Best Time to See Sea Lions in the US
May, June and August is the best time to see sea lions in the United States. This is a national picture built from 37,072 verified iNaturalist observations across 3 states, showing when and where sea lions are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
37,072 verified observations of sea lions in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When sea lions are recorded in the US
Peak month
May
3,734 records (10.1% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2,320 | 6.3% |
| February | 2,633 | 7.1% |
| March | 3,495 | 9.4% |
| April | 3,356 | 9.1% |
| Maypeak | 3,734 | 10.1% |
| Junepeak | 3,708 | 10% |
| July | 2,990 | 8.1% |
| Augustpeak | 3,548 | 9.6% |
| September | 3,436 | 9.3% |
| October | 2,748 | 7.4% |
| November | 2,574 | 6.9% |
| December | 2,530 | 6.8% |
Sea Lions you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| California Sea Lion | 33,253 |
| Steller Sea Lion | 2,561 |
| Northern Fur Seal | 387 |
| Guadalupe Fur Seal | 140 |
Across the country, sea lions sightings peak in May, when 3,734 of the 37,072 annual observations are logged, about 10.1% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through May, June and August.
The best states to see sea lions by recorded sightings are California (31,914), Washington (2,626) and Oregon (2,532). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The sea lions you are most likely to encounter nationwide are California Sea Lion, Steller Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see sea lions
- sea lions in California31,914 sightings, peak June
- sea lions in Washington2,626 sightings, peak April
- sea lions in Oregon2,532 sightings, peak March
Most-recorded sea lions species nationwide
- California Sea Lion33,253 records
- Steller Sea Lion2,561 records
- Northern Fur Seal387 records
- Guadalupe Fur Seal140 records
Plan your sea lion 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 sea lion viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best sea lion viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a sea lion 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 sea lions in the US?+
May is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through May, June and August, based on 37,072 verified observations across 3 states.
Which states are best for seeing sea lions?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Washington and Oregon. California leads with 31,914 verified observations.
How many sea lions sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 37,072 verified sea lions observations are logged on iNaturalist across 3 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of sea lions live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are California Sea Lion, Steller Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.