Canadian Travel to the US Drops Sharply in September 2025 — What’s Behind the Decline

The trend of Canadian travel to the United States has grown softer through September 2025, with air visits and road crossings both dipping year over year. This continued slowdown, observed across multiple data releases, signals a broader shift in cross-border mobility and tourism patterns between the two neighbors.​

Key drivers and context

• Persistent decline in cross-border travel: September 2025 data show Canadian-resident return trips from the U.S. by air down more than a quarter, and automobile crossings dropping by about a third compared with the prior year, marking a prolonged period of reduced movement between the countries.​

• Economic and policy influences: A mix of higher travel costs, stronger U.S. currency, tariff-related anxieties, and concerns about policy signals appear to be shaping choices about where to vacation or shop, nudging Canadians toward other destinations or domestic travel.​

• Substitution effects: Canadians are increasingly considering alternatives such as Mexico, the Caribbean, and various European destinations, while U.S. border towns that historically relied on Canadian visitors are feeling the impact in local tourism economies.​

Implications for travelers and destinations

• For Canadians: The ongoing pattern may encourage more diversified itineraries, longer trips, or closer-to-home getaways, with attention to value, safety, and ease of travel in an evolving geopolitical climate.​

• For the U.S. tourism sector: The sustained slide in Canadian visitation may prompt renewed marketing efforts, policy clarity, and collaborative cross-border initiatives to reassure and attract Canadian travelers back to U.S. destinations.​

• For regional planning: The shift underscores the importance of broadening marketing and investment in alternative markets and domestic tourism to cushion border-dependent economies from continued declines.​

What to monitor next

• Official monthly updates: Ongoing StatCan releases will clarify whether September’s trends continue or if a rebound emerges, helping gauge the trajectory for late 2025 and 2026.​

• Cross-market comparisons: Observing how other major feeder markets perform can reveal whether Canada’s decline is unique or part of a wider global pattern in international travel demand.​

• Policy and pricing developments: Any changes in tariffs, exchange rates, or travel incentives could shift traveler sentiment and restore or further weaken cross-border flows in coming months.​

Direct takeaway

• September 2025 data indicate a continued and significant decline in Canadian travel to the U.S., with both air and car travel down year over year, affecting tourism revenues and regional economies along the border. The situation points to a complex mix of economic, policy, and perception factors, with travelers likely exploring alternatives while markets adapt to a new normal for cross-border travel.