by Natasha Lair
Last updated: 7:45 AM ET, Wed March 19, 2025
The number of Canadians crossing the U.S. land border has dropped to levels not seen since the post-COVID-19 travel recovery.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, nearly half a million fewer travellers made the trip in February compared to the same month in 2024.
CPB data shows the number of Canadians entering the U.S. by passenger vehicle fell from 2,696,512 in February 2024 to 2,223,408 in February 2025, marking a sharp reversal in what had been an upward trend in travel.
The decline coincides with escalating political and trade tensions between the two nations.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war with Canada and his comments suggesting Canada could become the 51st U.S. state seem to have fired up Canadian travellers.
“This is like COVID all over again”
For border towns reliant on Canadian visitors, the impact is palpable.
In an interview with CBC News, Len Saunders, an immigration lawyer in Blaine, Washington, described the situation as reminiscent of pandemic-era travel restrictions.
"This is like COVID all over again," Saunders said.
"With the rhetoric coming from Trump — people just don't want to come down here. If you're not buying American liquor in B.C., you're definitely not coming here to save 20 bucks on gas. There's just a huge reduction in Canadians — you can see it in the Costco parking lot, at Trader Joe's. Canadians are voting with their wallets right now. That’s what’s happening."
Saunders added that reports of Canadians being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and concerns over new tariffs are also deterring visitors.
"We're only two months into a four-year administration. If they keep this up there will be no Canadians coming down here — there will be a 100 per cent boycott of this country," he said.
A Shift in Canadian Travel Behavior
The travel slump isn’t limited to passenger vehicles. According to CBP data, the number of truck drivers crossing into the U.S. fell from 493,000 in February 2024 to 473,000 in February 2025. Pedestrian crossings also declined, from approximately 117,000 to 99,000.
Air travel, which typically requires more advance booking and is harder to cancel, remained relatively stable, increasing by 50,000 travellers compared to February 2024. However, even in the aviation sector, airlines are reporting a decline in U.S.-bound bookings.
Statistics Canada data corroborates the CBP findings. The agency reported a 23 percent drop in the number of Canadian residents returning from the U.S. by automobile in February compared to the same period last year, a decline reminiscent of the early pandemic travel restrictions.
Calls for Domestic Tourism
Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians to "choose Canada" in response to potential U.S. tariffs, suggesting a call for domestic travel.
Domestic tourism, which accounts for about 76% of Canada's tourism revenue, can be influenced by economic conditions.
According to recent reports, while Canadians advocate for a boycott of U.S. travel as a form of protest, some argue that this approach unfairly punishes Americans for their government’s policies. But with Trump's tariffs set to take effect on April 2, the trade dispute continues, and Canada has implemented countermeasures, which Prime Minister Mark Carney stated will stay in place "until the Americans show us respect."
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