Best Time to See Bees in Washington
May, June and July is the best time to see bees in Washington. Based on 82,015 verified iNaturalist observations, here is exactly when bees are most active across the year in Washington.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee · Public domain CC0
Oval-headed Sweat Bee · eebee CC BY
Western Thistle Longhorn Bee · Public domain CC0
82,015 verified observations of bees in Washington, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bees are recorded in Washington
Peak month
May
17,839 records (21.8% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 103 | 0.1% |
| February | 397 | 0.5% |
| March | 2,971 | 3.6% |
| April | 8,011 | 9.8% |
| Maypeak | 17,839 | 21.8% |
| Junepeak | 17,557 | 21.4% |
| Julypeak | 16,722 | 20.4% |
| August | 11,619 | 14.2% |
| September | 5,152 | 6.3% |
| October | 1,413 | 1.7% |
| November | 166 | 0.2% |
| December | 65 | 0.1% |
Bees you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Western Honey Bee | 6,996 |
| Yellow-faced Bumble Bee | 5,277 |
| Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee | 4,749 |
| Black-tailed Bumble Bee | 4,534 |
| Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee | 2,936 |
| Orange-legged Furrow Bee | 1,633 |
| California Bumble Bee | 1,096 |
| Hunt's Bumble Bee | 996 |
Weather to expect, source Open-Meteo
Typical weather in Washington
Recent typical conditions by month, so you can plan a trip around both when bees are active and what the weather is doing. The best months to look for bees sit around 44 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, so pack for that.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 24°F | 4.5" |
| Feb | 36°F | 22°F | 2.8" |
| Mar | 46°F | 28°F | 1.2" |
| Apr | 56°F | 33°F | 1.3" |
| Maybest time | 67°F | 44°F | 1.2" |
| Junbest time | 76°F | 51°F | 0.9" |
| Julbest time | 86°F | 57°F | 0.2" |
| Aug | 86°F | 58°F | 0.3" |
| Sep | 74°F | 50°F | 1.1" |
| Oct | 59°F | 39°F | 1.7" |
| Nov | 42°F | 29°F | 3.6" |
| Dec | 33°F | 23°F | 3.6" |
Typical recent conditions (5-year means) from the Open-Meteo archive, averaged for Washington. Weather varies year to year, so treat these as a guide.
More on bees in Washington:
Sightings of bees in Washington peak in May, when 17,839 of the year's 82,015 verified observations are logged — about 21.8% of the annual total. Activity stays high through May, June and July.
The quietest stretch is December, when bees are hardest to find — December sees just 65 records. If a reliable sighting matters, plan around the peak window rather than the off-season.
The bees you are most likely to encounter in Washington are Western Honey Bee, Yellow-faced Bumble Bee and Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee — the most-recorded species in the state. Each keeps its own seasonal rhythm, but the month-by-month pattern above reflects every reported sighting together.
Where to go
Best places to see bees in Washington
- Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve — National Historical Reserve
- Fort Vancouver National Historic Site — National Historic Site
- Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail — National Historic Trail
- Lewis and Clark National Historical Park — National Historical Park
- Mount Rainier National Park — National Park
- Nez Perce National Historical Park — National Historical Park
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to see bees in Washington?+
May is the single best month, and the broader peak window runs through May, June and July, based on 82,015 verified iNaturalist observations.
When are bees hardest to see in Washington?+
December is the quietest month for bees in Washington, with only 65 verified records.
Are bees active year-round in Washington?+
Bees are recorded in 12 of 12 months in Washington, so they can be seen year-round, with a clear peak in May.
More places to see bees
More wildlife in Washington