El Paso Bridge of the Americas (BOTA) Border Crossing Wait Times & FAQ’s

The Bridge of the Americas is the busiest port of entry in El Paso, TX. Around half of the border traffic that passes through El Paso crosses over this bridge. This is because this is the only international bridge in El Paso that does not have a toll charge. Live and average El Paso border wait times for the BOTA are below. Click here for the Santa Fe and Zaragoza bridge wait times.

Please note during the COVID-19 situation some of the FAQ info below might be subject to change. Please let us know of any corrections requiredLive and average El Paso Bridge wait times below remain accurate and are sourced from the US Customs & Border Patrol.

There is no toll for crossing the Bridge of the Americas. This is why it is one of the busiest crossing points in Texas.
The BOTA port of entry is open all hours every day. The average El Paso bridge wait time to cross is around 40 minutes. At peak times, though the wait can stretch over an hour. However, many prefer to wait in traffic than to pay a toll charge to cross at one of the other nearby border crossings.
You can walk across the bridge. However, as the bridge is a busy road bridge, it is not the most pleasant of walks. You can, however, cross here for free.
There are no duty-free stores located right next to the bridge. There are, however, a few stores that are located near the Pasa Del Norte (PDN) bridge, which is only a short drive away. There are two on Stanton Street and one on South El Paso Street. When traveling from Mexico into the US you can bring up to $800 of goods over the border. This can include up to a 60-day supply of prescription medications.
When crossing the border at El Paso, TX, you will need to bring with you an accepted form of identification. The most common form of identification used is a passport or a valid passport card, known as PASS. You can also use an Enhanced Driver's License or enhanced tribal identification card. A US military ID is acceptable as long as it is accompanied by military orders. Mexican citizens crossing into the United States will need a passport, visa, or Border Crossing Card.

The El Paso Bridge wait time data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Times may take a few seconds to load…

Passenger lanes

Time Today (min) Average (min)
Midnight
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Noon
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L A D I N G . . .
Time Today (min) Average (min)
Midnight
1:00 AM
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Noon
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L A D I N G . . .
Time Today (min) Average (min)
Midnight
1:00 AM
2:00 AM
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6:00 AM
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8:00 AM
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10:00 AM
11:00 AM
Noon
1:00 PM
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L A D I N G . . .

Pedestrian lanes

Time Today (min) Average (min)
Midnight
1:00 AM
2:00 AM
3:00 AM
4:00 AM
5:00 AM
6:00 AM
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
Noon
1:00 PM
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5:00 PM
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
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11:00 PM
L A D I N G . . .
Time Today (min) Average (min)
Midnight
1:00 AM
2:00 AM
3:00 AM
4:00 AM
5:00 AM
6:00 AM
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
Noon
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
10:00 PM
11:00 PM
L A D I N G . . .