Peace Arch Border Crossing, Washington

The Peace Arch crossing is where the main highway up and down the West Coast of the continent crosses the international boundary with Canada. North bound is Highway 99 to Vancouver, 20 miles away. Southbound is Interstate 5 to Seattle and Los Angeles. Though commercial traffic is prohibited (trucks use the Pacific Highway crossing to the east), this is the third busiest car crossing on the border, with up to 4,800 cars crossing per day. Wait time can be as much as four hours. Traffic lights have been installed on the southbound lane, with timers indicating how long you have to wait before the light turns green. This enables people to shut off their engines. It also enables people to get out, throw a football around, visit the public restrooms on the Canadian side, or take in some of the sights on this unusual international traffic island park, a green lawn that spans the space between the Ports of Entry and the divided lanes of traffic heading north and south. This is part of Peace Arch State Park.