15 Dolphin and Whale Watching Trips in the USA Worth Booking

1.45-Minute Sea Rocket Speed Boat & Dolphin Cruise in Ocean City MD

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 585 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $39Our pick

Cruise from downtown Ocean City through the inlet aboard the Sea Rocket, watching for bottlenose dolphins and coastal sights. Expect music, ocean spray, and possible high-speed riding. Captains including Owen, Ashton, Ashly, Bobby, and Riley have been praised for finding dolphins, though sightings and ocean conditions vary.

“Owen and Johnny were very good. Unfortunately for us the weather didn’t allow us the full experience of going out on the ocean. They gave us a nice tour of some of the area anyway.”

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2.Zodiac Raft Whale Watching Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 456 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $113Top rated

Set out from Kailua-Kona with Captain Zodiac for a three-hour whale-watching ride in a fast, open Zodiac raft. Your captain-naturalist, such as Shelby, Marco, Ashley, or Rick, scans for humpbacks, spinner dolphins, turtles, and manta rays while sharing Hawaiian history, whale behavior, and volcanic geology. A hydrophone lets you hear whales underwater.

“Wow what a ride!!!! Absolutely fantastic. Very adventurous ride in a 24’ zodiac, not for the faint of heart. Must be able to hold on. This is not a cushy light boat ride. We saw bottle nose dolphin, whales and schools of fish. Very cool, worth the cost and I would do it again in a heart beat. Mahalo Ashley and Cameron you did an amazing job.”

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3.Dolphin-Watching Speedboat Cruise in Destin Harbor

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 423 reviews · from $58

Ride the shaded Screaming Eagle speedboat from Destin Harbor for 45 minutes to an hour. A captain and crew search for dolphins, stingrays, and other marine life while sharing local insight, music, jokes, and coastal views. The boat holds no more than 14 people.

“Outstanding dolphin watching event. Super exciting ride as well. Very knowledgeable Capt and crew. We will definitely do it again.”

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4.Up-Close Dolphin & Whale Watching Zodiac Adventure in Dana Point

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 353 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $99

Set out from Dana Point Harbor aboard a Coast Guard-certified Zodiac with a captain and marine naturalist. You may see dolphins year-round, plus gray, blue, humpback, fin, or minke whales. Recent captains include Marie, Gary, Chuck, and Jamie.

“Absolutely the BEST whale watching I have done in my life. We saw 6 fin whales, 20+ dolphins, and 2 gray whales all within 2 miles from the coast. The first mate was experienced in bio marine life and I learned a lot about whales. Such nice people and I plan to go again when I visit Laguna. Thank you to the captain and first mate for an amazing experience!!! I’ll never forget it!!”

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5.Sea Screamer Clearwater’s Only Speed Boat Dolphin Watching

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 251 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $37

Ride Sea Screamer, a 73-foot Coast Guard-inspected speed boat, for about an hour through Clearwater Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico. Captains and mates such as Scott, Tammy, Brad, and Steve search for dolphins, often drawing them into the boat’s wake. Drinks and two bathrooms are onboard.

“Extremely difficult to find a parking spot at pier. Walk or uber it there. Many hotels provide a shuttle and there is a trolley option. But wow- that was the most exciting dolphin watching experience I’ve ever had. Better than Hawaii. Maybe we got lucky? The boat tour knows what they’re doing. Seamless check in. Prompt, professional. Everyone had a seat.”

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6.Kauai’s South Side Whale and Dolphin Zodiac Boat Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 163 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $158

Set out from Kukuiʻula Harbor Beach in Poipu aboard a 25-foot Zodiac with up to 14 passengers. From December through May, your captain and crew search Kauai’s south coast for humpback whales, spinner dolphins, turtles, and seabirds. Expect speed, spray, snacks, and a bumpy ride, not a quiet cruise.

“My wife and I took our 14 and 6 year old kids on the late afternoon trip. Kristina and Captain Rich were awesome, made sure everyone was safe and had a good time. Our 14 year old also had a really good time ( and we all know how hard it can be to get a teenager to admit that!). We saw a mamma humpback with her baby, and their male escort! It was memorable to see those majestic creatures. Rich was very knowledgeable about the history of the different places on the coast, so I highly recommend making sure you soak in that knowledge. Kristina was awesome with our…”

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7.Swimming with Wild Dolphins Speedboat Adventure on Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 150 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $199

Join Iruka Hawaii Dolphin for a three-hour trip from Waiʻanae aboard the Dolphin Warrior. You may enter the ocean near wild dolphins, snorkel over reef with turtles, and watch for seasonal whales. Guides such as Lauren, Rebecca, Yuya, and Travis are praised for careful instruction and warm support.

“Morgan, Ken, Ken, and captain TJ were great saw a lot of dolphins and turtles got to swim with a mama and baby dolphin whoever gave them a one star review was just having a bad day because the tour was great”

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8.Anacortes Whale Watching Adventure Tour – Zodiac Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 149 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $149

Set out from Anacortes with Blue Kingdom Whale and Wildlife Tours for about 3.5 hours on an open-air Zodiac boat. Guides such as Amanda, Austin, Tyler, and Lucy share details about orcas, humpbacks, birds, and the Salish Sea. Cruiser suits, hats, gloves, and an onboard bathroom are included.

“We had a lovely time! Lots of knowledge and information! We saw so much wildlife and learned all about orcas”

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9.Ocean City, MD: Coastal Speedboat Tour with Dolphin Spotting

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 73 reviews · 45 min · from $34Best value

Join Sea Rocket Water Adventures for a 45-minute speedboat ride along Ocean City’s Atlantic coast. A captain and English-speaking guide share local wildlife details while music keeps the trip lively. Dolphin sightings are common but not guaranteed. Drinks are available aboard for the 2025 season.

“Everything was perfect. We met all our expectations… even more.. we saw lots of lots of dolphins it was beautiful.”

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10.EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: Speed Boat & Dolphin Cruise in Ocean City, MD

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 62 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $34

Start early at Sea Rocket in downtown Ocean City for a 45-minute ride through the inlet and along the beach. Guides such as Owen, Ashton, Bree, Josh, and Becca keep the trip friendly and informative while you watch for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Every ticket includes a seat.

“The crew (Ashton & Becca) were great! My son loved seeing the dolphins! Left on time, and we were out on the water a decent amount of time too!”

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11.Swim with Wild Dolphins Oahu Speedboat Snorkeling Adventure!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 49 reviews · 3 hours · from $199

Join Iruka Hawaii Dolphin for a three-hour west Oahu outing aboard the Dolphin Warrior, a high-speed zodiac carrying fewer than 18 people. Swim near wild dolphins, snorkel Makaha with turtles and reef fish, enjoy lunch, and watch for humpback whales from November through March.

“STAY absolutely away from this tour and do NOT trust it. After booking, everything was confirmed, then on the day of the tour at 8:30 AM they sent me a message saying, “We are sorry, but we need to cancel it because there are too few people coming on the tour today.” So, two hours before the tour, we got this message and had to redo all our plans, plus skip this activity. If it was an emergency, I would understand it; however, STAY absolutely AWAY — THEY ARE NOT TRUSTWORTHY, AND YOU MAY END UP IN THIS SITUATION. Book from other providers, but not this one.”

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12.Orcas Island: Whale and Orca Guided Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 46 reviews · 3h 30m · from $119

Set out from Orcas Island for a 210-minute search for orcas, humpbacks, minke, and gray whales. Your English-speaking naturalist guide explains animal behavior while you ride a speedboat with indoor and outdoor viewing areas, a restroom, and strong chances of seeing wildlife.

“The captain Brock and his crew were amazing and informative.”

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13.St. Pete Beach: Dolphin Racer Cruise by Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 41 reviews · 2 hours · from $36

Set out from St. Pete Beach on a 1.5 to 2 hour speedboat ride through Gulf waters. Your English-speaking captain shares dolphin facts while you watch for bottlenose dolphins, beaches, wildlife, and city views. Free parking is available on Corey Causeway.

“Beautiful ride through St. Pete Beach area. Dolphins following the boat and jumping was absolutely amazing to watch ! Great guides. Very funny and amusing. Loved Bigfoot and that sexy captain. Thank you gentleman. See you again soon. Angelica”

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14.Thriller Speedboat Dolphin Tours in Destin Florida

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 32 reviews · from $52

Ride a 55-foot, 880-horsepower catamaran from Destin Harbor through East Pass and into the Gulf of Mexico. Expect a one-hour mix of dolphin watching, fast turns, music, and wide water views. The boat carries up to 36 people and may use Choctawhatchee Bay when Gulf conditions are rough.

“Speed and lots dauphins following the boat! Really, just 5 of them:) Crew was great and check was excellent.”

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15.Private 3 Hour Powerboat Dolphin Cruise with Remote Beach Stop up to 6 guests

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Take a private three-hour powerboat cruise from Pensacola Beach Marina for up to six people. Your captain may spot dolphins, sharks, stingrays, turtles, or manatees while sharing local history. You’ll pass Naval Air Station Pensacola and the lighthouse, with time for a remote beach stop.

“Paul was a great guide! He pointed out all the special places along the way! We saw dolphins and had a wonderful day swimming on the island while collecting seashells!”

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