Cross-border comeback? Ontario-New York traffic hits 22-month high

Cross-border traffic between eastern Ontario and New York State climbed to its highest level in nearly two years in July, although volumes remain below levels recorded in 2023 and 2024.

New data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shows 175,424 vehicle crossings were recorded at the Alexandria Bay, Massena and Ogdensburg ports of entry in July, up from 163,306 during the same month last year.

Despite the year-over-year increase, traffic has yet to fully return to earlier levels. The three crossings recorded roughly 197,000 conveyances in July 2024 and 193,000 in July 2023.

The July numbers continue a recent rebound in cross-border travel. CBP recorded approximately 152,000 crossings in June, 144,000 in May and 127,000 in April.

READ MORE: Will Trump's 50% tariff threat stall Canada's return to U.S. travel? Industry pros weigh in

July marked the fourth consecutive month of increased traffic between eastern Ontario and New York State following 14 months of declines.

The 175,424 crossings also represented the highest monthly total since October 2024.

All three major crossings in the region — the Thousand Islands Bridge, the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge and crossings linking Cornwall and Akwesasne with Massena, N.Y. — saw traffic increase compared with July 2025.

At the Alexandria Bay port of entry, which connects with Ontario via the Thousand Islands Bridge, CBP recorded 72,200 conveyances in July. That compares with 67,200 in July 2025 and 56,700 this past June.

Traffic also increased at the Ogdensburg port of entry. Approximately 24,500 conveyances crossed the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge in July, up from 21,894 a year earlier and 20,600 in June.

The Cornwall and Akwesasne crossings into Massena remained the busiest of the three gateways.

CBP reported 78,700 conveyances in July, compared with 74,200 in July 2025 and 75,300 in June.

The latest figures suggest cross-border traffic is regaining momentum heading into the second half of the summer, even as overall volumes continue to trail the stronger levels seen during the previous two years.

A gradual recovery?

As it has been well documented, Canadian visitation to the United States, since early 2025, has dropped considerably amid trade tensions between Canada and the United States and Trump's repeated comments about making Canada the "51st state."

Statistics Canada data has pointed to early signs of a gradual recovery.

A first sign that “elbows” were gradually going down first emerged in April, when Statistics Canada reported a 1.8 per cent year-over-year increase in Canadian residents returning from trips to the U.S.

Then, this past June, Canadian residents made 1.7 million return trips from the U.S., marking a 3.2 per cent increase compared to June 2025.

Canadian-resident return trips from the U.S. increased again 10.2 per cent year over year in July, marking a fourth consecutive month of gains, StatCan reported.

Political pressures   

U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest 50 per cent tariff threats, however, could derail this emerging recovery.

Political commentary has repeatedly shown to motivate Canadians back into the “elbows up” camp, and keep their spending tourism dollars at home or elsewhere abroad. 

“I have no doubt some people will again rethink travel to the USA given the latest comments [by Trump],” Ontario-based travel advisor Jakki Prince, chief epic officer and owner of Prince Adventures, told PAX in this July analysis.

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