This portion of the border is 545 miles or 877 kilometres long. The border is intersected by four international airports. Here is a list of all land border crossings between Canada and Montana: 

US State	Canada – Province	Canada Port of Entry	US Port of Entry	Open
Montana	British Columbia	Roosville	Roosville	24/7
Montana	Alberta	Chief Mountain	Chief Mountain	seasonal
Montana	Alberta	Carway	Piegan	8:00-18:00
Montana	Alberta	Del Bonita	Del Bonita	seasonal
Montana	Alberta	Coutts	Sweetgrass	24/7
Montana	Alberta	Aden	Wild Horse	9:00-17:00
Montana	Alberta	Wild Horse	Wild Horse	seasonal
Montana	Saskatchewan	Willow Creek	Willow Creek	9:00-17:00
Montana	Saskatchewan	Climax	Turner	seasonal
Montana	Saskatchewan	Monchy	Morgan	seasonal
Montana	Saskatchewan	West Poplar River	Opheim	seasonal
Montana	Saskatchewan	Coronach	Scobey	seasonal
Montana	Saskatchewan	Regway	Raymond	24/7

North Dakota

The North Dakota to Canada border is 310 miles or 499 kilometres long. It connects to Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The borderline contains 18 border crossings. The Peace Garden Airport intersects the border and is international. Here is a list of all land border crossings between Canada and North Dakota: 

US State	Canada – Province	Canada Port of Entry	US Port of Entry	Open
North Dakota	Saskatchewan	Oungre	Fortuna	seasonal
North Dakota	Saskatchewan	Torquay	Ambrose	seasonal
North Dakota	Saskatchewan	Estevan Highway	Noonan	9:00-21:00
North Dakota	Saskatchewan	North Portal	Portal	24/7
North Dakota	Saskatchewan	Northgate	Northgate	9:00-21:00
North Dakota	Saskatchewan	Carievale	Sherwood	9:00-21:00
North Dakota	Manitoba	Lyleton	Antler	9:00-22:00
North Dakota	Manitoba	Coulter	Westhope	8:00-21:00
North Dakota	Manitoba	Goodlands	Carbury	9:00-22:00
North Dakota	Manitoba	Boissevain	Dunseith	24/7
North Dakota	Manitoba	Lena	Saint John	8:00-21:00
North Dakota	Manitoba	Cartwright	Hansboro	8:00-21:00
North Dakota	Manitoba	Crystal City	Sarles	9:00-22:00
North Dakota	Manitoba	Snowflake	Hannah	9:00-22:00
North Dakota	Manitoba	Windygates	Maida	9:00-22:00
North Dakota	Manitoba	Winkler	Walhalla	9:00-22:00
North Dakota	Manitoba	Gretna	Neche	9:00-22:00
North Dakota	Manitoba	Emerson	Pembina	24/7

Minnesota

The Minnesota-Canada border connects to Manitoba and Ontario in Canada. A part of the border runs along Lake Superior. It is 547 miles or 880 km long. Here is a list of all land border crossings between Canada and Minnesota: 

US State	Canada – Province	Canada Port of Entry	US Port of Entry	Open
Minnesota	Manitoba	Tolstoi	Lancaster	8:00-18:00
Minnesota	Manitoba	Piney	Pinecreek	9:00-17:00
Minnesota	Manitoba	South Junction	Roseau	8:00-20:00
Minnesota	Manitoba	Sprague	Warroad	24/7
Minnesota	Ontario	Rainy River	Baudette	24/7
Minnesota	Ontario	Fort Frances	International Falls	24/7
Minnesota	Ontario	Pigeon River	Grand Portage	24/7

Michigan

The Michigan-Canada border runs along Lake Superior and Lake Huron. The Blue Water Bridge, St. Clair Tunnel, The Ambassador Bridge and Windson-Detroit Tunnel are all on this border. It is 721 miles or 1,160 kilometres long. Here is a list of all land border crossings between Canada and Michigan: 

US State	Canada – Province	Canada Port of Entry	US Port of Entry	Open
Michigan	Ontario	Sault Ste. Marie	Sault Ste. Marie	24/7
Michigan	Ontario	Sarnia	Port Huron	24/7
Michigan	Ontario	Windsor–Detroit Tunnel	Detroit–Windsor Tunnel	24/7
Michigan	Ontario	Windsor–Ambassador Bridge	Detroit–Ambassador Bridge	24/7

Ohio

Ohio does not have a land border with Canada. Instead, the entire length of the international border is within Lake Erie. There is a ferry across the lake. This stretch of the US-Canada international border is 146 miles or 235 kilometres long. 

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania-Canada border is the shortest one among the 13 stretches. It is only 42 miles or 68 kilometres long. It is completely within Lake Erie. The border is completely water-locked. 

New York

This border portion is 445 miles or 716 kilometres long. It connects the US state of New York with Ontario and Quebec. Similarly to the Alaska border, this borderline was revised throughout history. This time, the 1783-established border was revised in 1842. Here is a list of all land border crossings between Canada and New York: 

US State	Canada – Province	Canada Port of Entry	US Port of Entry	Open
New York	Ontario	Fort Erie	Buffalo	24/7
New York	Ontario	Niagara Falls–Rainbow Bridge	Niagara Falls–Rainbow Bridge	24/7
New York	Ontario	Niagara Falls–Whirlpool Rapids Bridge	Niagara Falls–Whirlpool Rapids Bridge	7:00-21:00
New York	Ontario	Lewiston	Lewiston	24/7
New York	Ontario	Alexandria Bay	Alexandria Bay	24/7
New York	Ontario	Prescott	Ogdensburg	24/7
New York	Ontario	Cornwall	Massena	24/7
New York	Quebec	Dundee	Fort Covington	24/7
New York	Quebec	Trout River	Trout River	24/7
New York	Quebec	Herdman	Chateaugay	24/7
New York	Quebec	Covey Hill	Cannon Corners	seasonal
New York	Quebec	Hemmingford	Mooers	24/7
New York	Quebec	St-Bernard-de-Lacolle	Champlain	24/7
New York	Quebec	Lacolle: Route 221	Overton Corners	24/7
New York	Quebec	Lacolle: Route 223	Rouses Point	24/7

Vermont

The border between Vermont and Canada connects the US to Quebec. The entire border is 90 miles or 145 kilometres long. It was established in 1783 but revised later on with the Webster-Ashburton Treaty in 1842. It is 90 miles or 145 kilometres long. Here is a list of all land border crossings between Canada and Vermont: 

US State	Canada – Province	Canada Port of Entry	US Port of Entry	Open
Vermont	Quebec	Noyan	Alburg	24/7
Vermont	Quebec	Clarenceville	Alburg Springs	8:00-0:00
Vermont	Quebec	St–Armand/ Philipsburg	Highgate Springs	24/7
Vermont	Quebec	Morses Line	Morses Line	seasonal
Vermont	Quebec	West Berkshire	West Berkshire	24/7
Vermont	Quebec	East Pinnacle	Pinnacle Road	8:00-0:00
Vermont	Quebec	Abercorn	Richford	24/7
Vermont	Quebec	Highwater	North Troy	24/7
Vermont	Quebec	Stanstead–Beebe	Beebe Plain	24/7
Vermont	Quebec	Stanstead–143	Derby Line–Rte 5	24/7
Vermont	Quebec	Stanstead–55	Derby Line	24/7
Vermont	Quebec	Stanhope	Norton	24/7
Vermont	Quebec	Hereford Road	Canaan	24/7
Vermont	Quebec	East Hereford	Beecher Falls	24/7

New Hampshire

New Hampshire – Canada border is only 58 miles or 93 kilometres long. It is equipped with only one border crossing. This crossing is located in Pittsburgh, a small town of some 1,000 people. Here is a list of all land border crossings between Canada and New Hampshire: 

US State	Canada – Province	Canada Port of Entry	US Port of Entry	Open
New Hampshire	Quebec	Chartierville	Pittsburg	8:00-0:00

Maine

The Maine-Canada border connects the US to Quebec and New Brunswick. This is the third longest US boundary with Canada. Between 1838 and 1839, there were some territorial disputes between the two countries. In 1842, the UK and the US came together, and the Webster-Ashburton Treaty was signed. This ended all territorial disputes between the two countries. Here is a list of all land border crossings between Canada and Maine: 

US State	Canada – Province	Canada Port of Entry	US Port of Entry	Open
Maine	Quebec	Woburn	Coburn Gore	24/7
Maine	Quebec	Armstrong	Jackman	24/7
Maine	Quebec	St-Just-de-Bretenières	St. Juste	seasonal
Maine	Quebec	St-Pamphile	St-Pamphile	seasonal
Maine	Quebec	Pohenegamook	Estcourt	seasonal
Maine	New Brunswick	Clair	Fort Kent	24/7
Maine	New Brunswick	Edmundston	Madawaska	24/7
Maine	New Brunswick	St. Leonard	Van Buren	24/7
Maine	New Brunswick	Grand Falls	Hamlin	7:00-23:00
Maine	New Brunswick	Gillespie Portage	Limestone	6:00-22:00
Maine	New Brunswick	Andover	Fort Fairfield	24/7
Maine	New Brunswick	River de Chute	Easton	8:00-16:00
Maine	New Brunswick	Centreville	Bridgewater	5:00-21:00
Maine	New Brunswick	Bloomfield	Monticello	seasonal
Maine	New Brunswick	Woodstock Road	Houlton	24/7
Maine	New Brunswick	Fosterville	Orient	seasonal
Maine	New Brunswick	Forest City	Forest City	seasonal
Maine	New Brunswick	St. Croix	Vanceboro	24/7
Maine	New Brunswick	Calais–International Ave	Calais–International Ave	24/7
Maine	New Brunswick	Milltown	Calais–Milltown Bridge	seasonal
Maine	New Brunswick	St. Stephen (Ferry Point Bridge)	Calais–Ferry Point	24/7
Maine	New Brunswick	Campobello	Lubec	24/7

Land Crossings vs Ferry Crossings

Most people decide to cross to Canada via land, but there are some that decide to cross via a ferry service. Although romantic and somewhat reserved for tourists, considering that Canada has public transportation that is a bit better than in the US, this is a viable option for many seeking to enter Canada. Here are some Canadian ferry crossings along the longest border in the world, with the places they connect to and the ferry line company operating the ferry: 

• Ketchikan/Juneau AK – Prince Rupert BC, Alaska Marine Highway
• Whittier AK – Prince Rupert BC, AquaTrain
• Seattle, Port Angeles – Victoria BC, Clipper Navigation or Blackball Transport 
• Bellingham, WA – Victoria BC, Clipper Navigation or Blackball Transport
• Anacortes, WA – Sidney BC, Washington State Ferries
• Marine City, MI – Sombra ON, Bluewater Ferry
• Algonac, MI – Walole Island, ON, Walpole-Algonac Ferry
• Detroit, MI – Windsor, ON, Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry
• Sandusky, OH – Pelee, ON, Ontario Ferries
• Cape Vincent, NY – Wolfe Island, ON, Cape Vincent-Wolfe Island ferry
• Eastport, ME – Deer Island, NB, Deer Island – Eastport Ferry
• Portland, ME – Yarmouth, NS, the CAT high-speed car ferry

8 Canadian Provinces and Territories That Shares Border with the United States 

So, there are a lot of crossings to use if you want to go from the continental United States to Canada. There are 8 Canadian provinces and territories spread along this border, and there are plenty of options for those entering Canada. If you travel from within the US border, you should pay attention that some crossings may not always be open and that a border crossing here and there may only be seasonally available. In any case, here are Canadian provinces and territories that border the US: 

• Ontario
• British Columbia
• Yukon
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan
• New Brunswick
• Manitoba
• Alberta

Legal Land Border Crossings: United States and Canada

In total, there are 119 legal land crossings between the United States and Canada. This number may change depending on the season and the time, as well as the road conditions: as Canada is so far north, some roads may be inaccessible during the winter time and heavy snowfall. In addition, the Churubusco, New York, and Fort Fairfield, Maine, crossings are one way, allowing entrance into the United States and Canada, respectively, but not the other way around. Before setting on a journey, always check for the availability of these border crossings and make sure that your crossing between the United States and Canada is a smooth one. 

International Boundary Commission: No Touch Zone

The International Boundary Commission is in charge of clearcutting a six-meter (20 feet) strip around the United States and Canada border. This strip serves to mark the border between these two countries, and the ‘Vista” (the strip) is cleared to improve security and prevent illegal crossings. There are over 1,000 survey control stations there. 

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Crossing between the United States and Canada is simple enough. With over 100 border crossings, the Canada-US border offers a lot to everybody living in the eight provinces and territories and the 13 states that come together to make the border. The trade volume and the number of tourists involved in border crossing testify to how busy the border is. If you decide to go on a trip to Canada or would like to enter Canada through the US, it may be best first to check what port of entry works best for you.