Canadian residents are resuming travel to the United States, though the frequency remains below levels seen before President Donald Trump's second term. Statistics Canada's latest data on international arrivals shows a notable rebound in May 2026, driven primarily by automobile trips.
Key Statistics from May 2026
Canadians took 1.9 million return trips to the U.S. in May 2026, marking a 9.5% increase compared to the same month in 2025. This rebound was fueled by a 15.1% rise in automobile trips, while air travel declined by 5.5% year-over-year. May's figures represent the second consecutive month of annual increases and the second uptick since December 2024.
Comparison with Pre-Trump Era
Despite the recovery, the number of trips remains significantly lower than historical levels. Statistics Canada reported that southbound travel is still down 28.7% compared to May 2024, before the political tensions escalated between Canada and the U.S. The shift in travel patterns began in early 2025 as diplomatic strains grew.
Broader Travel Trends
Overall, Canadians made 3.1 million trips abroad in May, up 7% from the previous year. Excluding the U.S., return air trips from overseas countries totaled 1.1 million, a 3% increase. Meanwhile, arrivals to Canada from U.S. residents reached 1.6 million, up 10.1% from May 2025, with automobile arrivals rising 12.7% and air arrivals up 3.8%. This marked the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year growth in U.S. arrivals.
Total international arrivals to Canada in May 2026 were 5.2 million, a 7.6% increase and the second annual rise since January 2025.
Factors Influencing Travel
The decline in Canadian travel to the U.S. coincides with heightened political tensions, including trade disputes and tariff threats. The base-year effect contributed to the May rebound, but the overall drop from 2024 levels underscores lingering hesitancy among Canadian travelers.
- Automobile travel: Increased 15.1% in May 2026 vs. May 2025.
- Air travel: Decreased 5.5% in the same period.
- U.S. arrivals to Canada: Up 10.1% year-over-year.
