Tourist Visa. U.S. citizens crossing into Canada as tourists can stay in the country for 180 days without a visa. A few special cases can hamper this trouble-free tourist trip.If you have any criminal record, even for misdemeanors, you'll need to obtain a rehabilitation approval in advance.rossing Into Canada. You'll need your U.S. passport to travel into Canada by air. Since the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative went into effect in 2009, you can cross into Canada by land or water with any approved travel document.