Don't Get Stuck at the Border This Thanksgiving: A Planning Guide
Don't Get Stuck at the Border This Thanksgiving: A Planning Guide
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and if you're crossing the US-Mexico border, you already know what that means: longer wait times, more traffic, and a whole lot of patience required.
But here's the good news: with a little planning and the right tools, you can avoid the worst of the holiday chaos and spend more time with family instead of stuck in line.
Why Thanksgiving Week is Different
Holiday weekends see a massive spike in border crossings. Families reunite across borders, shoppers head north for Black Friday deals, and everyone seems to hit the road at the same time. The result? Wait times that can stretch to 2-3 hours or more at popular crossings like San Ysidro and El Paso.
The key is knowing when and where to cross—and having a backup plan.
Check for Border Notices Before You Go
This year, Border Times added a new feature that makes holiday planning easier: Border Notices. These alerts appear directly on crossing cards in the app and let you know about events that could impact wait times.
For example, you might see notices like:
- "Long weekend expected due to Thanksgiving holiday"
- "Increased traffic anticipated Friday-Sunday"
- "Border closure for maintenance on [date]"
These notices give you context that raw wait time numbers alone can't provide. If you see a notice about a holiday weekend, you know those 45-minute wait times might not tell the full story.
To check notices: just open the app and select your crossing. Simple as that!
Get Real-Time Data from Actual Border Crossers
Here's where Border Times gets really powerful: community-verified crossing times. While official CBP data tells you estimated wait times, our users record their actual crossings and share exactly how long it took them—in real-time.
When you record a crossing in Border Times:
- Tap "Start Recording" as you enter the line
- The app tracks your journey (even running in the background)
- Stop recording once you've crossed
- Submit your trip to help the community
Other users then see your verified crossing time alongside the official estimates. Instead of guessing whether that "45 min" estimate is accurate, you'll see something like:
CBP Estimate: 45 min Live Crossing (5 min ago): 62 min Median: 55 min Range: 45-75 min
Real data from real people, updated constantly throughout the day. During busy holiday periods, this crowdsourced data becomes invaluable—you're getting the truth from travelers who just crossed minutes before you.
Plus, every verified trip you submit earns you 5 days of premium access to live data (up to 30 days total). Help the community, help yourself.
Use Lane Information to Your Advantage
The app now shows detailed lane information for each crossing, including:
- How many lanes are currently open
- Which lane types are available (General, Ready, SENTRI)
- Wait times for each specific lane
For example, you might see "30 of 34 lanes open" - that tells you the crossing is near full capacity. Compare that to a crossing showing only "15 of 34 lanes," and you'll know where resources are concentrated.
Pro tip: If you have Ready Lane or SENTRI access, use it during the holidays. The difference between 90 minutes in General lanes and 15 minutes in SENTRI is massive when you're trying to make it to dinner on time.
Have a Backup Crossing Ready
Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Before you leave, check wait times at alternative crossings nearby:
San Diego Area:
- Primary: San Ysidro
- Backup: Otay Mesa (often 30+ minutes shorter)
Arizona:
- Primary: Nogales (Deconcini)
- Backup: Nogales (Mariposa) or Naco
Texas:
- Primary: El Paso (Paso Del Norte)
- Backup: El Paso (Bridge of the Americas) or Ysleta
Having a backup plan means you're not locked into a 2-hour wait if you can detour to a less crowded crossing 15 minutes away.
Pack Smart for the Wait
Even with perfect planning, you might hit delays. Make the wait more bearable:
- Full tank of gas - Don't be that person running on fumes in the line
- Snacks and water - Especially important if you have kids
- Phone charger - Keep Border Times running to monitor wait times
- Bathroom break before - Seriously, plan ahead
- Entertainment - Podcasts, audiobooks, playlists downloaded offline
The Bottom Line
Thanksgiving border crossings don't have to be stressful. With Border Notices giving you heads-up on holiday impacts, detailed lane information showing you where to cross, and community-verified crossing times from real travelers, you've got everything you need to plan smart.
Download Border Times, check for notices, record your crossing to help others, and most importantly—leave earlier than you think you need to. Traffic always builds faster than you expect during the holidays.
Safe travels, and happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
Border Times is available free on iOS and Android. Check real-time wait times, view border notices, and plan your crossing with the most accurate data available.
