Best Time to See Humpback Whales in the US
August, July and June is the best time to see humpback whales in the United States. This is a national picture built from 11,554 verified iNaturalist observations across 18 states, showing when and where humpback whales are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
11,554 verified observations of humpback whales in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When humpback whales are recorded in the US
Peak month
August
1,913 records (16.6% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 471 | 4.1% |
| February | 513 | 4.4% |
| March | 564 | 4.9% |
| April | 588 | 5.1% |
| May | 939 | 8.1% |
| Junepeak | 1,551 | 13.4% |
| Julypeak | 1,802 | 15.6% |
| Augustpeak | 1,913 | 16.6% |
| September | 1,365 | 11.8% |
| October | 972 | 8.4% |
| November | 512 | 4.4% |
| December | 364 | 3.2% |
Humpback Whales you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Humpback Whale | 11,554 |
Across the country, humpback whales sightings peak in August, when 1,913 of the 11,554 annual observations are logged, about 16.6% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through August, July and June.
The best states to see humpback whales by recorded sightings are California (5,534), Alaska (2,900), Hawaii (1,253), Massachusetts (699) and Washington (526). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The humpback whales you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Humpback Whale, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see humpback whales
- humpback whales in California5,534 sightings, peak August
- humpback whales in Alaska2,900 sightings, peak July
- humpback whales in Hawaii1,253 sightings, peak February
- humpback whales in Massachusetts699 sightings, peak August
- humpback whales in Washington526 sightings, peak June
- humpback whales in New Jersey193 sightings, peak October
- humpback whales in New York142 sightings, peak September
- humpback whales in Maine82 sightings, peak July
- humpback whales in Virginia66 sightings, peak January
- humpback whales in Oregon62 sightings, peak July
- humpback whales in New Hampshire26 sightings, peak August
- humpback whales in North Carolina24 sightings, peak November
- humpback whales in Rhode Island13 sightings, peak June
- humpback whales in Delaware12 sightings, peak May
- humpback whales in Maryland9 sightings, peak February
Most-recorded humpback whales species nationwide
- Humpback Whale11,554 records
Plan your humpback 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 humpback whale viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best humpback whale viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a humpback 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 humpback whales in the US?+
August is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through August, July and June, based on 11,554 verified observations across 18 states.
Which states are best for seeing humpback whales?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Alaska and Hawaii. California leads with 5,534 verified observations.
How many humpback whales sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 11,554 verified humpback whales observations are logged on iNaturalist across 18 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of humpback whales live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Humpback Whale, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.