Detroit game day border traffic

Little Caesars Arena, Ford Field and Comerica Park are all in downtown Detroit, a short drive from the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel. When the Red Wings, Pistons or Lions play at home, fans crossing from Windsor add to the usual border traffic: Detroit-bound before the game and Windsor-bound after it. Here are the upcoming home games, what the official wait times actually did on past game days, and how to get across with the least waiting.

See live wait times for all three crossings →

Next Detroit home games

Fri, Oct 2 · 6:30 PM

Red Wings vs. N.Y. Rangers · Little Caesars Arena

Allow extra time to Detroit 4:30–6:30 PM and back to Windsor after about 9:15 PM.
Sun, Oct 4 · 1:00 PM

Red Wings vs. Winnipeg · Little Caesars Arena

Allow extra time to Detroit 11:00 AM–1:00 PM and back to Windsor after about 3:45 PM.
Mon, Oct 5 · 7:00 PM

Pistons vs. Phoenix (preseason) · Little Caesars Arena

Allow extra time to Detroit 5:00–7:00 PM and back to Windsor after about 9:30 PM.
Tue, Oct 6 · 7:00 PM

Red Wings vs. Ottawa · Little Caesars Arena

Allow extra time to Detroit 5:00–7:00 PM and back to Windsor after about 9:45 PM.
Fri, Oct 9 · 7:00 PM

Red Wings vs. Seattle · Little Caesars Arena

Allow extra time to Detroit 5:00–7:00 PM and back to Windsor after about 9:45 PM.
Tue, Oct 13 · 6:00 PM

Red Wings vs. New Jersey · Little Caesars Arena

Allow extra time to Detroit 4:00–6:00 PM and back to Windsor after about 8:45 PM.
Thu, Oct 15 · 7:00 PM

Red Wings vs. Philadelphia · Little Caesars Arena

Allow extra time to Detroit 5:00–7:00 PM and back to Windsor after about 9:45 PM.
Fri, Oct 16 · 7:00 PM

Pistons vs. Toronto (preseason) · Little Caesars Arena

Allow extra time to Detroit 5:00–7:00 PM and back to Windsor after about 9:30 PM.

What the border actually did on game days

For each home game we take the longest official wait in the two hours before the start (to Detroit) and in the three hours after it is expected to end (to Windsor), and compare it with the same hours on the same weekday in other weeks with no home game or holiday (“usual”). A dash means there is no normal week to compare that window with yet.

Lions vs. New York Jets · Sun, Sep 27

Started 1:00 PM at Ford Field. Tigers home game the same day. “Usual” is based on 1 normal Sunday so far.

Crossing	To Detroit 11:00 AM–1:00 PM	To Windsor 4:15–7:15 PM
Tunnel	15 min usual 15 min	20 min usual no delay
Ambassador	15 min usual 15 min	no delay usual 5 min
Gordie Howe	15 min usual 10 min	15 min usual 25 min

Which crossing to take on game day

Detroit–Windsor Tunnel: the closest crossing to all three venues, coming out on Jefferson Avenue next to the Renaissance Center. It is also where game traffic piles up, and it takes no motorcycles or bikes.

Ambassador Bridge: lands near Mexicantown, a short drive west of downtown. Worth it when the live numbers show the Tunnel backed up and the bridge clear.

Gordie Howe Bridge: lands at I-75 in Delray, farther from downtown but highway the whole way, and the easy pick if you are coming from Highway 401.

Whichever crossing has the shortest official wait for your direction is marked “Fastest now” on the live page.

Game-day tips

Check before you leave. The Detroit-bound figure comes from CBP and updates every few minutes. The Windsor-bound figure comes from CBSA and can lag 30–90 minutes, so right after a game the driver reports on each crossing card are often the better guide.

Set an alert. Every crossing card has an “Alert me at” option: pick a wait, such as 15 minutes or less, and you get a notification when the line drops that far. On iPhone, add the site to your Home Screen first.

Report your wait. If you are in line, type your wait into the card’s Report box. It helps everyone behind you, most of all Windsor-bound after the game.

Use NEXUS if you have it. All three crossings have NEXUS lanes in both directions when they are staffed.

Skip the drive. The Linq runs a special-events bus through the Tunnel for games and concerts; see thelinqtunnelbus.ca for times, stops and fares.

Full home schedules

Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena (42 home games left)

Fri, Oct 2, 6:30 PM · vs. N.Y. Rangers
Sun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM · vs. Winnipeg
Tue, Oct 6, 7:00 PM · vs. Ottawa
Fri, Oct 9, 7:00 PM · vs. Seattle
Tue, Oct 13, 6:00 PM · vs. New Jersey
Thu, Oct 15, 7:00 PM · vs. Philadelphia
Sat, Oct 17, 7:00 PM · vs. San Jose
Thu, Oct 29, 7:00 PM · vs. Chicago
Sat, Oct 31, 1:00 PM · vs. St. Louis
Thu, Nov 5, 7:00 PM · vs. Vegas
Wed, Nov 18, 7:30 PM · vs. Boston
Sat, Nov 21, 7:00 PM · vs. N.Y. Islanders
Wed, Nov 25, 7:30 PM · vs. Vancouver
Sat, Nov 28, 7:00 PM · vs. Nashville
Tue, Dec 1, 7:00 PM · vs. Calgary
Thu, Dec 3, 7:00 PM · vs. Colorado
Fri, Dec 11, 7:00 PM · vs. N.Y. Rangers
Sat, Dec 12, 7:00 PM · vs. Florida
Tue, Dec 15, 7:00 PM · vs. Los Angeles
Sun, Dec 20, 5:00 PM · vs. Tampa Bay
Tue, Dec 22, 7:30 PM · vs. Toronto
Thu, Dec 31, 2:00 PM · vs. Carolina
Sat, Jan 2, 1:00 PM · vs. Edmonton
Thu, Jan 7, 7:00 PM · vs. Utah
Sat, Jan 9, 7:00 PM · vs. Boston
Sun, Jan 17, 5:00 PM · vs. Minnesota
Tue, Jan 19, 7:00 PM · vs. Anaheim
Sat, Jan 23, 1:00 PM · vs. Tampa Bay
Mon, Jan 25, 7:00 PM · vs. Pittsburgh
Wed, Jan 27, 7:30 PM · vs. Toronto
Fri, Jan 29, 7:00 PM · vs. Florida
Thu, Feb 18, 7:00 PM · vs. Montréal
Sun, Feb 21, 3:30 PM · vs. Buffalo
Thu, Mar 4, 7:00 PM · vs. New Jersey
Sat, Mar 6, 7:00 PM · vs. Dallas
Fri, Mar 12, 7:00 PM · vs. Buffalo
Thu, Mar 18, 7:00 PM · vs. Columbus
Sat, Mar 20, 1:00 PM · vs. Montréal
Wed, Mar 24, 7:30 PM · vs. Washington
Tue, Mar 30, 7:00 PM · vs. Ottawa
Fri, Apr 2, 7:00 PM · vs. Carolina
Fri, Apr 9, 7:00 PM · vs. Pittsburgh

Pistons at Little Caesars Arena (41 home games left)

Mon, Oct 5, 7:00 PM · vs. Phoenix (preseason)
Fri, Oct 16, 7:00 PM · vs. Toronto (preseason)
Tue, Oct 20, 3:00 PM · vs. Boston
Wed, Oct 28, 7:00 PM · vs. Charlotte
Wed, Nov 4, 7:00 PM · vs. Philadelphia
Sun, Nov 8, 6:00 PM · vs. L.A. Lakers
Mon, Nov 9, 7:00 PM · vs. Washington
Fri, Nov 20, 7:30 PM · vs. Toronto
Fri, Nov 27, 7:30 PM · vs. Milwaukee
Sun, Nov 29, 6:00 PM · vs. Orlando
Mon, Nov 30, 7:00 PM · vs. Denver
Wed, Dec 2, 7:00 PM · vs. Memphis
Mon, Dec 14, 7:00 PM · vs. Brooklyn
Wed, Dec 16, 7:00 PM · vs. Phoenix
Fri, Dec 18, 7:30 PM · vs. Cleveland
Sun, Dec 27, 7:00 PM · vs. Portland
Wed, Dec 30, 7:00 PM · vs. New Orleans
Fri, Jan 1, 7:30 PM · vs. Orlando
Sun, Jan 10, 6:00 PM · vs. Utah
Thu, Jan 14, 7:00 PM · vs. Dallas
Fri, Jan 22, 7:30 PM · vs. Indiana
Sun, Jan 24, 6:00 PM · vs. Minnesota
Tue, Jan 26, 7:00 PM · vs. Atlanta
Sun, Jan 31, 3:00 PM · vs. Sacramento
Tue, Feb 2, 7:00 PM · vs. Chicago
Wed, Feb 3, 7:00 PM · vs. New York
Sun, Feb 7, 3:00 PM · vs. Golden State
Wed, Feb 17, 7:00 PM · vs. New York
Thu, Feb 25, 7:00 PM · vs. Miami
Sat, Feb 27, 5:30 PM · vs. Oklahoma City
Mon, Mar 1, 7:00 PM · vs. Chicago
Fri, Mar 5, 7:00 PM · vs. Boston
Tue, Mar 9, 8:00 PM · vs. Cleveland
Thu, Mar 11, 7:00 PM · vs. Milwaukee
Sat, Mar 13, 3:00 PM · vs. Brooklyn
Sat, Mar 20, 8:00 PM · vs. Charlotte
Thu, Mar 25, 7:00 PM · vs. Houston
Sat, Mar 27, 3:00 PM · vs. San Antonio
Mon, Mar 29, 7:00 PM · vs. L.A. Clippers
Sun, Apr 4, 3:00 PM · vs. Miami
Wed, Apr 7, 7:00 PM · vs. Indiana

Lions at Ford Field (6 home games left)

Sun, Oct 25, 4:25 PM · vs. Green Bay Packers
Sun, Nov 1, 1:00 PM · vs. Minnesota Vikings
Sun, Nov 22, 1:00 PM · vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Thu, Nov 26, 1:00 PM · vs. Chicago Bears
Sun, Dec 13, 1:00 PM · vs. Tennessee Titans
Mon, Dec 28, 8:15 PM · vs. New York Giants

Times are Eastern, taken from the teams’ official schedules (checked September 30, 2026). TV can move start times, so confirm with the Red Wings, Pistons or Lions. The Tigers’ 2026 season is over; their 2027 home dates will be added before Opening Day.

Game day FAQ

Which border crossing is closest to Little Caesars Arena, Ford Field and Comerica Park?

The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. It comes out on Jefferson Avenue in downtown Detroit, next to the Renaissance Center, a short drive from all three venues. The Ambassador Bridge and the Gordie Howe Bridge land west of downtown and connect to I-75, so they add some driving but can be quicker overall when the Tunnel is backed up.

When is the border busiest on a game day?

Detroit-bound traffic builds in the couple of hours before the start, and Windsor-bound traffic for a couple of hours after the game ends. The Tunnel usually feels it most because it is the downtown crossing. This page adds the measured peaks for each home game as the data comes in.

Is there a bus from Windsor to Detroit games?

Transit Windsor's Tunnel Bus stopped running in August 2025. A private operator, The Linq, now runs a bus through the Tunnel between downtown Windsor and downtown Detroit, including a special-events bus for games and concerts. Check thelinqtunnelbus.ca for current times, stops and fares, and bring the documents you need to cross the border.

Does this page include concerts and other events?

No, only Lions, Red Wings and Pistons home games. Concerts and other big downtown events can back up the Tunnel the same way, so check the live wait before you leave.

How do you measure the effect of a game?

We record the official CBP and CBSA wait for every crossing every five minutes. For each game we take the longest official wait in the two hours before the start (to Detroit) and in the three hours after it is expected to end (to Windsor), then compare it with the same hours on the same weekday in other weeks with no home game or holiday.