Limestone – Gillespie Portage Border Crossing

Gillespie NB border station 

Gillespie NB border station

The Limestone – Gillespie Portage border crossing is a small, rural port of entry that connects the towns of Limestone, Maine and Grand-Sault, New Brunswick. The Canadian border station here was first built around 1930 and replaced in 1984. The US border station, on the other hand, was built around 1933 and is still being used to this day. In 2014, it joined the list of National Register of Historic Places.

Before the stations were built at the actual border crossing, customs and immigration inspections were always done in the nearest town to the border. In this case, Limestone, Maine. However, during the period of Prohibition, there became a need for inspections to be conducted closer to the actual border. Hence, the US border facility was built.

 

Hours of Operations & Wait Times in Limestone Gillespie Portage

The US port of entry is open to all vehicles 24/7. The Canadian port of entry is open to passenger vehicles 24/7. Their commercial services, however, are only available on weekdays from 8 am to 4 pm except on holidays.

A little over 60 vehicles, mostly autos, pass through the Limestone – Gillespie Portage border crossing every day. There typically isn’t any delay when using this port of entry. If you want to get updated reports on wait times at border crossings along the US-Canada border, just download the CanBorder app and the CBP Border Wait Times app on Google Play or iTunes.

 

Weather, Traffic & Road Conditions

Traffic is typically light at the Limestone ME border crossing with mostly vacationers and locals passing through. Travelers can get updated information on traffic and road conditions in the surrounding area in Maine by calling 511 or 866-282-7578. You can also check the Twitter feed of @MaineDOT. New Brunswick also has a similar travel service; by dialing 511 or 800-561-4063, travelers can get up-to-date traffic and road conditions reports.

 

Contact & Directions for Your Trip

If you have any questions about this border crossing, you can get in touch with the customs officials at the US or Canadian facilities using the phone numbers listed below. To use this port of entry, just follow the map and directions provided below.

Find Directions to the Border Crossing on the Map

How to Get to the Border?
Head east on Route 89 from Caribou until you reach Limestone town center. From there, take Route 229 (also known as Grand Falls Road) and drive eastwards to the Maine-Canada border. From New Brunswick, take New Brunswick Route 375 and head west, past the Trans-Canada Highway, until you reach the US-Canada border.

Address & Phone Numbers

U.S.A
  • U.S.: 410 Grand Falls Road, Limestone, ME 04750
  • US Customs: (207) 325-4769
Canada
  • Canada: 600 Route 375, California Settlement, DSL de Grand-Sault NB E3Z 1Z6
  • Canadian Customs: (506) 473-3536
 

Things to Know About Limestone – Gillespie Portage Border Crossing:

  • A hundred yards south of the Limestone ME border crossing is an old Nike Missile launch site that has been turned into a house and a car repair business. It was one of four Nike Missile stations that were responsible for protecting the Loring Air Force Base which was located in Limestone. There were heavy bombers based out of this facility, ready at any moment to take flight and bomb Russia. A top secret facility called the North River Depot was part of the Loring base with the purpose of storing, assembling, and testing atomic weapons. In 1994, the base was closed down though there are still reserve and military operations at the site.
  • Visitors to Limestone, Maine can stay at the Trafton Lake and Campground for a bit of R&R.
  • Go kayaking, deepelling, ziplining, and other gorge adventures on your visit to Grand Falls, New Brunswick with the help of Open Sky Adventures.
 

Links of Interest