Best Time to See Snakes in the US
May, April and June is the best time to see snakes in the United States. This is a national picture built from 2,456,974 verified iNaturalist observations across 49 states, showing when and where snakes are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
2,456,974 verified observations of snakes in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When snakes are recorded in the US
Peak month
May
448,659 records (18.3% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 39,831 | 1.6% |
| February | 74,266 | 3% |
| March | 219,949 | 9% |
| Aprilpeak | 420,665 | 17.1% |
| Maypeak | 448,659 | 18.3% |
| Junepeak | 322,522 | 13.1% |
| July | 221,595 | 9% |
| August | 208,038 | 8.5% |
| September | 218,921 | 8.9% |
| October | 164,572 | 6.7% |
| November | 75,540 | 3.1% |
| December | 42,416 | 1.7% |
Snakes you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Western Fence Lizard | 190,295 |
| Green Anole | 137,613 |
| Brown Anole | 128,615 |
| Common Garter Snake | 121,726 |
| Common Side-blotched Lizard | 76,471 |
| Common Watersnake | 72,395 |
| Gopher Snake | 68,743 |
| DeKay's Brownsnake | 42,771 |
Across the country, snakes sightings peak in May, when 448,659 of the 2,456,974 annual observations are logged, about 18.3% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through May, April and June.
The best states to see snakes by recorded sightings are California (524,712), Texas (404,007), Florida (344,977), Arizona (137,610) and North Carolina (95,475). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The snakes you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Western Fence Lizard, Green Anole and Brown Anole, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see snakes
- snakes in California524,712 sightings, peak April
- snakes in Texas404,007 sightings, peak April
- snakes in Florida344,977 sightings, peak April
- snakes in Arizona137,610 sightings, peak August
- snakes in North Carolina95,475 sightings, peak May
- snakes in Virginia59,803 sightings, peak May
- snakes in Georgia54,938 sightings, peak April
- snakes in New Mexico49,155 sightings, peak May
- snakes in Utah43,387 sightings, peak May
- snakes in South Carolina39,617 sightings, peak April
- snakes in Alabama38,781 sightings, peak April
- snakes in Louisiana38,040 sightings, peak April
- snakes in Tennessee37,212 sightings, peak May
- snakes in Colorado36,554 sightings, peak June
- snakes in Maryland35,955 sightings, peak May
Most-recorded snakes species nationwide
- Western Fence Lizard190,295 records
- Green Anole137,613 records
- Brown Anole128,615 records
- Common Garter Snake121,726 records
- Common Side-blotched Lizard76,471 records
- Common Watersnake72,395 records
Plan your snake 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 snake viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best snake viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a snake tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see snakes in the US?+
May is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through May, April and June, based on 2,456,974 verified observations across 49 states.
Which states are best for seeing snakes?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Texas and Florida. California leads with 524,712 verified observations.
How many snakes sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 2,456,974 verified snakes observations are logged on iNaturalist across 49 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of snakes live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Western Fence Lizard, Green Anole and Brown Anole, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.