Best Time to See Bees in the US
July, June and August is the best time to see bees in the United States. This is a national picture built from 2,379,991 verified iNaturalist observations across 50 states, showing when and where bees are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
2,379,991 verified observations of bees in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bees are recorded in the US
Peak month
July
430,011 records (18.1% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 13,307 | 0.6% |
| February | 27,741 | 1.2% |
| March | 106,876 | 4.5% |
| April | 271,259 | 11.4% |
| May | 315,807 | 13.3% |
| Junepeak | 393,779 | 16.5% |
| Julypeak | 430,011 | 18.1% |
| Augustpeak | 354,650 | 14.9% |
| September | 266,935 | 11.2% |
| October | 149,064 | 6.3% |
| November | 37,086 | 1.6% |
| December | 13,476 | 0.6% |
Bees you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Western Honey Bee | 352,383 |
| Common Eastern Bumble Bee | 232,666 |
| Eastern Carpenter Bee | 114,154 |
| Brown-belted Bumble Bee | 99,317 |
| Two-spotted Bumble Bee | 59,327 |
| American Bumble Bee | 57,058 |
| Yellow-faced Bumble Bee | 43,999 |
| Ligated Furrow Bee | 32,789 |
Across the country, bees sightings peak in July, when 430,011 of the 2,379,991 annual observations are logged, about 18.1% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through July, June and August.
The best states to see bees by recorded sightings are California (402,242), Texas (213,172), New York (115,774), Ohio (98,269) and Massachusetts (94,542). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The bees you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Western Honey Bee, Common Eastern Bumble Bee and Eastern Carpenter Bee, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see bees
- bees in California402,242 sightings, peak May
- bees in Texas213,172 sightings, peak April
- bees in New York115,774 sightings, peak July
- bees in Ohio98,269 sightings, peak July
- bees in Massachusetts94,542 sightings, peak July
- bees in Illinois92,820 sightings, peak July
- bees in Minnesota87,488 sightings, peak July
- bees in Washington82,015 sightings, peak May
- bees in Missouri80,293 sightings, peak July
- bees in Virginia71,087 sightings, peak June
- bees in Pennsylvania68,038 sightings, peak July
- bees in Florida67,743 sightings, peak April
- bees in North Carolina67,709 sightings, peak June
- bees in Wisconsin60,277 sightings, peak August
- bees in Vermont58,086 sightings, peak July
Most-recorded bees species nationwide
- Western Honey Bee352,383 records
- Common Eastern Bumble Bee232,666 records
- Eastern Carpenter Bee114,154 records
- Brown-belted Bumble Bee99,317 records
- Two-spotted Bumble Bee59,327 records
- American Bumble Bee57,058 records
Plan your bee trip in California
Start with live tours near California, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near California
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bee viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best bee viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a bee tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see bees in the US?+
July is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through July, June and August, based on 2,379,991 verified observations across 50 states.
Which states are best for seeing bees?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Texas and New York. California leads with 402,242 verified observations.
How many bees sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 2,379,991 verified bees observations are logged on iNaturalist across 50 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of bees live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Western Honey Bee, Common Eastern Bumble Bee and Eastern Carpenter Bee, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.