When is The Best Time to Go Whale Watching in New England?

Have you ever been whale watching? Apparently I went when I was little in Massachusetts with my family and when my mom recently asked if I remembered going, I responded: “I don’t remember whale watching but I weirdly remember blueberries?” She laughed and said I just sat there with my head down eating blueberries.

Anyway, I went on a bender a few months ago binge watching whale documentaries for no reason in particular but it made me realize I have never seen a whale in person that I can remember. Apparently blueberries are more impressionable than a 30,000 lb mammal.

When is Whale Watching Season in New England?

First off, if you’re going to go look for some whales you need to know when to do it. There’s a whole website dedicated to whale trips and they let us know that the best time to go whale watching in New England is between May and October. So, whale watching season has just begun!

The peak months for whale watching here up North are in July and August, so if you want to go when they’re most active you have plenty of time to plan. Those are also great months to be on a boat in the New England waters in general.

Where Should I Go Whale Watching in New England?

According to the same website, 80% of whale watching tours in New England take place between Cape Ann and Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Tours in these areas will give you the best chance for laying your eyes on our coast’s beloved Finback, Humpback, and Minke whales.

But, you really can’t go wrong going whale watching anywhere in New England, even here in Maine. U.S. News breaks down what you need to know for whale watching in the Pine Tree State, with tips such as going on a clear sunny day because our state’s thick fog on the coast will affect visibility.

And of course, you can even go whale watching in New Hampshire.

No matter where you choose to go, the whale watching season has arrived and you have plenty of time to make your plans, pick your boat and tour, grab some friends, and go see the largest animals on Earth (that we know of… but I’ll dive into that conspiracy theory another day…).