Canadian US Trips Rebound as Road Travel Does the Heavy Lifting

Canadian travel to the US increased in May 2026, giving the US tourism industry another sign of improvement from one of its most important visitor markets.

Statistics Canada said Canadian residents made about 1.9 million return trips from the US in May, up 9.5 percent from the same month last year.

The recovery was mostly driven by road travel. Return trips by car rose 15.1 percent year over year, while return trips by air fell 5.5 percent. This shows that Canadians are becoming more willing to take short and flexible US trips, but many are still holding back on travel that requires flights.

The market is still far below 2024 levels

The May increase needs context. Travel to the US was already weak in May 2025, so this year’s growth partly reflects a low comparison point. Statistics Canada said Canadian return trips from the US were still 28.7 percent below May 2024 levels.

This means the rebound is not a full recovery yet. It is a sign that demand may be stabilizing after a long decline. For US travel companies, the key question is whether the improvement continues through the summer and starts to include more air travel.

Road trips help border markets first

The rise in car travel is good news for US destinations near the Canadian border. These places often depend on Canadians for weekend stays, shopping trips, sports events, concerts, restaurants, and family visits. Road trips are easier to plan, cheaper than many flights, and easier to cancel if travelers change their minds.

But this type of recovery has limits. Air travelers usually spend more across a wider part of the travel economy.

Canadian travelers are more selective

Canada remains a major source market for the United States. In 2024, Canadian travelers made 20.4 million visits to the US and spent $20.5 billion, according to the US Travel Association. Even a smaller drop in Canadian demand can affect hotels, airlines, attractions, and local businesses.

However, Canadian demand has become harder to win back. Travel decisions are being shaped by costs, exchange rates, political tension, and the wider mood around visiting the US. Some Canadians may still choose the US because it is close and familiar. Others may shift to domestic trips, Europe, Mexico, or the Caribbean instead.

Brand USA prepares a targeted push

Brand USA is preparing a Canada-focused campaign to rebuild demand. The organization is expected to focus on travelers who are still open to visiting the US, rather than trying to convince the whole market at once.

Photo by Phil Henry on Unsplash