Canadian travel to U.S. rebounds in July, but remains well below 2024 levels

Canadian-resident return trips from the United States increased 10.2 per cent year over year in July, marking a fourth consecutive month of gains, according to new preliminary data from Statistics Canada.

The increase suggests cross-border travel is continuing to recover from the sharp declines recorded in 2025. 

However, the latest figures remain considerably below levels seen two years ago.

Canadian residents made approximately 2.3 million return trips from the U.S. by automobile and air in July.

Automobile trips increased 12.8 per cent compared with July 2025, while return trips by air declined 1.4 per cent.

Compared with July 2024, automobile travel remained down 28.9 per cent and air travel was 26.8 per cent lower.

The year-over-year improvement therefore reflects a comparison with July 2025, when Canadian travel to the U.S. had already fallen significantly amid political and trade tensions between the two countries.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge opened on July 27, connecting Windsor, Ont. and Detroit across the Detroit River.

The new bridge joins the Ambassador Bridge and Windsor-Detroit Tunnel, which together form Canada’s busiest land-crossing corridor.

From July 27 to 31, the Gordie Howe International Bridge recorded 18,900 Canadian-resident automobile return trips from the U.S. and 18,100 U.S.-resident automobile arrivals in Canada.

During the same five-day period, the Ambassador Bridge and Windsor-Detroit Tunnel recorded a combined 31,500 Canadian-resident return trips and 21,200 U.S.-resident arrivals.

A total of 4,100 commercial transport trucks also entered or returned to Canada using the Gordie Howe International Bridge during its first five days of operation.

Renewed trade dispute

The latest increase in U.S. travel comes as the Trump administration prepares to impose additional 50 per cent tariffs on approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian imports beginning Aug. 19.

The duties will cover products including wine, hockey sticks, cement, dairy products, furniture, swimming pools and wigs.

The renewed trade dispute has raised questions about whether Canadians will again scale back travel to the U.S.

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