Published on August 16, 2025
By: Tuhin Sarkar
Maine is now portion of a increasing database of US states seeing a clear disagreement successful tourism trends. Alongside Washington, New York, Vermont, and North Dakota, it is welcoming much American visitors while watching a crisp autumn successful Canadian arrivals. This shift, confirmed by caller information arsenic of August 2025, is reshaping really these states attack their recreation and hospitality industries.
In Maine, home recreation is strong. Roads, airports, and nationalist parks are busy, particularly successful nan summertime months. July 2025 saw Acadia National Park invited astir 797,000 visitors, its busiest July successful much than 3 decades. Portland International Jetport handled complete 315,000 passengers, while Maine Turnpike postulation roseate compared to past year. These numbers show that Americans are still eager to research nan state’s coastline, mountains, and towns.
But nan communicative is very different for Canadian travel. Cross-border arrivals into Maine person fallen for six consecutive months. July’s onshore entries were down 28% from nan aforesaid period successful 2024, portion of a year-to-date driblet of astir 25%. Similar declines are being reported successful Washington, New York, Vermont, and North Dakota, each of which trust connected Canadian visitors for a important stock of their tourism income.
The reasons are varied successful US economy—currency speech rates, higher recreation costs, and changes successful visitant sentiment are each playing a part. For now, these states are moving to pull much US travellers to capable nan gap, while keeping ties beardown pinch Canada successful nan dream that its visitors will return successful greater numbers successful nan future.
Maine’s Tourism astatine a Turning Point
Maine is known for its rugged coastlines, charming towns, and world-famous lobster. Every year, millions of visitors travel to bask its scenery and hospitality. But 2025 has brought mixed fortunes for nan state’s tourism industry. On 1 hand, home recreation wrong nan United States is holding strong, pinch Americans flocking to Maine’s beaches, parks, and towns during nan summer. On nan different hand, world arrivals, particularly from Canada, person dropped sharply.
This alteration is not small. Official information shows that Canadian trips into Maine person been falling for six months successful a row. In July 2025 alone, conscionable complete 277,000 group entered Maine from Canada by land. That is 28% less than successful July 2024. Over nan twelvemonth to date, Canadian arrivals are down astir a quarter. This is simply a important displacement for a authorities wherever Canadians dress up an important portion of nan visitant base.
Canada’s Travel Pullback Hits US Tourism Hard
Tourism betwixt Canada and nan United States has ever been strong. Millions of Canadians transverse nan separator each twelvemonth to shop, sojourn family, and bask holidays. But successful 2025, that travel is slowing sharply. Official information from Statistics Canada shows Canadian trips to nan US person fallen for 7 months successful a row. In July 2025, Canadian return trips by car dropped astir 37% compared to nan aforesaid period successful 2024. Trips by aerial fell by much than 25%.
This autumn successful Canadian visitors intends little money for US hotels, restaurants, attractions, and section shops. The US Travel Association warns that each 10% driblet successful Canadian recreation could trim complete 2 cardinal dollars from nan US tourism system and costs much than 14,000 jobs. For galore states, particularly those adjacent to nan border, Canada is their biggest world market.
US Border States See Traffic and Spending Drop
Washington is seeing less cars pinch British Columbia plates crossing into Bellingham and Seattle. Local investigation shows conveyance crossings down almost 29% successful July. Small towns adjacent nan separator are nan first to consciousness nan loss, pinch quieter shopping districts and less diners successful restaurants.
In New York, cardinal crossings for illustration nan Peace Bridge and Rainbow Bridge are moving acold less visitors than past summer. Declines of 20% to 25% are common, pinch immoderate locations seeing tens of thousands less vehicles each month. This hurts businesses successful Niagara Falls, nan Thousand Islands, and nan Adirondacks.
Maine’s bluish seashore and reservoir regions are besides emotion nan pinch. Crossings from Canada were down much than a 3rd successful April, and May saw 85,000 less entries. State officials pass Maine could suffer 225,000 Canadian visitors this twelvemonth if nan inclination continues.
Vermont, a favourite for Quebec holidaymakers, has seen Canadian crossings driblet by almost a 4th successful nan first 5 months of nan year. Hotels and inns successful nan northbound study up to 45% less bookings from Canada since February.
North Dakota’s Pembina Port of Entry is signaling monthly declines of astir 30%. In Michigan, crossings astatine nan Blue Water Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel are good beneath past year’s levels, hitting downtown retailers and attractions. Minnesota expects a 13% autumn successful world visitors successful 2025, pinch overmuch of that owed to less Canadians.
Sun States Face Winter Worries
The Canadian tourist’s presence driblet is not conscionable a separator story. States successful nan southbound that trust connected Canadian “snowbird” visitors during nan wintertime months are bracing for less bookings. Florida, which had a grounds tourism twelvemonth successful 2024, is already seeing a slowdown successful beforehand bookings from Canada for 2025. Airlines person reported that seats sold from Canada to Florida for outpouring and summertime were down sharply.
Arizona is besides emotion nan change. Local tourism leaders opportunity Canadian visits are down betwixt 20% and 30% this year. This is simply a awesome rustle for nan state, arsenic Canadian snowbirds lend astir $1.5 cardinal each twelvemonth to its economy.
Even Hawaii has seen a dip. From January to May 2025, Canadian arrivals fell 6.3%, and spending dropped by much than 2%. Although nan diminution is smaller than connected nan mainland, it still matters for hotels and circuit operators.
Destination Cities Feel nan Loss
Las Vegas, 1 of America’s apical destinations for Canadians, is facing a steep drop. Airline spot capacity from Canada is down almost 18%, and nan metropolis reports less world visitors overall. Canada is usually Las Vegas’s apical overseas market, truthful nan effect is speedy and visible.
California is besides informing of softer numbers. The authorities expects its first diminution successful world visitation since nan pandemic. Officials opportunity nan driblet is being driven successful portion by a 9% autumn successful overseas visitors, pinch Canadian cancellations and postponements contributing. Popular gateways for illustration Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Anaheim are each exposed.
The Numbers Behind nan Shift
In 2024, Maine welcomed astir 14.8 cardinal visitors. That was somewhat less than nan twelvemonth before, but full spending still grew to much than 9.2 cardinal dollars. Canadians accounted for astir 800,000 of those visitors, spending adjacent to half a cardinal dollars. In places for illustration Old Orchard Beach, Canadians person historically made up 40% aliases much of nan summertime crowd.
This year, nan communicative is different. Between February and April, Maine saw 166,000 less Canadian visitors than nan aforesaid play successful 2024. June brought different steep drop, pinch astir 90,000 less crossings than nan twelvemonth before. July continued nan downward trend.
Why Canadian Numbers Matter for Maine Tourism
Canadian travellers are not conscionable visitors passing through. They capable edifice rooms, rent cottages, dine successful restaurants, and shop successful section stores. In immoderate separator communities, their spending is basal for keeping mini businesses afloat. When less Canadians visit, nan effect is felt quickly successful edifice occupancy, edifice bookings, and unit sales.
The reasons for nan diminution are a operation of economical and governmental factors. The Canadian dollar has been weaker against nan US dollar, making trips much expensive. Airfare and edifice prices person risen. There are besides changes successful recreation sentiment, pinch immoderate Canadians choosing to vacation wrong their ain state aliases research different destinations.
Domestic Tourism Holds Strong successful Maine
While Canadian arrivals person dipped, home tourism successful Maine is showing resilience. July was a grounds period for Acadia National Park, which saw almost 797,000 visitors, nan highest for July since 1989. The Portland International Jetport handled much than 315,000 passengers successful nan aforesaid month, astir 4% much than past year. Maine Turnpike postulation betwixt May and mid-August roseate by astir 3%, pinch early August up 5% compared to nan aforesaid play successful 2024.
These numbers propose that Americans are still keen to sojourn Maine, particularly during nan summer. Good upwind successful July and August has helped boost demand, particularly aft a rainy commencement to nan play successful May and June.
The Hotel and Lodging Picture successful Maine
Maine’s edifice and lodging assemblage has adapted to nan changing operation of visitors. The state’s lodging taxation remains astatine 9%, contempt proposals earlier this twelvemonth to raise it. In 2024, moreover pinch a flimsy driblet successful visitant numbers, wide spending increased, showing that travellers were staying longer aliases spending much per trip.
In 2025, coastal hotels and short-term rentals person seen patient request during highest summertime weeks. In Portland, short-term rentals averaged astir 63% occupancy successful precocious season, pinch mean regular rates adjacent to $400. Smaller towns for illustration Searsport saw little occupancy rates, person to 43%, but still maintained dependable summertime bookings.
One situation for nan edifice assemblage has been nan driblet successful Canadian visitors to areas that trust heavy connected cross-border trade. Properties successful Old Orchard Beach, for example, person faced cancellations and slower booking patterns from their accustomed Canadian guests.
Maine Cruise Tourism Faces a Slow Year
Cruise tourism is different portion of Maine’s recreation manufacture that is experiencing a slowdown successful 2025. Statewide, cruise rider visits are forecast astatine astir 322,000, down astir 15% from 2024. Portland expects 96 vessel calls this twelvemonth compared to 139 past year. Bar Harbor’s schedule has dropped from 97 calls successful 2024 to astir 50 this year.
Part of nan slowdown successful Bar Harbor is linked to a regular headdress connected cruise passengers, group astatine 1,000 group per day. This headdress is presently nether ineligible review, pinch a national appeals tribunal reviving a situation to nan norm successful August 2025.
Winners and Losers by Region
Not each areas are emotion nan aforesaid impact. Portland, nan Southern Coast, nan Midcoast, and nan Acadia/Bar Harbor region are seeing coagulated summertime request from home travellers. The beardown capacity of Acadia National Park and precocious rider numbers astatine nan Portland Jetport person helped these regions support momentum.
However, separator towns for illustration Houlton and Calais, and coastal communities for illustration Old Orchard Beach, are much exposed to nan nonaccomplishment of Canadian visitors. These areas are apt to spot softer edifice occupancy and reduced spending successful section businesses until Canadian recreation picks up again.
How Maine is Responding
Tourism bodies successful Maine are not opinionated still. The authorities continues to marketplace itself successful Canada, utilizing bilingual “Welcome” messages and targeted promotions. At nan aforesaid time, trading budgets are being shifted to attraction much connected US thrust and alert markets, wherever request is presently stronger.
Coastal towns are besides moving to pull much home travellers during nan enarthrosis seasons. Flexible booking policies, mid-week discounts, and packages that see indoor activities are being promoted to promote recreation moreover erstwhile nan upwind is little reliable.
Maine — The Quintessential New England Escape
Tourism, Hotel, and Cruise Industry successful Maine
Maine’s tourism manufacture remains 1 of nan strongest successful New England, moreover arsenic 2024 brought mixed performance. The authorities welcomed 14.8 cardinal visitors successful 2024, generating $9.23 cardinal successful nonstop spending and supporting much than 115,900 jobs. Average walk per visitant roseate astir 5% to $624, pinch lodging, restaurants, and attractions being nan biggest beneficiaries. Canadians made up astir 5% of arrivals, spending astir $498 million, though governmental tensions and tariff rhetoric person caused immoderate softness successful bookings for summertime 2025, peculiarly successful coastal towns for illustration Old Orchard Beach.
The edifice assemblage recorded 12.36 cardinal room nights successful 2024, pinch an mean travel magnitude of 4.5 nights. Occupancy stayed dependable astatine astir 54%, while lodging gross roseate 1%. August 2025 is shaping up good for iconic destinations specified arsenic Acadia National Park, which saw record-breaking numbers successful July 2025 pinch astir 797,000 visits.
While Maine is chiefly a drive-in marketplace (80% of arrivals), hose connectivity continues to turn seasonally done Portland International Jetport and Bangor International Airport, offering nonstop links from awesome US hubs for illustration Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, and Washington DC. Cruise postulation besides plays a domiciled successful coastal towns specified arsenic Bar Harbor, wherever ships bring thousands of passengers each summer. The cruise manufacture complements land-based tourism, pinch passengers often returning later for extended stays.
Overall, Maine’s tourism manufacture successful August 2025 is resilient, pinch dependable edifice performance, increasing per-visitor spending, and a visitant operation dominated by home travellers from New England and nan Mid-Atlantic. The operation of rugged coastlines, charming towns, and a thriving culinary segment continues to tie some first-time and repetition visitors.
Maine Destination Overview for US and Canadaian Tourists
Maine is New England’s largest authorities by area, celebrated for its rocky coastlines, dense conifer forests, and charming harbour towns. It offers a slower, much reflective gait than nan bustling cities of nan Northeast, but still delivers world-class experiences successful food, culture, and outdoor adventure. The authorities is divided into respective unique regions: nan Southern Coast, pinch its sandy beaches; nan Midcoast, dotted pinch historical sportfishing villages; Downeast and Acadia, known for melodramatic cliffs and land landscapes; nan Western Mountains, location to skis resorts and hiking trails; and nan Northern wilderness, cleanable for wildlife watching.
The state’s year-round entreaty lies successful its assortment — crisp, colourful autumns, snowy wintertime sports, vibrant outpouring blooms, and sun-filled summers cleanable for coastal drives. Portland, nan largest city, combines New England charm pinch a cosmopolitan edge, while Bangor, Bar Harbor, and smaller seaside towns sphere a consciousness of timelessness.
Maine’s charismatic nickname, “The Pine Tree State,” reflects its earthy abundance, but visitors often retrieve it astir for its welcoming locals, postcard-perfect lighthouses, and, of course, nan unbeatable lobster rolls.
Maine Top Attractions and Hidden Gems
The crown jewel of Maine’s attractions is Acadia National Park, a 47,000-acre wonderland of granite peaks, water vistas, and hiking trails. Cadillac Mountain, nan highest constituent connected nan East Coast, offers breathtaking sunrise views. Portland Head Light successful Cape Elizabeth is different must-see, 1 of nan astir photographed lighthouses successful nan world.
Hidden gems abound. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens successful Boothbay dazzles pinch seasonal displays and vacation ray shows. The mini sportfishing colony of Stonington offers an authentic look astatine Maine’s moving waterfront without nan tourer crowds. Inland, Moosehead Lake is simply a serene retreat for kayaking, fishing, and wildlife watching, often pinch nan chance to spot a moose successful its earthy habitat.
If you for illustration history, Bath’s Maine Maritime Museum tells nan communicative of shipbuilding, while Fort Knox and nan Penobscot Narrows Bridge connection a unsocial blend of history and panoramic views.
Activities and Experiences successful Maine
Maine is simply a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Hike nan rugged trails of Acadia, motorcycle on nan carriage roads, aliases paddle done quiet coastal inlets. In winter, skis astatine Sugarloaf aliases Sunday River, wherever downhill and cross-country trails cater to each levels. Wildlife tours — from puffin cruises to whale watching — are a summertime highlight.
Culture lovers tin research Portland’s vibrant arts district, dotted pinch galleries, theatres, and trade breweries. Foodies tin travel nan Maine Lobster Trail aliases be seasonal nutrient festivals celebrating blueberries, maple syrup, and chowder. Shopping successful Maine ranges from high-end boutiques successful Kennebunkport to quirky ancient shops successful Wiscasset.
Nightlife is relaxed but growing, pinch Portland offering unrecorded euphony venues, cocktail lounges, and harbourside bars. Many towns big seasonal concerts and outdoor movies, adding a section flavour to your evenings.
Maine Accommodation Types and Tips
Maine offers accommodations for each traveller. Luxury seekers tin book waterfront resorts successful Bar Harbor aliases boutique inns successful Portland’s Old Port. Mid-range options see charming B&Bs, galore successful restored Victorian homes, while budget-conscious travellers will find motels and campgrounds passim nan state.
Summer is highest season, truthful book good successful beforehand — particularly successful coastal areas. For autumn foliage trips, purpose for precocious September to mid-October, and reserve accommodations early. Winter visitors to skis regions should see slopeside lodges for convenience.
If you want a genuinely section experience, look for family-run inns aliases workplace stays, wherever meal often includes fresh-baked equipment and nutrient from nan property. Many coastal rentals besides connection play stays, cleanable for family gatherings.
Maine Local Food and Must-Try Dishes
Maine’s culinary estimation originates pinch lobster — served successful rolls, steamed pinch butter, aliases baked into casseroles. But seafood lovers will besides find scallops, oysters, and clams successful abundance. The classical “shore dinner” pairs steamed lobster pinch maize connected nan cob, chowder, and blueberry pie.
Speaking of blueberries, Maine’s chaotic blueberries are world-famous and find their measurement into pancakes, muffins, and jams. Don’t miss a portion of whoopie pie, nan state’s charismatic treat, aliases sip connected a section trade beer, pinch Portland classed arsenic 1 of America’s apical brew cities.
For breakfast, effort a fresh-made doughnut from a section bakery aliases a hearty sheet of pancakes pinch Maine maple syrup. In summer, activity retired roadside lobster shacks, wherever nan nutrient is fresh, simple, and unforgettable.
Maine Transportation and How to Get Around
Most visitors get successful Maine by car, pinch Interstate 95 connecting nan authorities to Boston and beyond. Driving allows maximum flexibility, particularly for exploring agrarian and coastal areas. Public carrier is constricted extracurricular Portland, which has section autobus services.
For aerial travellers, Portland International Jetport (PWM) and Bangor International Airport (BGR) link Maine to awesome US hubs. From Canada, Mexico, aliases Brazil, expect astatine slightest 1 relationship done cities for illustration Atlanta, New York, aliases Chicago. Cape Air provides small-plane work from Boston to Bar Harbor and Augusta.
Ferry services link immoderate coastal towns and islands, including nan Casco Bay Lines from Portland to adjacent islands. In summer, biking is simply a celebrated measurement to research coastal trails and land roads.
Costs, Budgeting, and Money Tips for Maine Travel
Maine tin beryllium affordable if you scheme ahead. Summer lodging rates successful celebrated areas tin beryllium high, truthful see enarthrosis seasons (May–June aliases September–October) for amended deals. Expect $150–$300 per nighttime for mid-range hotels successful highest season, little inland.
Meals astatine casual seafood spots tally $20–$40 per person, while good eating successful Portland aliases Bar Harbor tin scope $75 aliases more. Many attractions, specified arsenic hiking trails and nationalist beaches, are free aliases low-cost. National parkland passes for Acadia are $35 per conveyance for a week.
Carry a operation of in installments cards and cash, arsenic immoderate smaller shops and agrarian eateries are cash-only. Tipping follows US norms — 15–20% successful restaurants.
Maine Visa Requirements and Travel Restrictions
US citizens do not request a visa to sojourn Maine. Canadian citizens besides do not require a visa for short visits but must transportation valid passports aliases approved recreation documents. Visitors from Mexico and Brazil mostly request a US tourer visa (B-2) unless covered by circumstantial agreements.
Always cheque nan latest US Customs and Border Protection requirements earlier travelling, arsenic rules tin change. International visitors arriving by aerial must complete ESTA (for eligible countries) aliases visa procedures earlier departure.
No circumstantial COVID-19 restrictions are successful spot arsenic of August 2025, but wellness security that covers nan US is powerfully recommended, fixed nan costs of aesculapian care.
Practical Travel Info for Maine
Maine is considered secure for travellers, pinch debased crime rates successful astir areas. Standard precautions use successful engaged tourer spots. English is nan main language, though you whitethorn perceive French successful communities adjacent nan Canadian border.
Internet entree is wide disposable successful hotels, cafes, and nationalist libraries, but agrarian areas whitethorn person slower speeds. Mobile sum is bully on nan seashore and successful cities but patchier successful distant mountains aliases forests.
Locals worth politeness and a relaxed pace. It’s communal to shake hands strangers, and tipping is expected successful nan work industry. Dress is casual, but layers are cardinal — coastal upwind tin alteration quickly.
Maine Itineraries and Travel Tips
For a 3-day coastal getaway, guidelines yourself successful Portland: research nan Old Port, return a lighthouse tour, bask a harbour cruise, and dine astatine award-winning seafood spots. Spend a time successful adjacent Freeport for shopping and nan Desert of Maine.
For a weeklong trip, harvester Acadia National Park pinch nan Midcoast. Spend 3 days hiking, biking, and stargazing successful Acadia, past caput southbound to Boothbay Harbor for gardens and vessel tours. Finish pinch a nighttime aliases 2 successful Portland for a culinary finale.
Travel tips: Book celebrated restaurants successful beforehand during highest months, bring comfortable stepping shoes, and don’t underestimate driving times — coastal roads are scenic but slow. If visiting successful autumn, cheque section foliage trackers for nan champion colour timing.
Outlook for nan Rest of 2025
Looking ahead, nan autumn foliage play could tie beardown numbers from US visitors, provided nan upwind cooperates. However, nan Canadian spread is expected to proceed into nan extremity of nan twelvemonth unless location is simply a displacement successful rate strength, airfare prices, aliases governmental relations.
Cruise tourism will stay little than erstwhile years, and cruise-dependent businesses successful Bar Harbor and Portland will request to adapt. Hotels and rentals successful Canadian-reliant areas will person to activity harder to pull home visitors to capable nan gap.
Why Canadians Are Staying Away
The reasons for nan diminution are mixed. Exchange rates make US recreation much costly for Canadians. Changes successful recreation sentiment, governmental tensions, and economical uncertainty are besides factors. Some Canadians are choosing destinations wrong their ain state aliases heading to different world markets. In immoderate cases, precocious accommodation costs and airfare prices are discouraging trips.
Economic Impact Across Regions
For separator states for illustration Washington, New York, Maine, and Vermont, Canadian travellers are a lifeline for section businesses. They capable edifice rooms, shop successful outlet malls, eat successful restaurants, and be events. In immoderate towns, Canadians dress up a 3rd aliases much of nan customer base.
For sun states for illustration Florida and Arizona, nan absence of wintertime visitors could mean quiet seats connected flights, unsold edifice rooms, and slower edifice trade. Even a shortfall of a fewer percent points successful Canadian arrivals tin make a large quality to seasonal economies.
For awesome tourism hubs for illustration Las Vegas and California’s coastal cities, nan effect is some financial and symbolic. Canadians are among nan astir predominant and loyal visitors. When they propulsion back, it signals a displacement successful marketplace assurance that whitethorn return clip to rebuild.
How States Are Responding
Many states are trying to triumph backmost Canadian travellers. Visit California has launched “welcome” campaigns successful Canadian cities. Minnesota is moving targeted ads to promote cross-border trips. Border towns are offering substance discounts, shopping promotions, and clear accusation astir hold times astatine crossings.
Florida and Arizona are trading winter-long enactment packages and loyalty discounts for repetition visitors. Las Vegas is moving pinch airlines to support work from cardinal Canadian gateways for illustration Toronto and Vancouver.
Preparing for nan Future
The business successful 2025 shows really important it is for Maine to diversify its tourism base. Relying excessively heavy connected 1 marketplace tin make nan manufacture susceptible to abrupt changes. By building stronger links pinch home markets and exploring caller world connections, Maine tin protect itself from early shocks.
Investing successful year-round attractions, promoting lesser-known destinations wrong nan state, and offering competitory recreation packages will thief support visitant numbers steady. At nan aforesaid time, keeping a beardown relationship pinch Canadian travellers will beryllium important for nan agelong term, arsenic their return could quickly boost Maine’s tourism economy.
The outlook for nan remainder of 2025 will dangle connected whether Canadian recreation sentiment improves. Exchange rates, airfare costs, and broader economical conditions will each play a role. If nan Canadian dollar strengthens aliases airlines set pricing, request could recover.
However, if trends continue, nan US could spot millions less Canadian visits this year, pinch billions successful mislaid tourism spending. For galore states, this will mean difficult choices astir trading budgets, arena planning, and infrastructure investment.
A Test of Resilience
The existent diminution is simply a reminder that world tourism tin alteration quickly. States that dangle connected 1 marketplace must beryllium fresh to accommodate erstwhile that marketplace slows. Diversifying visitant sources, investing successful repetition home tourism, and creating elastic offers are each strategies that tin help.
While 2025 is proving to beryllium a challenging twelvemonth for Canadian arrivals, it is besides an opportunity. States that respond quickly pinch targeted marketing, improved worth offers, and clear connection whitethorn not only retrieve mislaid crushed but besides fortify their semipermanent appeal.
Maine’s tourism manufacture successful 2025 is simply a communicative of contrasts. Domestic request is keeping nan state’s hotels, parks, and roads engaged successful nan summertime months. Yet, nan crisp driblet successful Canadian visitors is creating existent challenges for definite towns and sectors.
How Maine responds to these shifts—through marketing, merchandise development, and strategical planning—will style its tourism future. If nan authorities tin accommodate quickly, it tin move nan existent challenges into opportunities, ensuring that some its world and home markets stay beardown successful nan years ahead.