8 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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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…”

Check availability →Read our full review

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”

Check availability →Read our full review

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”

Check availability →Read our full review