“Steep decline”: Travel from Canada to the U.S. continued to drop in June

Travel between Canada and the United States continues to see a downturn, according to newly released federal data.

Statistics Canada reported last Thursday (July 10) that 1.66 million Canadian residents returned from trips to the U.S. in June—a notable decline compared to the same month in 2024.

Compared to one year earlier, air travel dropped by 22.1 per cent while automobile crossings fell by 33.1 per cent, marking what StatCan describes as a “steep decline” in cross-border movement."

The June figures show a slight improvement over what StatCan reported in May. Cross-border air travel, that month, was down 24 per cent, while return trips by car dropped 38.1 per cent.

In contrast, Canadian trips overseas last month rose by seven per cent compared to June 2024, the agency reports.

Meanwhile, the number of air arrivals to Canada remained largely unchanged from last year. However, the country saw a 10 per cent decline in U.S. visitors arriving by car—marking the fifth straight month of reduced cross-border traffic.

A separate report released by Statistics Canada in June frames the recent travel activity as part of a larger ongoing trend.

“The abrupt and steep declines in Canadian residents returning from the United States at the start of 2025 suggest a notable change in travel patterns," it reads. “However, it is currently unclear whether the change is temporary or part of a more permanent shift.”

Following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, there has been a sharp decline in Canadian car travel to the United States, affecting both same-day trips and overnight stays.

In May, same-day return trips dropped 40 per cent compared to 2024—a sharper decline than those recorded after the September 11 attacks (31 per cent) and the 2008 financial crisis (23 per cent). Over the past year, about 65 per cent of Canadian land border returns were from same-day visits.

International sentiment toward the U.S. continues to be undermined by several factors.

Prominent among these are policy announcements under the Trump administration, including proposed tariffs targeting long-time trade partners, including Canada.

The weak Canadian dollar and widespread media coverage of border security incidents and national travel advisories have further contributed to a negative image abroad.

"Shifting sentiment and perceptions of the U.S. are expected to continue to weigh heavily on travel demand," said Aran Ryan, director of industry studies at Tourism Economics, in a May study.

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