Best Time to See Gray Whales in the US
April, March and May is the best time to see gray whales in the United States. This is a national picture built from 2,982 verified iNaturalist observations across 4 states, showing when and where gray whales are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
2,982 verified observations of gray whales in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When gray whales are recorded in the US
Peak month
April
464 records (15.6% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 346 | 11.6% |
| February | 261 | 8.8% |
| Marchpeak | 450 | 15.1% |
| Aprilpeak | 464 | 15.6% |
| Maypeak | 406 | 13.6% |
| June | 234 | 7.8% |
| July | 261 | 8.8% |
| August | 215 | 7.2% |
| September | 128 | 4.3% |
| October | 63 | 2.1% |
| November | 54 | 1.8% |
| December | 100 | 3.4% |
Gray Whales you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Grey Whale | 2,982 |
Across the country, gray whales sightings peak in April, when 464 of the 2,982 annual observations are logged, about 15.6% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through April, March and May.
The best states to see gray whales by recorded sightings are California (1,943), Oregon (469), Washington (431) and Alaska (139). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The gray whales you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Grey Whale, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see gray whales
- gray whales in California1,943 sightings, peak March
- gray whales in Oregon469 sightings, peak July
- gray whales in Washington431 sightings, peak May
- gray whales in Alaska139 sightings, peak April
Most-recorded gray whales species nationwide
- Grey Whale2,982 records
Plan your gray whale 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 gray whale viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best gray whale viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a gray whale 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 gray whales in the US?+
April is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through April, March and May, based on 2,982 verified observations across 4 states.
Which states are best for seeing gray whales?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Oregon and Washington. California leads with 1,943 verified observations.
How many gray whales sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 2,982 verified gray whales observations are logged on iNaturalist across 4 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of gray whales live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Grey Whale, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.