Best Time to See Seals in the US
June, July and April is the best time to see seals in the United States. This is a national picture built from 50,930 verified iNaturalist observations across 12 states, showing when and where seals are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
50,930 verified observations of seals in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When seals are recorded in the US
Peak month
June
5,557 records (10.9% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4,309 | 8.5% |
| February | 3,948 | 7.8% |
| March | 4,372 | 8.6% |
| Aprilpeak | 5,013 | 9.8% |
| May | 4,670 | 9.2% |
| Junepeak | 5,557 | 10.9% |
| Julypeak | 5,500 | 10.8% |
| August | 4,986 | 9.8% |
| September | 3,472 | 6.8% |
| October | 2,886 | 5.7% |
| November | 2,927 | 5.7% |
| December | 3,290 | 6.5% |
Seals you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Harbor Seal | 35,633 |
| Northern Elephant Seal | 11,255 |
| Grey Seal | 3,317 |
| Harp Seal | 121 |
| Ringed Seal | 57 |
| Spotted Seal | 31 |
| Bearded Seal | 8 |
| Ribbon Seal | 3 |
Across the country, seals sightings peak in June, when 5,557 of the 50,930 annual observations are logged, about 10.9% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through June, July and April.
The best states to see seals by recorded sightings are California (32,607), Washington (5,927), Massachusetts (3,245), Oregon (2,424) and Alaska (2,374). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The seals you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Harbor Seal, Northern Elephant Seal and Grey Seal, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see seals
- seals in California32,607 sightings, peak April
- seals in Washington5,927 sightings, peak July
- seals in Massachusetts3,245 sightings, peak August
- seals in Oregon2,424 sightings, peak June
- seals in Alaska2,374 sightings, peak June
- seals in Maine2,276 sightings, peak July
- seals in New York765 sightings, peak January
- seals in New Jersey546 sightings, peak March
- seals in Rhode Island291 sightings, peak March
- seals in Delaware278 sightings, peak March
- seals in Connecticut128 sightings, peak January
- seals in New Hampshire69 sightings, peak February
Most-recorded seals species nationwide
- Harbor Seal35,633 records
- Northern Elephant Seal11,255 records
- Grey Seal3,317 records
- Harp Seal121 records
- Ringed Seal57 records
- Spotted Seal31 records
Plan your seal 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 seal viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best seal viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a seal 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 seals in the US?+
June is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through June, July and April, based on 50,930 verified observations across 12 states.
Which states are best for seeing seals?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Washington and Massachusetts. California leads with 32,607 verified observations.
How many seals sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 50,930 verified seals observations are logged on iNaturalist across 12 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of seals live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Harbor Seal, Northern Elephant Seal and Grey Seal, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.