Canadians Continue to Avoid The US in March 2025 as International Travel Records Growth Amid Overall Border Slump

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Canadians are skipping U.S. travel in March 2025, with cross-border trips plunging while international travel to non-U.S. destinations steadily grows.

Canada’s cross-border tourism continues to show signs of disruption, with new data confirming a growing divide in travel patterns between the two neighbouring countries. While air arrivals from the United States into Canada recorded a modest rise, the overall picture points to faltering travel volumes—especially for Canadians, who are increasingly turning their attention to destinations beyond North America.

Air Travel from the U.S. Holds Steady, But Land Travel Slips

According to data released in April 2025, approximately 287,000 travellers from the United States arrived in Canada by air in March, representing a 1.2 percent increase compared to March 2024. However, this slight rise contrasts sharply with the 10.6 percent drop in U.S. vehicle crossings into Canada, with only 770,400 land-based arrivals recorded.

International travellers from regions outside North America also declined notably, with March figures showing a 15.8 percent decrease compared to the same month last year—a drop of roughly 285,900 visitors.

Canadian Trips to the U.S. in Freefall

Canadian travel patterns have undergone the most noticeable transformation.

In March 2025, only 1.5 million Canadian residents returned home by car from the United States—a year-over-year decline of 31.9 percent. This marks the third consecutive monthly drop in cross-border road travel.

Air travel by Canadians returning from the U.S. was also down, with 13.5 percent fewer return flights compared to the same period in 2024. The consistent decline highlights a growing disinterest in U.S. destinations among Canadian tourists.

Global Travel on the Rise for Canadians

Despite the dramatic decrease in U.S.-bound trips, Canadians are far from grounded. In fact, outbound international travel is slightly higher overall. In March 2025, a total of 2.2 million Canadian residents returned from overseas travel, marking a 0.5 percent increase from March 2024.

This growth is largely driven by a 9.1 percent rise in Canadians returning from countries other than the United States—further confirming that travellers are simply shifting their focus to long-haul destinations in Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Conclusion: U.S. Loses Ground as Canadians Explore Elsewhere

The latest figures indicate that Canadians are still eager to travel—but the United States is no longer a preferred choice. Whether the change stems from border policy fatigue, international travel incentives, or evolving destination trends, it’s clear that Canadians are exploring new horizons beyond their closest neighbour.

If this trend continues through the coming seasons, it could reshape tourism strategies on both sides of the border, as Canada increasingly embraces the world while moving away from its traditional transborder travel patterns.