Monarch Butterflies in Ohio in August

Yes, August is one of the best months to see monarch butterflies in Ohio. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 6,349 of the 17,208 sightings logged across the year (36.9%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Migratory Monarch photographed in OhioMonarch photographed in OhioMonarch photographed in Ohio
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for monarch butterflies in Ohio

36.9%

of yearly sightings

6,349

records in August

#1

busiest month of 12

17,208

verified records a year

July 21.9%, August 36.9%, September 27.5%. Busiest month is August at 36.9%.

Best months: August, September, JulyPeak season right now

17,208 verified observations of monarch butterflies in Ohio, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When monarch butterflies are recorded in Ohio

Peak month

August

6,349 records (36.9% of the year)

Quietest month

March

2 records

MonthObservationsShare
January30%
February30%
March20%
April180.1%
May2761.6%
June9985.8%
Julypeak3,76221.9%
Augustpeak6,34936.9%
Septemberpeak4,73727.5%
October9805.7%
November750.4%
December50%

Monarch Butterflies you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Monarch17,208

In Ohio, August carries 36.9% of the year's monarch butterflies sightings, about 28.6 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from July (21.9%) into August, and it heads toward September (27.5%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so August is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The monarch butterflies most often recorded in Ohio are Monarch. Those counts are annual totals rather than a August split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in August itself.

Which monarch butterflies you are most likely to see

  • Monarch17,208 records
Plan your tripCuyahoga Valley National Park

Plan your monarch butterfly trip in Ohio

Start with live tours near Cuyahoga Valley National Park, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see monarch butterflies in Ohio in August?+

Yes. August accounts for 6,349 of the 17,208 verified monarch butterflies sightings logged in Ohio across the year, which is 36.9% of the annual total.

Is August a good time to see monarch butterflies in Ohio?+

August is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of August, September and July.

What month is best for monarch butterflies in Ohio?+

August is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through August, September and July, based on 17,208 verified observations.

Which monarch butterflies are you most likely to see in Ohio?+

The most-recorded species in Ohio are Monarch, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.