Montana Border Towns See Massive Drop In Canadian Visitors

Canadian Travel To The U.S. Is Declining

There are a lot of industries that help keep Montana’s economy moving, but tourism is definitely one of the big ones.

Over the past year, our neighbors to the north, who have always been a huge part of that tourism picture, have been visiting less. Nationwide, Canadian travel to the U.S. is down nearly 28 percent year over year.

Border States Like Montana Feel The Drop First

The past year in America has been interesting, to put it lightly. For businesses that rely on tourism dollars, those interesting times have also brought plenty of stress.

Canadian tourism has dropped across the country, but states that share a border with Canada, including Montana, have felt it the most. For years, people from Canada would take quick trips across the border to shop, grab a meal, and spend money in local towns. Lately, those trips just are not happening as often.

Towns like Kalispell have noticed. The city launched an ad campaign aimed at Canadian visitors, with Discover Kalispell executive director Diane Medler saying, “The message is simple — we see you and we miss you.”

Border Crossing Data Shows Sharp Decline

That national 28 percent drop lines up closely with what Montana is seeing. According to Montana Free Press, border crossings from Canada into Montana fell 26 percent, dropping from 286,659 in August 2024 to 210,927 in August 2025.

The tough part is that these losses are not always felt right away. Over time, though, fewer visitors mean less revenue, and for some businesses, that money could stop altogether.

Here’s hoping things turn around in 2026 and we see more Canadian license plates back on Montana roads, along with the dollars that come with them.

Sources: Montana Free Press, Fortune, CTV