Crossing Into the USA With an RV: Canadian Guide

The short answer

Yes, you can take an RV from Canada into the United States, and most crossings are quick. The things that cause trouble are different from the Canadian side: food and firewood, pets, firearms, and, since 2025, a registration rule for stays of 30 days or more.

This guide is for Canadians heading south, including the trip home. If you are entering Canada, read crossing the border into Canada with an RV instead.

Check before you go. U.S. entry and registration rules have changed several times recently, and officers have wide discretion. Confirm the points that matter to you on the official sites linked at the bottom of this page.

Documents to carry

Keep everything in one folder, easy to reach from the driver's seat.

Travel document for every traveller. By land, Canadian citizens can show a passport or another accepted document: a NEXUS card, a FAST card, or an enhanced driver's licence or identification card, which some provinces issue. A passport is the simplest choice, and it is required if you ever fly.
Children. Canadian citizens under 16 can generally show a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship at a land crossing. If a child is travelling without both parents, carry a consent letter, and carry custody documents if you share custody.
If you are not a Canadian citizen. Permanent residents of Canada travel on the passport of their country of citizenship, and whether they need a U.S. visa depends on that citizenship. Check before you leave.
Vehicle registration and insurance for the tow vehicle and the trailer, or for the motorhome.
Rental agreement that allows travel into the USA, if you are in a rental.
Lender permission if your loan or lease limits where you can take the RV.
Pet paperwork (see below).

Your passport should be valid for your whole planned stay. CBP generally does not admit a traveller past the date their passport expires.

How long you can stay, the I-94, and the 30-day rule

Canadian visitors are commonly admitted for up to six months, but that is not a guarantee. The officer decides how long you get, and if you leave and come back during an existing stay you may only be admitted until the original end date.

The I-94

The I-94 is the arrival and departure record that shows how you were admitted and until when. Canadians who fly or go through preclearance usually get one electronically. Canadians who drive across a land border often are not issued one automatically. You can ask for one at the border, and CBP's I-94 website lets you check whether you have one. A fee applies for an I-94 at a land crossing, so check CBP for the current amount.

Registration for stays of 30 days or more

Since April 11, 2025, foreign nationals who stay in the USA for 30 days or more must be registered. For Canadians this matters most for RVers and snowbirds on longer trips:

If you were issued an I-94, you are generally considered registered.
If you were admitted through NEXUS, you are treated as already registered, according to CBP and USCIS guidance.
If you crossed by land, were not issued an I-94, and will stay 30 days or more, you generally need to register online with USCIS using Form G-325R, through a myUSCIS account, and carry the proof of registration with you.

Failing to register can carry penalties, and travellers have reported inconsistent treatment at different crossings. Read the USCIS alien registration page before any trip that could reach 30 days, and keep your dates.

Your RV, insurance, and health coverage

Auto and RV insurance. Ask your insurer to confirm in writing that your policy covers the RV in the USA, and carry the proof. Check roadside assistance too.
Health insurance. Provincial health plans pay little or nothing for care in the USA, and many plans limit how long you can be away. Buy travel medical insurance for the whole trip.
The rig. Inspect tires, brakes, and the hitch before a long trip, and check your phone plan for U.S. roaming.
Propane. Propane in your RV's own cylinders is normal at the border. For ferries, tunnels, and refills, see our propane guide.

Food, plants, and firewood

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and CBP require you to declare all food, plants, and agricultural items, including meat, fruit, vegetables, plants, pet food, and wood products. Failing to declare a prohibited item can bring a fine of up to US$1,000. The main points for travellers coming from Canada:

Fruit and vegetables grown in Canada are generally allowed. Produce merely bought in Canada may not be, and tropical produce is restricted.
Citrus fruit. CBP has warned that mandarin ("Christmas") oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, and pomelo cannot be brought in from Canada for non-commercial use.
Meat. Travellers may bring personal-use amounts of beef, bison, veal, lamb, goat, and pork from Canada, to a limit of 50 pounds of meat per traveller. Poultry is allowed in personal-use amounts unless a temporary restriction is in place for avian disease, so check before you go.
Firewood. Leave it at home. Untreated firewood is generally prohibited, and travellers have been turned back with it. Buy firewood near where you will burn it.
Pet food. Commercially packaged kibble in its original packaging is generally fine. Keep receipts for pet food that contains meat.

The simplest plan is to buy fresh produce and meat after you cross, and to declare anything you do carry.

Pets

Dogs must meet CDC rules even for a brief land crossing, including a trip where the dog stays in the vehicle. Since August 2024, a dog coming from Canada needs to be at least six months old, be microchipped, appear healthy, and have a receipt from the online CDC Dog Import Form. The form is free to complete online and can be done on the day of travel. The receipt can be shown on your phone, and it is valid for six months for repeat entries, as long as the dog has not been in a high-risk country.

Cats are not subject to the same federal form when coming from Canada. They should appear healthy, CDC recommends rabies vaccination, and the state you are visiting may have its own requirements.

Alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis

As a Canadian visitor you are a nonresident for U.S. customs. An adult nonresident may bring, duty-free and for personal use:

Up to 1 litre of alcohol (you must be 21 or older)
Either 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 2 kilograms of smoking tobacco
Gifts to a value of US$100

State alcohol laws also apply where you enter and travel, so a limit that is fine at the border can still be restricted in some states. Cannabis remains illegal under U.S. federal law, even in states where it is legal and even if it is medical. Do not carry it across the border. Admitting to cannabis use or work in the industry can also lead to a refusal of entry.

Firearms and other weapons

Declare every firearm and weapon, and never try to bring in something you are unsure about. The rules are strict and are a common trip-ender.

Most RVers should leave firearms and ammunition at home. Canadian visitors are generally barred from possessing firearms and ammunition in the USA unless an exception applies, and carrying one for self-protection is not an accepted reason to import it.

For hunting or other lawful sporting purposes, nonimmigrant visitors generally need an approved ATF Form 6NIA import permit before they arrive, and processing can take weeks.
State and local laws on carrying, storing, and transporting firearms vary widely, and you must follow the laws of every state you drive through.
Questions go to ATF and CBP before you travel, not at the booth.

Pepper spray and bear spray are regulated differently by state. Declare any spray you carry, and check the rules for the states on your route.

At the booth: what to expect

Stop at the line, and have everyone's documents ready. The officer will ask where you are going, how long you will stay, and what you are bringing. Expect questions about food, alcohol, tobacco, and firearms, and about cash: travellers carrying more than US$10,000 in currency or monetary instruments must report it.

Answer directly and honestly. If you are not sure whether to declare something, declare it.
If you are sent to secondary inspection, stay calm. It is a routine check, and it is often where an I-94 or registration question gets handled.
Officers can examine phones and laptops at the border.
Be ready to describe where you will stay, and to show ties to Canada, such as a home, a job, or a return plan, especially on long trips.

Choosing a crossing and a time

CBP publishes current wait times for land crossings, and it is worth checking them before you commit to a route.

Cross in the morning where you can, since lines tend to build later in the day.
Avoid long weekends and holidays, and the start of the snowbird season in autumn if you can.
Choose a crossing with RV-friendly lanes, and check the hours of smaller crossings, since many do not run around the clock.
Plan a first night close to the border so you are not hunting for a site after dark.

Coming back into Canada

When you return, you deal with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) as a Canadian resident. Everything you bought or received abroad must be declared, and what you can bring in duty-free depends on how long you were away:

Time away from Canada	Duty-free exemption
Less than 24 hours	None
24 hours or more	CAN$200 in goods, with no alcohol or tobacco
48 hours or more	CAN$800 in goods, including the alcohol and tobacco allowance below
7 days or more	CAN$800 in goods, including alcohol and tobacco

You cannot combine exemptions. For example, a 9-day trip does not earn both the 48-hour and the 7-day amount.
Goods must be with you when you arrive. If you go over the 24-hour limit of CAN$200, you cannot claim that exemption at all.
Alcohol after 48 hours or more, one of: 1.5 litres of wine, 1.14 litres of liquor, or 8.5 litres of beer or ale. Tobacco: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos, 200 grams of manufactured tobacco, and 200 tobacco sticks.
Repairs and parts. Declare any repairs or alterations made to your RV or tow vehicle while you were away, as well as parts you bought.
Cannabis cannot be brought back into Canada. Firearms must be declared on the way home, even if they left with you.
The Canadian rules on food, plants, and animals in our Canada entry guide apply on your return as well.

Long stays and snowbirds

Track your days. Keep a record of every entry and exit. It helps with the 30-day registration rule, with the six-month limit, and with proving you did not overstay.
Provincial health coverage often requires you to spend a minimum amount of time in your home province each year, and the limits vary by province. Check yours.
Taxes. U.S. tax rules count the days you are physically present, and long stays can affect your U.S. tax position. Ask a cross-border tax professional if you plan to spend months a year in the USA.
Storage. You can bring the RV home between trips or leave it in the USA. Storing it south of the border means crossing with it each season and checking customs, tax, and insurance rules first. See our page on RV storage for what to ask a facility.
Selling or leaving the RV for a long period in the USA is not a normal visit. Ask CBP before you do it.

Common mistakes that cause delays

Expired or missing travel documents
Undeclared fruit, meat, or firewood, and citrus fruit in the fridge
No CDC Dog Import Form receipt for the dog
Staying 30 days or more without an I-94 or registration
Firearms, ammunition, or cannabis in the vehicle
Forgetting to declare purchases and RV repairs on the way home
Rental agreements that do not allow travel into the USA
Arriving at peak times without checking wait times

Printable checklist

Want it on paper? Print the one-page version or download the PDF.

Passports or other accepted travel documents, valid for the whole stay
Children's consent letters and custody papers, if it applies
Vehicle registration and proof of insurance, with U.S. coverage confirmed
Travel medical insurance for everyone
Rental agreement or lender permission, if it applies
CDC Dog Import Form receipt and microchip details, if you have a dog
Food plan: no citrus, no firewood, everything else ready to declare
No firearms, ammunition, or cannabis
Alcohol and tobacco within the limits for the way in and the way home
Plan for the I-94 or registration if you will stay 30 days or more
Wait times checked and a morning crossing planned
Receipts and a list of repairs or purchases to declare on the way home

Frequently asked questions

Do Canadians need a passport to drive an RV into the USA?

By land, Canadian citizens can use a passport or another accepted travel document such as a NEXUS or FAST card or an enhanced driver's licence (offered in some provinces). A passport is the simplest choice, and it is required for air travel.

How long can a Canadian stay in the USA?

Canadian visitors are commonly admitted for up to six months, but the border officer decides how long you get, and there is no guarantee of six months. If you get an I-94, it shows the date you must leave.

Do I have to register if I stay 30 days or more?

Since April 2025, foreign nationals staying 30 days or more must be registered. Canadians who cross by land are often not issued an I-94, and in that case they generally need to register online with USCIS using Form G-325R. Travellers admitted through NEXUS are treated as already registered. Check the USCIS alien registration page before a long trip.

Can I bring my dog or cat?

Dogs must be at least six months old, microchipped, and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, even for a short land crossing. Cats are not subject to the same federal form, but should appear healthy, and your destination state may have its own rules.

Can I bring groceries?

Some, and you must declare all of it. Fruit and vegetables grown in Canada are generally allowed, but citrus fruit is not, and there are limits on meat. Do not bring untreated firewood.

Can I bring a firearm?

Probably not. Canadian visitors are generally barred from possessing firearms and ammunition in the USA unless an exception applies, and for hunting or sport you usually need an approved ATF Form 6NIA permit in advance. State laws also differ, so most RVers leave firearms at home.

What can I bring back to Canada?

It depends on how long you were away: CAN$200 after 24 hours (no alcohol or tobacco), or CAN$800 after 48 hours or after 7 days, which includes limited alcohol and tobacco. Declare everything you bought, including vehicle repairs done in the USA.

Official sources

Rules, fees, and services change. Check these directly before you travel.