Ambassador Bridge wait times
Right now: no delay to Detroit (CBP) and no delay to Windsor (CBSA), as of 12:38 AM ET, Sep 24.
The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest commercial crossing on the Canada–U.S. border, carrying roughly a quarter of all truck trade between the two countries. That truck volume is what drives most of the swings in passenger wait times. U.S.-bound waits below come from CBP in near real time, including NEXUS and Ready Lane figures; Canada-bound waits come from CBSA. Drivers in line add reports, and you can set an alert for when the wait drops.
Loading crossings…
Ambassador Bridge at a glance
| Car toll | USD $10.00 / CAD $14.00 each way (2026 rates). With trailer: USD $20 / CAD $28. |
|---|---|
| Trucks | Per-axle rates; discounted with A-PASS / E-ZPass. |
| Payment | Cash, credit card, Ambassador Bridge A-PASS, E-ZPass. |
| Hours | Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. |
| NEXUS | Dedicated NEXUS lanes in both directions when staffed. Ready Lane for RFID-enabled documents U.S.-bound. |
| Pedestrians & bikes | Not permitted. Use the Gordie Howe Bridge path or the Tunnel Bus. |
| Windsor side | Huron Church Road at College Avenue; from Highway 401 follow Huron Church north. |
| Detroit side | I-75 / I-96 interchange, Mexicantown; exit "Ambassador Bridge / Canada". |
| Operator | Detroit International Bridge Company (privately owned) |
Tolls and rules change; confirm with the operator before you travel. Last reviewed September 2026.
Ambassador Bridge vs. Gordie Howe vs. Tunnel
Since July 2026 the Ambassador Bridge is the most expensive of the three for cars (CAD $14 vs. about CAD $8 at the Gordie Howe and CAD $8.25 at the Tunnel). It still makes sense when you are headed to Mexicantown, Corktown, or up I-96 toward Lansing and Grand Rapids, and when the live figures above show it clearly shorter. For downtown Detroit take the Tunnel; for the airport, Ann Arbor or Ohio take the Gordie Howe.
Best time to cross the Ambassador Bridge
Truck traffic peaks on weekday mornings and early afternoons, and passenger lanes are squeezed alongside it. The quietest windows are 9–11 AM, after 8 PM, and Sunday mornings. Avoid U.S.-bound 6–9 AM on weekdays, Canada-bound 4–7 PM, and the hour after any Red Wings, Lions, Tigers or Pistons home game. A typical-wait-by-hour table built from our own 5-minute snapshots appears on this page once enough data is collected.
Getting to the Ambassador Bridge
From Windsor: Highway 401 becomes Huron Church Road; stay in the marked bridge lanes and follow them onto the plaza. Duty-free is on the right before the toll booths. From Detroit: from I-75 or I-96, take the signed "Bridge to Canada" exit near the I-75/I-96 interchange. Duty-free and the toll plaza are before the bridge; Canadian customs is on the Windsor side.
Typical Ambassador Bridge wait to Detroit by time of day
Median official CBP passenger wait over the last 8 weeks, from our own 5-minute snapshots.
| Time of day | Weekdays | Weekends |
|---|---|---|
| Morning rush (6–9 AM) | 5 min | 5 min |
| Late morning (9 AM–12 PM) | 5 min | 5 min |
| Afternoon (12–4 PM) | 5 min | 15 min |
| Evening rush (4–7 PM) | 5 min | 15 min |
| Evening (7–11 PM) | No delay | 15 min |
| Overnight (11 PM–6 AM) | No delay | No delay |
The Border Times estimate on each card blends official government data with wait times reported by drivers, using an outlier-resistant algorithm — see the accuracy badge and the Official / Community numbers below it for how that estimate was reached.
Other Windsor-Detroit crossings
Gordie Howe Bridge wait times · Detroit-Windsor Tunnel wait times · All three crossings
Best time to cross the Windsor–Detroit border → — typical waits by hour and day.
Ambassador Bridge FAQ
How much is the Ambassador Bridge toll?
USD $10.00 or CAD $14.00 each way for a car, motorcycle or bus as of January 1, 2026. Vehicles with a trailer pay USD $20 / CAD $28. Cash, credit card, A-PASS and E-ZPass are accepted.
Is the Ambassador Bridge open 24 hours?
Yes, the bridge and both customs plazas operate around the clock, every day.
Does the Ambassador Bridge have a NEXUS lane?
Yes, in both directions, though lanes are only open when staffed. CBP also runs a Ready Lane for travellers with RFID-enabled passports, NEXUS cards or enhanced driver's licences. The live NEXUS wait is shown on the card above.
Can you walk or bike across the Ambassador Bridge?
No. Pedestrians and cyclists are not permitted. Use the multi-use path on the Gordie Howe International Bridge or the Transit Windsor Tunnel Bus.
Why is the Ambassador Bridge wait so long today?
Nine times out of ten it is truck volume or reduced staffing on the customs booths. Check the "lanes open" figure on the card: fewer lanes open with the same traffic is the usual cause. Construction notices from CBP are shown when they exist.
How accurate are these wait times?
U.S.-bound figures are CBP's published wait times, refreshed every few minutes. Canada-bound figures are CBSA's and can lag 30–90 minutes, so we blend in recent driver reports from this page. Always allow extra time.