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Walking across this border is no problem. Make sure you got a Russian or Schengen visa when entering one of the two countries. Waiting lines of trucks can be up to several kilometers kilometres at times, so don't hesitate to walk the last kilometers kilometres towards the checkpoint.

Guards at both sides usually seem to be quite friendly if approaching them in a foreign tongue other than the local ones. If you have to wait (waiting for your visa to become valid or no traffic, or whatever), on the Latvian side there's a bar just 20m away from the first checkpoint on the right. It's a secured car park, but entering this territory might be no problem if you mention the restaurant (open 8-23). They got free WiFi (November 2010) there as well. On the Russian side, just 1km before the border you'll as well find a restaurant (24/7) to warm up.

Just 10 meters Immediately behind the last control post a small parking area is located which is your best spot to catch cars. Just get in position just behind the barrier to be visible for everyone. All drivers stop just in front of you to get out of the car and do the last control check, which means they see you and you have a chance to talk to them. Also at night there's sufficient light.

Walking about 1km further you'll find three service stations, a restaurant with a cash machine and secured parking for lorries - all 24/7 -, which might be useful if it's too cold, you're there at night (=no traffic) or in the morning, when all parking trucks are starting their engines eastwards. Though many seem to go also south through [[Belarus]], so watch out where you get in. There will be many local Latvians who might stop for you, but they only go to the fourth petrol station another kilometer kilometre further, where petrol is slightly cheaper. There's nothing else around(no streetlight!), but at daytime it could be a chance to hitch short distances to move forward anyway. For more, see [[M9 (Russia)]].

Traffic is extremely low here, and contains mostly locals crossing borders for cigarettes and petrol. Also here best chances are just behind the last control checkpoint, though light installments instalments are not as good on this side for night hitchhiking. Try to hitch at least towards the exit of ZilupeLudza, though there it's also not as good to hitch. [[TIR]] truck drivers might be your best bet. If you don't get one out of here, catch anything to [[Rēzekne|Rezekne]], from there traffic increases in direction of [[Lithuania]] and [[Riga]].

[[User:Platschi|Platschi]] stood here several times at night (both directions) and in all three of four cases didn't manage to see anything moving until daylight came up. As soon as it gets light, it's also recommended to hitch short distances, esp. towards Russia, which might be more effective as after about 40 km the road from [[Pskov]] joins in, where more traffic can be expected towards Moscow. Get out at crossings or petrol stations along the way and be patient. The trip to Moscow can take you about 7 to 10 hours from here. In November 2010, though, he managed to get a ride at 1 a.m. towards Veliki Luki, from where he continued [[hitchhiking at night|night hitchhiking]] to Moscow and arrived there at 9 in the morning. Pretty much doable also, but be aware of petrol stations with insufficient light instalments. For more, see [[M9 (Russia)]].