Canadians avoid U.S. trips, while American visitors rise. Overseas travel by Canadians grows, showing shifting travel trends in 2026.
Canadians Keep Steering Clear of U.S. Trips
Canadians are hitting the brakes on travel south of the border, while U.S. visitors are increasingly crossing into Canada. According to the latest figures from Statistics Canada, this trend shows no signs of reversing anytime soon.
Last February, Canadians returning from trips to the U.S. dropped to 1.5 million, down 14.5% compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, trips by U.S. residents to Canada jumped 6.1%, reaching 959,600—the first increase in a full year.
More Canadians Heading Overseas
It’s not that Canadians aren’t travelling—they’re just choosing destinations outside the U.S. Return trips from overseas by air hit 1.3 million in February 2026, marking a 7.2% increase from the year before. For the second month in a row, Canadians returning from overseas by air outnumbered those returning from the U.S. by car.
“This signals a clear shift in travel patterns,” said Statistics Canada, highlighting Canadians’ growing interest in international destinations beyond their southern neighbour.
U.S.-Canada Tensions Keep Travelers Away
The reluctance to travel to the U.S. traces back to early 2025, when tensions escalated over trade disputes and political jabs. Public opinion mirrors the statistics: a July 2025 Ipsos poll revealed that about three-quarters of Canadians plan to avoid U.S. travel, up 10 points since February 2025.
Even trips by Canadian pedestrians and personal vehicles crossing into the U.S. have dropped sharply—18.8% and 15.4%, respectively, according to U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
U.S. Visitors See the Opportunity
Meanwhile, U.S. residents are finding reasons to visit Canada. In February 2026, 720,400 trips were made by car, up 6.4%, and 239,200 by air, up 4.9%. Peaks in arrivals happened around mid-February, just before U.S. President’s Day.
Overseas visitors are also increasing their Canadian stays. February saw a 10.5% rise in arrivals from abroad compared to last year, with more overseas travellers flying in than driving.
Looking Ahead
Even as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed trade and global issues, travel trends suggest Canadians are still cautious about heading south. And despite political talks and tariff pauses, the Canadian preference for non-U.S. destinations continues to shape the travel landscape.
