Canadian return trips from U.S. rise 6.8% in September

Canadian-resident return trips from the United States by car and air rose 6.8 per cent in September from a year earlier, Statistics Canada said, the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year growth.

The agency’s preliminary figures, released Oct. 13, put the total at 1,889,652 return trips, or about 1.9 million. Car returns were up 5.6 per cent from September 2025 but remained 31.1 per cent below September 2024 levels. Air returns rose 11.6 per cent but were 18.7 per cent below their September 2024 level.

The numbers come from Statistics Canada’s leading indicator of international arrivals, which is an early read ahead of complete counts due Nov. 23. The agency said it is integrating NEXUS Highway traveller data starting with the September reference month and advised caution when comparing September 2026 onward with earlier years.

Travel in the other direction rose faster. U.S.-resident trips to Canada by car and air totalled 1,806,757, up 17.2 per cent and the eighth straight monthly increase. Statistics Canada attributed the sharp rise to a calendar effect, saying the Labour Day weekend fell one week later in 2026 than in 2025. U.S. trips by car were up 19.5 per cent to 1.3 million, and by air up 12.2 per cent to 537,400.

Overseas travel also grew. Canadian-resident return trips from overseas by air totalled 1,000,772, up 3.2 per cent. Overseas-resident trips to Canada were up 7.3 per cent to 611,733. Counting all three groups, total international arrivals to Canada reached 5.3 million, up 9.5 per cent.

CP24 reported that the trade war does not appear to be deterring many Canadians and Americans from crossing the border, citing the new data. Labour Day, Sept. 7, was the busiest day for Canadian-resident returns from abroad, with 195,100 trips.

The September rebound follows a steep drop last year. A Statistics Canada review published in July found Canadian-resident return crossings from the United States fell 25.4 per cent in 2025 compared with 2024. U.S. trips by Canadians fell 21.5 per cent to 3.2 million, while overseas leisure visits rose 12.2 per cent to 1.1 million, CP24 reported.

Searches about Canadians’ travel habits in the United States were trending in Canada on Google on Wednesday. The agency’s next leading indicator, covering October, is due Nov. 12.

If you find reporting like this useful, consider supporting Canada News Media, an independent Canadian newsroom with no corporate parent.

Source: Statistics Canada, The Daily, Oct. 13, 2026; CP24.