Best Time to See Whales in the US
June, May and July is the best time to see whales in the United States. This is a national picture built from 434,884 verified iNaturalist observations across 24 states, showing when and where whales are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
434,884 verified observations of whales in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When whales are recorded in the US
Peak month
June
48,961 records (11.3% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 28,193 | 6.5% |
| February | 26,259 | 6% |
| March | 33,155 | 7.6% |
| April | 41,539 | 9.6% |
| Maypeak | 42,475 | 9.8% |
| Junepeak | 48,961 | 11.3% |
| Julypeak | 42,239 | 9.7% |
| August | 38,688 | 8.9% |
| September | 36,997 | 8.5% |
| October | 34,272 | 7.9% |
| November | 34,190 | 7.9% |
| December | 27,916 | 6.4% |
Whales you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | 197,938 |
| Mule Deer | 110,167 |
| Elk | 19,449 |
| Wild Boar | 15,307 |
| Moose | 12,028 |
| Humpback Whale | 11,438 |
| Common Bottlenose Dolphin | 9,310 |
| Bighorn Sheep | 6,274 |
Across the country, whales sightings peak in June, when 48,961 of the 434,884 annual observations are logged, about 11.3% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through June, May and July.
The best states to see whales by recorded sightings are California (114,247), Texas (79,396), Washington (26,406), Oregon (24,093) and Virginia (21,535). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The whales you are most likely to encounter nationwide are White-tailed Deer, Mule Deer and Elk, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see whales
- whales in California114,247 sightings, peak September
- whales in Texas79,396 sightings, peak April
- whales in Washington26,406 sightings, peak July
- whales in Oregon24,093 sightings, peak June
- whales in Virginia21,535 sightings, peak June
- whales in Florida20,100 sightings, peak May
- whales in Alaska18,644 sightings, peak June
- whales in North Carolina18,594 sightings, peak June
- whales in New York17,173 sightings, peak June
- whales in Maryland17,062 sightings, peak June
- whales in Michigan12,751 sightings, peak June
- whales in Massachusetts11,576 sightings, peak April
- whales in New Jersey10,655 sightings, peak June
- whales in Georgia7,682 sightings, peak June
- whales in New Hampshire6,298 sightings, peak June
Most-recorded whales species nationwide
- White-tailed Deer197,938 records
- Mule Deer110,167 records
- Elk19,449 records
- Wild Boar15,307 records
- Moose12,028 records
- Humpback Whale11,438 records
Plan your whale 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 whale viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best whale viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a whale 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 whales in the US?+
June is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through June, May and July, based on 434,884 verified observations across 24 states.
Which states are best for seeing whales?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Texas and Washington. California leads with 114,247 verified observations.
How many whales sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 434,884 verified whales observations are logged on iNaturalist across 24 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of whales live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are White-tailed Deer, Mule Deer and Elk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.