Border officers hear 'just here for the falls' hundreds of times a day — answer honestly

Border officers at Niagara Falls hear “just here for the falls” hundreds of times a day. Answer honestly about food, gifts, and purchases, and you’ll get waved through. If you’re directed to secondary inspection, don’t panic — it’s routine. The real variable is wait time: Rainbow Bridge can be 5 minutes or 90. Go mid-week, check the CBP or CBSA app for live waits, and consider walking across instead of driving if the bridge is backed up.