Canadians Visiting U.S. By Car Down 35% In 2 Years

Key Concepts

• Inbound Tourism: Travel by non-residents into a country (in this case, Canada to the US).
• Economic Impact: The financial contribution of tourism to a national economy, including visitor spending and job creation.
• Longwoods International Tracking Study: A research tool used to measure traveler sentiment and behavior.
• Hospitality Sector: The industry encompassing lodging, food and beverage, and travel services.

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Decline in Canadian Visitation to the US

Recent data from Statistics Canada reveals a significant and sustained downturn in Canadian travel to the United States following the re-election of President Donald Trump. This trend represents a major economic shift, as Canadian tourists have historically been the largest source of international visitors to the US.

Statistical Breakdown of the Decline

• Road Travel: The most common mode of travel, road trips into the US, saw a 5% decline in March 2026 compared to March 2025, and a staggering 35% drop compared to March 2024.
• Air Travel: There was a 14% year-over-year decline in Canadian air travelers to the US in March.
• Shift in Preferences: For three consecutive months, Canadians have favored overseas destinations over the US, a reversal of long-standing travel patterns. Overseas travel from Canada increased by 5% year-over-year.
• Consumer Sentiment: According to the Longwoods International Tracking Study, nearly 25% of Canadian travelers have canceled previously planned trips to the US.

Economic Consequences

The US Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office previously identified Canadian tourists as accounting for approximately 25% of all foreign travelers to the US. In 2024, this group contributed $20.5 billion to the US economy.

• Projected vs. Actual Loss: The US Travel Association had estimated that a 10% reduction in Canadian travel would result in $2.1 billion in lost spending and 140,000 lost jobs. With the actual decline reaching 22%, the economic impact is estimated at approximately $4.5 billion in lost visitor spending.
• Sustained Trend: The boycott has persisted into 2026, with double-digit declines recorded in January and February, and cumulative two-year drops exceeding 30% each month.

Comparative Trends

While Canadian visitation to the US is plummeting, the inverse is not true. The volume of Americans visiting Canada in March 2026 increased by 4% compared to the previous year, indicating that the decline is specific to Canadian sentiment toward US travel rather than a general regional downturn in tourism.

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Synthesis and Conclusion

The data indicates a clear, politically-correlated shift in Canadian travel behavior. The transition from the US to overseas destinations suggests that Canadian travelers are actively choosing to avoid the United States, resulting in a multi-billion dollar economic contraction within the US hospitality sector. With no signs of reversal heading into the remainder of 2026, the sustained 35% drop in visitation poses a long-term challenge for US tourism-dependent industries.