Best Time to See Sea Turtles in the US
June, July and August is the best time to see sea turtles in the United States. This is a national picture built from 18,007 verified iNaturalist observations across 22 states, showing when and where sea turtles are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
18,007 verified observations of sea turtles in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When sea turtles are recorded in the US
Peak month
June
2,047 records (11.4% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,319 | 7.3% |
| February | 1,120 | 6.2% |
| March | 1,682 | 9.3% |
| April | 1,461 | 8.1% |
| May | 1,765 | 9.8% |
| Junepeak | 2,047 | 11.4% |
| Julypeak | 1,927 | 10.7% |
| Augustpeak | 1,800 | 10% |
| September | 1,260 | 7% |
| October | 1,045 | 5.8% |
| November | 1,189 | 6.6% |
| December | 1,392 | 7.7% |
Sea Turtles you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Green Sea Turtle | 14,636 |
| Loggerhead Sea Turtle | 2,229 |
| Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle | 554 |
| Hawksbill Sea Turtle | 186 |
| Olive Ridley Sea Turtle | 26 |
Across the country, sea turtles sightings peak in June, when 2,047 of the 18,007 annual observations are logged, about 11.4% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through June, July and August.
The best states to see sea turtles by recorded sightings are Hawaii (10,999), Florida (3,023), Texas (1,669), California (565) and North Carolina (406). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The sea turtles you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Green Sea Turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle and Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see sea turtles
- sea turtles in Hawaii10,999 sightings, peak March
- sea turtles in Florida3,023 sightings, peak July
- sea turtles in Texas1,669 sightings, peak March
- sea turtles in California565 sightings, peak August
- sea turtles in North Carolina406 sightings, peak August
- sea turtles in South Carolina396 sightings, peak July
- sea turtles in Georgia266 sightings, peak June
- sea turtles in Virginia137 sightings, peak May
- sea turtles in New York93 sightings, peak August
- sea turtles in Massachusetts82 sightings, peak November
- sea turtles in Alabama79 sightings, peak August
- sea turtles in New Jersey74 sightings, peak August
- sea turtles in Louisiana70 sightings, peak April
- sea turtles in Mississippi42 sightings, peak April
- sea turtles in Delaware34 sightings, peak August
Most-recorded sea turtles species nationwide
- Green Sea Turtle14,636 records
- Loggerhead Sea Turtle2,229 records
- Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle554 records
- Hawksbill Sea Turtle186 records
- Olive Ridley Sea Turtle26 records
Plan your sea turtle trip in Hawaii
Start with live tours near Hawaii, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Hawaii
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main sea turtle viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near Hawaii
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best sea turtle viewing area in Hawaii.
Viator
Broader backupBook a sea turtle tour in Hawaii
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 turtles in the US?+
June is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through June, July and August, based on 18,007 verified observations across 22 states.
Which states are best for seeing sea turtles?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are Hawaii, Florida and Texas. Hawaii leads with 10,999 verified observations.
How many sea turtles sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 18,007 verified sea turtles observations are logged on iNaturalist across 22 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of sea turtles live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Green Sea Turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle and Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.