Detroit–Windsor Tunnel wait times
Right now: no delay to Detroit (CBP) and no delay to Windsor (CBSA), as of 12:38 AM ET, Sep 24.
The Detroit–Windsor Tunnel runs under the Detroit River from Goyeau Street in downtown Windsor to Jefferson Avenue in downtown Detroit. It is passenger vehicles only — no transport trucks — which makes it the fastest choice for downtown trips, games and concerts, but it also means it backs up hard after events. U.S.-bound waits come from CBP; Canada-bound from CBSA, which can lag, so driver reports below matter more here than at the bridges.
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Detroit-Windsor Tunnel at a glance
| Car toll | USD $9.00 Detroit→Windsor; CAD $8.25 Windsor→Detroit. NEXPRESS: USD $6.75 / CAD $5.90. App rate: USD $8.50 / $5.00. |
|---|---|
| Trailer / bus | Car + trailer USD $9.00 / CAD $10.10. Bus USD $14.00 / CAD $11.75. Vehicles over 8 ft (2.45 m) pay XL rates. |
| Payment | No cash on the Windsor side. Debit and credit cards, NEXPRESS transponder, or the tunnel app. |
| Hours | Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. |
| NEXUS | NEXUS lanes available in both directions when staffed. |
| Not allowed | Transport trucks, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, pedestrians, and propane-fuelled vehicles. Height limit applies. |
| Windsor side | Goyeau Street at Wyandotte / Park Street, downtown Windsor. |
| Detroit side | E. Jefferson Avenue at Randolph Street, next to the Renaissance Center. |
| Operator | Detroit-Windsor Tunnel LLC / Windsor Detroit Borderlink |
Tolls and rules change; confirm with the operator before you travel. Last reviewed September 2026.
Tunnel vs. Ambassador Bridge vs. Gordie Howe
Take the Tunnel when both ends of your trip are downtown: Caesars Windsor, Little Caesars Arena, Ford Field, Comerica Park, Greektown, the RenCen, Hart Plaza. It is also the cheapest Windsor-bound crossing in CAD and has no truck traffic to sit behind. Take the Gordie Howe for the airport, Ann Arbor, Ohio or anywhere on I-75 south, and the Ambassador Bridge for Mexicantown and I-96. Motorcycles and anything over 8 ft cannot use the Tunnel at all.
Best time to use the Tunnel
The Tunnel's waits are event-driven more than commute-driven. Detroit-bound lines form 60–90 minutes before puck drop or kickoff; Windsor-bound lines form for about an hour after the final whistle and again after concerts. Weekday commuter peaks are 7–9 AM to Detroit and 4–6 PM to Windsor. Outside those windows it is usually a no-delay crossing. A typical-wait-by-hour table from our own 5-minute snapshots appears here once enough data is collected.
Tunnel Bus
Transit Windsor runs the Tunnel Bus between downtown Windsor and downtown Detroit, with extra service for Lions, Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons games and major concerts. It is the only way to cross the Tunnel without a car and avoids parking downtown; you clear customs on foot at each end.
Typical Detroit-Windsor Tunnel 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 | 10 min |
| Evening (7–11 PM) | No delay | 10 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
Ambassador Bridge wait times · Gordie Howe Bridge wait times · All three crossings
Best time to cross the Windsor–Detroit border → — typical waits by hour and day.
Detroit-Windsor Tunnel FAQ
How much is the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel toll?
USD $9.00 from Detroit to Windsor and CAD $8.25 from Windsor to Detroit for a car. NEXPRESS transponder users pay USD $6.75 / CAD $5.90, and the tunnel app offers a discounted rate. Cash is not accepted on the Windsor side.
Is the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel open 24 hours?
Yes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
Can motorcycles use the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel?
No. Motorcycles, scooters, bicycles and pedestrians are prohibited, as are transport trucks and propane-fuelled vehicles. Use the Ambassador Bridge or Gordie Howe Bridge instead.
Does the Tunnel have a NEXUS lane?
Yes, both CBP (Detroit side) and CBSA (Windsor side) operate NEXUS lanes at the Tunnel when staffed.
Why does the Canada-bound Tunnel wait look wrong?
CBSA's published figure for the Tunnel can lag 30–90 minutes behind reality, especially after events. That is why this page blends recent driver reports into the Canada-bound estimate and flags the official number as delayed when it is stale.
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, so we blend in recent driver reports from this page. Always allow extra time.