How To Avoid Jam To JB From Singapore

JB has plenty to offer, from great eats to fun adventures for the whole family.

But does thinking about crossing the border from Singapore to JB make you cringe?

Dread wasting hours upon hours in traffic jams and queues?

Then this guide is for you!

Using our insight as seasoned travellers, we’ll share with you just how to avoid jam to JB from Singapore.

Intrigued? Let’s get started then!

 

Why Is the Singapore-Johor Causeway Traffic So Bad?

The infamously bad traffic on the Singapore-Johor border can be attributed to a main couple of factors:

• Malaysian workers in Singapore: There are many blue-collar Malaysians who work in Singapore. They usually commute daily between Singapore and JB, where they reside. This causes heavy traffic when they are going to work in the morning and leaving work in the evening.
• Travellers: These are people who travel to Malaysia for other than work. They could be tourists, day-trippers, or Singaporeans who enjoy going to JB for the cheaper food, entertainment, and groceries.

 

Weekdays typically have smoother traffic than weekends, but events like public holidays and long weekends (in SG, MY, or both) can severely impact traffic conditions at the border.

Read Also: How To Cross From Singapore To JB Faster

 

 

What Is The Best Time To Cross Singapore-Johor Causeway?

Knowing when is the best time to cross the Singapore-Malaysia border will save you from angst and frustration. After much observation, we’ve identified the ideal border crossing times:

Day	Optimal Border Crossing Times
Friday	12:00am to 5:00am (light traffic, under 30 minutes) 8:30am to 3:00pm (moderate traffic, 30-60 minutes)
Saturday	12:00am to 8:00am (light to moderate traffic, under 15-45 minutes)
Sunday	12:00am to 10:00am (light to moderate traffic, under 15-45 minutes) 3:00pm to 10:00pm (moderate to light traffic, 30-60 minutes) 10:00pm to 12:00am (light traffic, 15-30 minutes)
Weekdays (Monday to Thursday)	12:00am to 5:00am (light traffic, under 30 minutes) 8:30am to 4:00pm (moderate traffic, 30-60 minutes) 8:00pm to 12:00am (moderate to light traffic, 30-60 minutes)
Public Holidays	Depends on which day the public holiday falls on, what type of public holiday, and whether Malaysia is observing the same public holiday.   Harder to predict if the public holiday falls on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.   However, if it falls on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, see below.
Long Weekends	Friday: Before 8:00am and after 11:00pm Saturday: Before 6:00am and after 10:00pm Sunday/Monday: After 2:00pm

 

What Is The Worst Time To Cross Singapore-Johor Causeway?

Nothing tests your patience more than running smack dab into an awful traffic jam en route to your destination. Here are the peak congestion periods to avoid:

Day	Worst Border Crossing Times	Reason
Friday	5:00am to 8:30am (heavy traffic, 1-2+ hours) 3:00pm to 10:00pm (severe traffic, can exceed 2-3+ hours) 10:00pm to 12:00am (heavy traffic, 1-1.5+ hours)	Mostly Malaysians going home to JB for the weekend and Singaporean weekend travellers heading to JB.
Saturday	8:00am to 5:00pm (heavy traffic, 1-2+ hours) 5:00pm to 10:00pm (very heavy traffic, 2-3+ hours) 10:00pm to 12:00am (very heavy traffic, 1-1.5+ hours)	Mostly Singaporeans going to JB for shopping and food.   Malaysian workers who work ½ day on Saturdays will be commuting home as well.
Sunday	10:00am to 3:00pm (moderate traffic, 45-90 minutes)	Mostly Singaporean day trippers and some retail outlet workers.
Weekdays (Monday to Thursday)	5:00am to 8:30am (heavy traffic, 1-2+ hours) 4:00pm to 8:00pm (heavy traffic, 1-1.5+ hours)	Mostly Malaysians going home to JB after work and some Singaporean day trippers.
Public Holidays	Harder to predict if the public holiday falls on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.   If it falls on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, see below:	See below.
Long Weekends	Friday: 8:00am to 11:00pm Saturday: 6:00am to 10:00pm Sunday/Monday: Before 2:00pm	If the public holiday falls on: Friday – Friday becomes the new “Saturday” with higher number of travellers. Saturday – Just as bad as a normal weekend. Sunday/Monday – Many day trippers travelling in the morning.

 

 

 

Woodlands Vs Tuas Checkpoint: Which Is Faster?

So the big question is, which checkpoint should you choose? Which one saves more time? Let’s compare:

	Woodlands Checkpoint	Tuas Checkpoint
Traffic	More traffic	Less traffic
Immigration Clearance Time (if using QR code)	Slower (about 30 minutes to 2 hours)	Faster (about 10 minutes to 2 hours)
Optimal Border Crossing Times	Similar, as above.	Similar, as above.

 

Based on this table, Tuas is the winner here. BUT ultimately which you choose boils down to your needs.

For instance, Woodlands Checkpoint offers more public transport options compared to Tuas Checkpoint.

Each checkpoint is also located closer to a specific area in JB—Woodlands Checkpoint for JB town and Tuas Checkpoint for outside of JB town.

But if you’re going to explore JB town, it might be better to hire a private taxi from Singapore to JB instead of taking public transport.

A private taxi ensures flexibility of travel, including providing a door-to-door transfer from SG to JB.

Read Also: How To Clear Immigration With QR Codes At Woodlands & Tuas Checkpoints

 

 

Whether you choose Woodlands or Tuas, having the right transport information is crucial:

• Woodlands Route: If you’re figuring out how to go JB from Woodlands, read the complete how to go JB from Woodlands guide for step-by-step instructions.
• Tuas Route: Need to know how to go JB from Tuas checkpoint? Check out our comprehensive how to go JB from Tuas checkpoint guide.

 

Real-Time Causeway Traffic Website & App

Always check real-time traffic conditions at the border when planning your journey! We totally recommend using an app like Waze or trafficiti.com.

You can learn more about checking traffic on the Causeway here: 7 Free & Best App To Check Causeway Traffic To Beat Singapore Malaysia Jam

 

How To Speed Up Singapore-Malaysia Immigration Clearance

There are ways you can ease immigration clearance for yourself when you’re taking a coach or public bus. Check out these helpful tips and thank us later:

• Head to the lanes further left for “Singapore, Singapore PR and Malaysia Passport” to use the Automated Clearance System (ACS).
• Have your passport ready as you approach the counters (ACS or manual).
• Travel light, such as a small backpack. Big or wheeled luggages have to undergo X-ray scanning and possible inspections, taking up your time.
• Queue at the back row at JB CIQ for immigration checks, which will lead to two counters instead of one. This is only applicable during peak hours as not all counters will be open during non-peak hours.
• Queue in both lanes at the bus bay when boarding SBS 160/170 as you will be boarding the same bus either way.

Want to know more? We go into further detail here: How To Cross From Singapore to JB Faster.

 

Conclusion

We hope this guide has given you a clearer understanding about the Singapore-Malaysia border traffic.

Now go ahead and apply these tips when you plan your next food hunt or holiday in JB!