Maine’s Tourist Season Wraps Up With Fewer Canadian Visitors

As the Canadian tourist season in Maine comes to a close, the Maine Turnpike has reported a decrease in traffic from Canada this year.

History of Canadian's Summer Vacations in Maine

The Grand Trunk Railroad was built in 1853 and started providing passenger service from Quebec to Old Orchard Beach. The train trip was a convenient way for French Canadians to travel to Old Orchard for their summer vacations. The Canadian tourists grew steadily as the railroad could drop and pick up passengers right at the beach, where the railroad is still in place today, operating under the ownership of CSX.

Today, passenger trains between Montreal and Old Orchard are no more since the automobile became the preferred method of travel.

Maine Turnpike Numbers

The Maine Turnpike Authority released a press release, reporting that traffic from Canada is down significantly on the 109 miles between Augusta and Kittery.

From May through August of 2024, the average daily volume for Canadians using the Maine Turnpike was 2,377. This year, 2025, the average dropped to 1,339 a day, a decrease of 45% in Canadian travelers.

Maine Turnpike Authority executive director Andre Briere said, “Turnpike data provides a valuable snapshot of travel trends this summer. While Canadian traffic is down compared to last year, the overall strength of travel on Maine’s busiest highway shows that our state remains a top destination. We will continue to monitor these numbers and work with stakeholders to ensure Maine’s economy and communities continue to benefit from strong tourism and travel.

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It was also noted that the decline in Canadian tourists represents only a very small percentage of overall traffic on the Maine Turnpike, and does not significantly affect overall operation or revenue.