Best Time to See Chipmunks in the US
April, May and June is the best time to see chipmunks in the United States. This is a national picture built from 886,281 verified iNaturalist observations across 49 states, showing when and where chipmunks are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
886,281 verified observations of chipmunks in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When chipmunks are recorded in the US
Peak month
April
120,595 records (13.6% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 42,375 | 4.8% |
| February | 48,926 | 5.5% |
| March | 71,164 | 8% |
| Aprilpeak | 120,595 | 13.6% |
| Maypeak | 110,958 | 12.5% |
| Junepeak | 99,602 | 11.2% |
| July | 79,157 | 8.9% |
| August | 68,892 | 7.8% |
| September | 82,202 | 9.3% |
| October | 74,554 | 8.4% |
| November | 48,780 | 5.5% |
| December | 39,076 | 4.4% |
Chipmunks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Eastern Gray Squirrel | 279,841 |
| Eastern Fox Squirrel | 156,896 |
| Eastern Chipmunk | 70,588 |
| California Ground Squirrel | 59,207 |
| Groundhog | 43,247 |
| American Red Squirrel | 38,336 |
| Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel | 19,977 |
| Western Gray Squirrel | 19,764 |
Across the country, chipmunks sightings peak in April, when 120,595 of the 886,281 annual observations are logged, about 13.6% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through April, May and June.
The best states to see chipmunks by recorded sightings are California (172,073), Texas (77,637), New York (42,378), Colorado (39,043) and Florida (36,905). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The chipmunks you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Eastern Gray Squirrel, Eastern Fox Squirrel and Eastern Chipmunk, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see chipmunks
- chipmunks in California172,073 sightings, peak April
- chipmunks in Texas77,637 sightings, peak April
- chipmunks in New York42,378 sightings, peak April
- chipmunks in Colorado39,043 sightings, peak July
- chipmunks in Florida36,905 sightings, peak October
- chipmunks in Massachusetts31,303 sightings, peak April
- chipmunks in Washington27,819 sightings, peak August
- chipmunks in Pennsylvania27,530 sightings, peak May
- chipmunks in Ohio26,286 sightings, peak May
- chipmunks in North Carolina24,920 sightings, peak April
- chipmunks in Oregon24,634 sightings, peak May
- chipmunks in Illinois24,549 sightings, peak April
- chipmunks in Arizona24,547 sightings, peak May
- chipmunks in Virginia23,648 sightings, peak April
- chipmunks in Michigan22,640 sightings, peak May
Most-recorded chipmunks species nationwide
- Eastern Gray Squirrel279,841 records
- Eastern Fox Squirrel156,896 records
- Eastern Chipmunk70,588 records
- California Ground Squirrel59,207 records
- Groundhog43,247 records
- American Red Squirrel38,336 records
Plan your chipmunk 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 chipmunk viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best chipmunk viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a chipmunk 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 chipmunks in the US?+
April is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through April, May and June, based on 886,281 verified observations across 49 states.
Which states are best for seeing chipmunks?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Texas and New York. California leads with 172,073 verified observations.
How many chipmunks sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 886,281 verified chipmunks observations are logged on iNaturalist across 49 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of chipmunks live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Eastern Gray Squirrel, Eastern Fox Squirrel and Eastern Chipmunk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.