The number of people traveling from British Columbia to Washington state has dropped dramatically, with February and March crossings falling by nearly a third and half, respectively, compared to the same months last year. Data from the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Washington state’s Department of Transportation shows that in March 2025, just over 121,000 vehicles with B.C. plates crossed into Washington, a steep decline from the 216,000 recorded in March 2024.
February also saw a significant decrease, with the number of crossings down nearly 30% year-over-year. The sharp decline is believed to be partly due to ongoing political tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement on Canadian and Mexican goods, along with calls from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for Canadians to spend domestically.
David Blandford, executive director of State of Washington Tourism, acknowledged that many Canadian travelers are altering their plans, citing the current political situation as a key factor in their decision to stay within Canada instead of visiting U.S. destinations like Washington state.
