Need information on traveling to Canada

[mikewilley]

We are planning to take a camping trip to the Toronto, ON area (we have family that lake property north of Toronto) and I have a few questions about pulling our trailer to Canada.

 - We have a 6 year old traveling with us.  Where could I find information on what documentation we need to get him in (and out) of Canada?

 - Where can I find out what I need for registration information on my TV and PU to get in and out?

 - Are there any special regulatory requirements I need to know about to pull my trailer in Canada vs the US?

 - I think we will be crossing over through the southern peninsula of Michigan, how long should I plan on it taking to get through any customs check points at the border?

 - It looks like about a 4 hour drive from Detroit to Toronto, is the main drag on this route the equivalent of US interstate highway (multi-lane/divided)?

 - I am guessing that the Canadians will probably from on my bringing in any automatic weapons or explosives   , is there anything else that I am likely to bring on a camping trip that I should leave at home or make sure I have proper paper work on (receipts, etc)?

Thanks in advance for all the help, we are really looking forward to escaping the 100+ temps and 80%+ humidities for a while this summer.

cheers,

[birol]

We are planning to take a camping trip to the Toronto, ON area (we have family that lake property north of Toronto) and I have a few questions about pulling our trailer to Canada.

 - We have a 6 year old traveling with us.  Where could I find information on what documentation we need to get him in (and out) of Canada?

 - Where can I find out what I need for registration information on my TV and PU to get in and out?

 - Are there any special regulatory requirements I need to know about to pull my trailer in Canada vs the US?

 - I think we will be crossing over through the southern peninsula of Michigan, how long should I plan on it taking to get through any customs check points at the border?

 - It looks like about a 4 hour drive from Detroit to Toronto, is the main drag on this route the equivalent of US interstate highway (multi-lane/divided)?

 - I am guessing that the Canadians will probably from on my bringing in any automatic weapons or explosives   , is there anything else that I am likely to bring on a camping trip that I should leave at home or make sure I have proper paper work on (receipts, etc)?

Thanks in advance for all the help, we are really looking forward to escaping the 100+ temps and 80%+ humidities for a while this summer.

cheers,

To start with ...

http://travel.state.gov/tips_canada.html

You need photo id's and proof of citizenship ..... for the child, if both parents
are not there, need letter of consent from the missing parent to bring him in

Here is all the authorotive info you need :
http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/customs/individuals/visitors-e.html


No guns ..... we use hands to kill each other Just kidding, no guns is the easiest way. I don't think hand guns are allowed anyways.

Do not bring fire wood, a big no no.

Customs should be anything from an easy 10 minutes to an hour I guess ..... We normally don't wait long caming from Michigan ...

Road from Detroit to Toronto can be had in four hours. It is a multi lane highway (two lanes each direction). But that road is notorious for fatal accidents, people speed way over 140 km's an hour (speed limit is 100 km/h (around 58 mph)

With a PU, I would count on covering that road in 5 to 6 (max)hours probably. No matter what you do, do not arrive in Toronto on 401 on a working day after 3 pm. 401 is a parking lot after that.

Have your license/insurance and title for the TV and the trailer ....


Enjoy your trip in Cold Toronto

[homecrew]

You may also want to talk to your insurance agent. They sent us an insurance card that was specifically for Canada.

I believe that Luvourjayco has additional information on her website. Unfortunately the host of her site is experiencing problems so you can't get to it right now. Here is the link for when it comes up.. http://luvourjayco.irv2.com/

[luvourjayco]

Unfortunately it looks like my site is gone. If anyone wants specifics on the Niagara Region just email me privately and I'll get it to you. For the Canada general questions birol seems to have it covered only thing I would add is the link to campgrounds if they are needed.
Thanks

luvourjayco@hotmail.com

[tlhdoc]

You will want to get Canadian insurance cards for your TV and trailer.  Your agent should give them to you at no charge.  If you are in an accident in Canada they will not let you go until they have proof of insurance.  No pepper spray.  Certified birth certificates (not the one from the hospital) passports or voter registration cards for all adults, certified birth certificates for children.  No soil is allowed, so if you are planning on fishing, don't take worms in dirt.  I know there is more but right now I can't think of any.

[Opie431]

They seldom ask for  birth certificates but take your childs.  We have taken our passports but have never had to show them or any other ID in the hundreds of times that we have made the crossing their.  You may get your trunk searched, we have once.  We have seen people pulled over to the side, I assume for better searches.   On your return they ask what you have bought, I always take a list in case I am one of those pulled over but I never have been.
You cannot take wood from Michigan or bring back fresh fruit.

[don]

All good advice and it will have you prepared for anything out of the ordinary BUT don't let is stress you out or change your mind.
I've crossed with the trailer and kids about a dozen times in three years and it is easy. Going into Canada the border guards ask you where you

[mikewilley]

Birol,

Thanks for the great info, it was a big help.

cheers,
mike

[wynot]

Of the two directions, you will have more trouble getting back into the US.  We carry passports for us - primarily because we have them and there is no discussion about it, but also because I was born overseas (of American parents).  The last thing you want to tell them is that one of you (even a child) is not a native born US citizen - it will stop you, especially going into Canada.  I don't even mention it - it is all there in the blue passport.
 
Just a warning, going into Canada, you may be asked what you do for a living.  If you are in banking, financial, software, or intellectual property - become something else.  All the correct answer to that question will bring you is 40 more questions, even if you are on vacation.  I'm sure Birol knows all about that one!

[mikewilley]

...
It

[aw738]

The time I traveled on 401 from Niagra to Widnsor I found it to not be anything like traveling in the US. One thing that was missing were billboards and other commercial signs, just a route marker now and then. At the time it was a pretty diserted road, much like I-90 in South Dakota and Wyoming. If you need gas and you find an exit that has a station I would recomend filling up, because at the time gas stations were few and far between. The road surface was in good shape, flat and somewhat straight compaired WV. I didn't have any trouble getting in but my dad was with me and he worked for the WVDOT and had a Comercial Drivers Licence. The customs agent kept asking to search his truck. He wouldn't let up asking until he seen the WVDOT jacket he had in the back seat of the car. So be patient with them. All we used for ID was our drivers licences although we had our voters registration cards with us also.

[tlhdoc]

The customs agent kept asking to search his truck. He wouldn't let up asking until he seen the WVDOT jacket he had in the back seat of the car.

Why didn't your Dad just let them check his truck?  I would think the customs agent would become suspicious if you didn't want them to check the vehicle.

[birol]

Of the two directions, you will have more trouble getting back into the US.  We carry passports for us - primarily because we have them and there is no discussion about it, but also because I was born overseas (of American parents).  The last thing you want to tell them is that one of you (even a child) is not a native born US citizen - it will stop you, especially going into Canada.  I don't even mention it - it is all there in the blue passport.
 
Just a warning, going into Canada, you may be asked what you do for a living.  If you are in banking, financial, software, or intellectual property - become something else.  All the correct answer to that question will bring you is 40 more questions, even if you are on vacation.  I'm sure Birol knows all about that one!

Don';t want to steal the thread, but, these days when going to US, I am afraid they will ask me what I do for a living ! My answer would be Self employed, and I don't think I will mention that I do computer consultancy ... That would be enough to get a flat refusal I would be, emm, Newspaper District Distributer or something, they would buy that anything but computers these days ....

[aw738]

Why didn't your Dad just let them check his truck? I would think the customs agent would become suspicious if you didn't want them to check the vehicle.

We told them repeatedly that we were not in a truck.:confused: We were travaling in a Dodge Spirit that they could see setting outside in the parking lot. We even pointed it out to them. It was the only vehicle in the parking lot and there was no place to hide an 80 foot truck unless you were David Copperfield.:J