Canadians Resume US Travel but Keep Trips Private

Political tensions between Canada and the United States have changed how some Canadians approach cross-border vacations, with travelers continuing to visit destinations such as New York and Florida while avoiding public discussion of their trips. Although travel numbers have begun recovering in 2026, US tariffs and strained bilateral relations continue to influence vacation decisions and social media behavior.

Statistics Canada reported that Canadian residents made 1.9 million return trips from the United States by automobile and air in September 2026, an increase of 6.8% from September 2025. This marked the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year growth, although the total remained substantially below pre-tariff levels.

Automobile return trips from the United States rose 5.6% year over year in September but remained 31.1% below September 2024. Air return trips increased 11.6% compared with September 2025, while remaining 18.7% below their September 2024 level, according to preliminary Statistics Canada data released October 13.

The agency also recorded 1.8 million trips by US residents to Canada in September, up 17.2% from a year earlier. This represented the eighth consecutive month of annual growth, although Statistics Canada attributed part of September's increase to Labour Day falling one week later in 2026 than in 2025.

Stefanie Ricchio, a Toronto-based chartered professional accountant, has maintained her family's tradition of visiting New York City for her daughter's birthday and attending a Yankees game at Yankee Stadium. This year, the family made the trip but chose not to publicize it because of concerns about spending money in the United States.

Ricchio described the tension between her national identity and her family's established traditions.

"It's a special place for us and a tradition for my daughter," said Ricchio.

She said the decision to continue visiting the city carried conflicting emotions as Canadian consumers responded to US trade policies and political rhetoric. She also worried about how friends and relatives might react to her family's travel plans.

"I felt like this is not really something that I want to broadcast because I feel like I shouldn't be spending my money there," said Ricchio.

She added that preserving meaningful family experiences remained important despite the political climate.

"There's that conflict of (being a) super-proud Canadian, but also these are our traditions and memories that mean something to my daughter that I didn't want to give up," said Ricchio.

According to the 2026 Canadian Travel and Tourism Outlook study by Environics Research, six in 10 Canadians are either actively avoiding travel to the United States or feel conflicted about visiting. The study found that 46% were actively avoiding US travel, while another 15% would still travel there but had reservations.

Canadians made approximately 39 million return trips across the US-Canada border in 2024. Following the introduction of US tariffs and political remarks about Canada becoming the 51st state, Canadian travel to the United States declined year over year for 15 consecutive months through April 2026, according to the source report.

Kemi Wells-Conrad, founder and president of Wells Luxury Travel in Vancouver, said her clients have responded differently to the strained relationship. Some have canceled planned US vacations or avoided airport connections in the country, while others continue traveling for family holidays and longstanding traditions.

Hawaii remains an appealing destination for some clients because of its family resorts and established vacation routines. Other travelers maintain homes in Arizona or the Hawaiian islands, making complete avoidance of the United States more complicated.

Wells-Conrad said some clients had chosen not to disclose their travel plans publicly. She noted that some travelers distinguish Hawaii from other US destinations because they perceive its culture differently, even though it remains part of the United States.

Barry Choi, a Toronto-based personal finance and loyalty program expert, initially kept his US trips private but later began sharing them with his more than 12,000 Instagram followers. His decision attracted criticism, although he said his travel was motivated by personal relationships and experiences unavailable in Canada.

Choi explained that he visits the United States to see friends and family and enjoy attractions that do not have Canadian equivalents. His trips also provide opportunities to observe how Americans respond to tensions between the two countries.

During a visit to the Palm Beaches, Choi said several local residents apologized for the US president's actions after learning he was Canadian. He said those interactions surprised him and reinforced his impression that people on both sides of the border were experiencing difficulties associated with the political climate.

Other travelers have reconsidered whether US trips remain worthwhile. Caleigh, a Toronto marketing executive who withheld her surname because she feared backlash, drove to upstate New York to attend a Hayley Williams concert but kept the trip private amid concerns among friends and family.

She had considered selling her tickets instead of attending. Caleigh said heightened political rhetoric and additional tariffs shortly before the concert contributed to uncertainty about crossing the border, including concerns about whether border inspections would become stricter.

Statistics Canada's September figures indicate that cross-border travel is recovering in both directions, even as Canadian visits to the United States remain below 2024 levels. The agency cautioned that the figures are preliminary and that complete counts for travel between Canada and other countries are scheduled for release on November 23, 2026.