Whales in Maryland in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see whales in Maryland. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 1,700 of the 17,062 sightings logged across the year (10%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
Peak month for whales in Maryland
10%
of yearly sightings
1,700
records in May
#3
busiest month of 12
17,062
verified records a year
April 10.4%, May 10%, June 12.9%. Busiest month is June at 12.9%.
17,062 verified observations of whales in Maryland, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When whales are recorded in Maryland
Peak month
June
2,196 records (12.9% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,027 | 6% |
| February | 891 | 5.2% |
| March | 1,138 | 6.7% |
| Aprilpeak | 1,772 | 10.4% |
| Maypeak | 1,700 | 10% |
| Junepeak | 2,196 | 12.9% |
| July | 1,691 | 9.9% |
| August | 1,634 | 9.6% |
| September | 1,380 | 8.1% |
| October | 1,337 | 7.8% |
| November | 1,419 | 8.3% |
| December | 877 | 5.1% |
Whales you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | 16,287 |
| Sika Deer | 495 |
| Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin | 135 |
| Humpback Whale | 9 |
| Wild Boar | 7 |
| Common Dolphin | 6 |
| Domestic Cattle | 6 |
| Domestic Goat | 6 |
In Maryland, May carries 10% of the year's whales sightings, about 1.7 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity holds steady between April and May, and it heads toward June (12.9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The whales most often recorded in Maryland are White-tailed Deer, Sika Deer and Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin. Those counts are annual totals rather than a May split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in May itself.
Which whales you are most likely to see
- White-tailed Deer16,287 records
- Sika Deer495 records
- Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin135 records
- Humpback Whale9 records
- Wild Boar7 records
- Common Dolphin6 records
Plan your whale trip in Maryland
Start with live tours near Antietam National Battlefield, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Antietam National Battlefield
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main whale viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near Antietam National Battlefield
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best whale viewing area in Maryland.
Viator
Broader backupBook a whale tour in Maryland
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see whales in Maryland in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 1,700 of the 17,062 verified whales sightings logged in Maryland across the year, which is 10% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see whales in Maryland?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of June, April and May.
What month is best for whales in Maryland?+
June is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through June, April and May, based on 17,062 verified observations.
Which whales are you most likely to see in Maryland?+
The most-recorded species in Maryland are White-tailed Deer, Sika Deer and Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See whales in Maryland in other months
More wildlife in Maryland