Should I use the Gordie Howe Bridge?
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is the freeway-to-freeway Detroit–Windsor option. On the Michigan side it connects directly with I-75; on the Ontario side it feeds the Highway 401 corridor. That makes it especially relevant when the trip does not begin or end downtown and when Huron Church Road traffic would add time to an Ambassador Bridge route.
The live wait above should be one part of the decision. Compare it with the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit–Windsor Tunnel on the three-crossing Detroit dashboard. The tool only labels Gordie Howe shortest when the other crossings have comparable official data for the same direction, traffic type and lane.
Gordie Howe toll and payment
For a standard passenger vehicle, the planning snapshot is $5.75 USD in the selected direction. The live tool will update this note for your direction. Account discounts and rates for commercial vehicles, RVs, trailers and additional axles differ.
Always confirm the official Gordie Howe toll schedule before travel. A toll amount is not included in the customs wait time, and the time spent reaching or paying at a toll facility is not part of the CBP or CBSA delay.
What the live report does and does not show
- To Canada: CBSA’s traveler or commercial flow for the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
- To the United States: CBP’s standard, NEXUS, Ready Lane or FAST record when that exact lane is actively reported.
- Approach traffic: nearby Ontario 511 events and camera context, shown separately.
- Not included: driving time from your origin, toll-plaza activity, secondary inspection or time after leaving customs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Gordie Howe Bridge open 24 hours?
It normally operates 24 hours. The live card also reads the U.S. port-status field so a reported closure is not converted into a wait estimate.
Does Gordie Howe have NEXUS and FAST lanes?
The plazas are designed for trusted-traveler and commercial processing, but this page only shows a dedicated lane when CBP is actively reporting it for the U.S.-bound direction. CBSA’s public Canada-bound report does not split lane programs the same way.
Is Gordie Howe always faster than the Ambassador Bridge?
No. Current customs delay, approach conditions, trip endpoints and toll preferences can all change the answer. Use the live three-way comparison rather than a permanent claim.
Where is the Gordie Howe Bridge entrance?
The U.S. port is in southwest Detroit with direct I-75 connections. The Canadian port connects with the extended Highway 401 near Ojibway Parkway in Windsor.