Canadian Travel to the U.S. Is Down in 2025—Here’s What You Need to Know

I grew up in Rochester, just a short drive from Canada. Crossing the border never felt like a big deal. We visited often—shopping, sightseeing, catching a concert, or just driving for the view. We didn’t need a passport, just a driver’s license and time. Back then, Canadians were the friendliest people coming through, and it felt like we all understood that the border was a shared space. It wasn’t just about proximity—it was about trust.

That’s what makes the silence in 2025 feel so loud.

Table of Contents

• From Record Visits to Vanishing Travelers
• Political Rhetoric and Rising Tensions
• Economic Fallout and Changing Destinations
• Looking Ahead

From Record Visits to Vanishing Travelers

In 2024, more than 20 million Canadians crossed into the United States. They booked hotel rooms, ate in local restaurants, and drove thousands of miles across scenic highways. Florida, New York, and California saw the largest numbers. Their visits supported over 140,000 tourism jobs and brought in billions in revenue. Growing up in Upstate New York, I never saw the border as something you couldn’t always cross. And that’s not even taking the hostile nature of immigration into account.

But recently, that changed. Land crossings fell by more than a third. Canadian Air travel dropped nearly 25 percent. In June alone, one major crossing saw 700,000 fewer Canadian visitors than the previous year.

That’s not a slow decline. That’s a border gone quiet.

Political Rhetoric and Rising Tensions

The drop in tourism doesn’t come from weather, weak marketing, or economic hardship. It’s the result of words and policies.

In March, the U.S. imposed a 25 percent tariff on Canadian imports. Travel spiraled and Canadians responded with equal force. Not long after, the U.S. president suggested that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. He called the border artificial.

Canadians were outraged. Their prime minister dismissed the suggestion immediately, calling it offensive and absurd.

Then came accusations that Canada was responsible for fentanyl entering the United States. Experts confirmed that less than one percent of the drug comes through the northern border. Still, the damage was done. Trust, once taken for granted, began to erode.

Economic Fallout and Changing Destinations

The impact stretches from coast to coast. In Florida, Canadian visits dropped sharply. As a result, California revised its international tourism forecast. Surprisingly, even Niagara Falls reported emptier walkways and shorter lines– eh? New York City expects to lose billions in international tourism this year, much of that tied to the lack of tourists from Canada.

But that’s not the worst of it. Small towns along the border—places in Vermont, Minnesota, and Michigan—are laying off staff and cutting hours. Businesses that once counted on weekend trips from border towns in Canada now see parking lots half full.

But Canadians aren’t staying home either. Many Canadians travel within their borders, boosting domestic tourism. Who can blame them– Canada is beautiful. Other Canadians are choosing Europe, Mexico, South America, and Asia. These destinations feel easier, calmer, and more respectful than the United States. And that sucks!

This Isn’t Just Their Loss. It’s Ours Too.

Growing up in Rochester, less than 2 hours from the border, we crossed into Canada a lot. It never felt like a big deal until now. One of our favorite places to take relatives was Niagara Falls. We always go to the Canadian side because the view is wider, louder, and more beautiful. The mist rises like steam, and the roar never lets up. It feels like standing beside something alive.

Every August, Caribana draws huge crowds to Toronto. I once went with my mother, and the whole street pulsed with color and sound. A Canadian Mountie watched from his horse—until he suddenly got down and started dancing, trying to grind no less, with my mom. The crowd went wild. She didn’t seem phased. It was one of those moments you never forget.

For a while, I made weekend trips to Toronto all the time. Back then, I even considered moving there. The city felt global, full of art, good food, and people who were curious and kind. It was not far, but it felt like a million miles away from life in Upstate New York.

And then there’s French-speaking Canada. Montréal and Québec City bring something different—romance, history, and a slower pace. Cobblestone alleys, cafe terraces, and soft French conversations make you feel like you’ve arrived in France without ever leaving the continent.

And there’s adventure too. One of my first international ski trips was to Whistler Mountain in British Columbia. I remember the rush of carving through powdery snow, the pine trees blurring past, and the sheer drop that made my stomach flip. At night, we huddled around the fire, faces warm from the flames and the cold still clinging to our coats, sipping hot cocoa and sharing stories with strangers who felt like old friends.

Canadians don’t need to travel to find beauty. Their cities, festivals, and landscapes offer joy, pride, and perspective. However, when politics or rhetoric gets in the way, we both lose.

Looking Ahead

If this trend continues, the U.S. could lose up to $6 billion in Canadian tourism by the end of the year. That number sounds big—and it is—but it’s not just about dollars. It’s about people. The motel owner, who used to count on weekend stays. The server whose tips have dried up. The shopkeeper is now stuck with stock that isn’t moving.

What we’re losing isn’t just business. We’re losing a relationship that took years to build. A relationship shaped by shared lakes, family road trips, and border towns that felt like both ours and theirs.

But sure—call Canada the 51st state. Blame them for a fentanyl crisis they didn’t create. Toss tariffs around like confetti. That should really win them back.

Or maybe not.

Because this isn’t something you fix with a glossy Gavin Newsom tourism ad and a wink. Canadians don’t need to be courted with slogans. They need respect. They need truth. And they’re not suckers—or losers, Trump.

They’re paying attention. And they remember exactly how they were treated.

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