Best Time to See Monarch Butterflies in the US
August, September and July is the best time to see monarch butterflies in the United States. This is a national picture built from 348,246 verified iNaturalist observations across 49 states, showing when and where monarch butterflies are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
348,246 verified observations of monarch butterflies in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When monarch butterflies are recorded in the US
Peak month
August
74,774 records (21.5% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6,087 | 1.7% |
| February | 5,163 | 1.5% |
| March | 10,437 | 3% |
| April | 19,930 | 5.7% |
| May | 18,687 | 5.4% |
| June | 26,339 | 7.6% |
| Julypeak | 51,570 | 14.8% |
| Augustpeak | 74,774 | 21.5% |
| Septemberpeak | 64,937 | 18.6% |
| October | 46,438 | 13.3% |
| November | 15,786 | 4.5% |
| December | 8,098 | 2.3% |
Monarch Butterflies you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Monarch | 348,246 |
Across the country, monarch butterflies sightings peak in August, when 74,774 of the 348,246 annual observations are logged, about 21.5% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through August, September and July.
The best states to see monarch butterflies by recorded sightings are California (61,044), Texas (52,985), Florida (17,616), New York (17,575) and Ohio (17,208). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The monarch butterflies you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Monarch, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see monarch butterflies
- monarch butterflies in California61,044 sightings, peak July
- monarch butterflies in Texas52,985 sightings, peak October
- monarch butterflies in Florida17,616 sightings, peak April
- monarch butterflies in New York17,575 sightings, peak August
- monarch butterflies in Ohio17,208 sightings, peak August
- monarch butterflies in Illinois15,827 sightings, peak August
- monarch butterflies in Pennsylvania11,660 sightings, peak August
- monarch butterflies in Virginia11,160 sightings, peak August
- monarch butterflies in Maryland10,370 sightings, peak August
- monarch butterflies in Michigan9,875 sightings, peak July
- monarch butterflies in Minnesota9,572 sightings, peak August
- monarch butterflies in Wisconsin8,496 sightings, peak July
- monarch butterflies in North Carolina8,449 sightings, peak September
- monarch butterflies in Massachusetts8,131 sightings, peak August
- monarch butterflies in New Jersey7,701 sightings, peak August
Most-recorded monarch butterflies species nationwide
- Monarch348,246 records
Plan your monarch butterfly 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 monarch butterfly viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best monarch butterfly viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a monarch butterfly 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 monarch butterflies in the US?+
August is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through August, September and July, based on 348,246 verified observations across 49 states.
Which states are best for seeing monarch butterflies?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Texas and Florida. California leads with 61,044 verified observations.
How many monarch butterflies sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 348,246 verified monarch butterflies observations are logged on iNaturalist across 49 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of monarch butterflies live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Monarch, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.