USA

The 15 Best Dolphin Watching Tours in the USA

129 tours  ·  from $20 a head

Bottlenose are resident from the Texas coast round to the Carolinas, and in Hawaii the spinners come into the bays at dawn. These 15 trips cover the Gulf passes, the Atlantic lagoons and the islands, priced and timed.

Little Toot Dolphin Adventure at Clearwater Beach - Boarding the tugboat-style Little Toot
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Little Toot Dolphin Adventure at Clearwater Beach

1.Little Toot Dolphin Adventure at Clearwater Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,594 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $37Our pick

Board the tugboat-style Little Toot at Clearwater Harbor for a narrated 75-minute trip into the Gulf of Mexico. The captain creates a wake that often draws dolphins close to the stern, where they may surf and leap. Choose sun or shade, walk around the boat, and enjoy music, wildlife commentary, and a return to the same dock.

“It’s my 4th time ont he little toot, always a winner. This time I took my husband who had never been. We loved it as always”

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Shell Island Snorkel and Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time - Boarding at 5201 N Lagoon Drive
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Shell Island Snorkel and Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time

2.Shell Island Snorkel and Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,362 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $57

Cruise from Panama City Beach to Shell Island aboard Island Time’s roomy catamaran. Watch for wild dolphins, snorkel in St. Andrews Bay, paddle board, use the waterslide, or walk the beach. The crew, including captains such as Clay and Heath and crew members such as Emma and Sarah, keeps the three-hour trip relaxed and social.

“shell Island was beautiful seeing dolphins on the way was fun. We also snorkeled and collected shells.”

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Maui Eco-Raft Tour: Eye-Level Whale or Dolphin Watching - Lahaina - Summer dolphins and coastal scenery
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Maui Eco-Raft Tour: Eye-Level Whale or Dolphin Watching – Lahaina

3.Maui Eco-Raft Tour: Eye-Level Whale or Dolphin Watching – Lahaina

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,482 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $85

From Lahaina, ride a low-water zodiac raft with a marine naturalist. December through April brings humpback whales and hydrophone songs. Summer trips focus on dolphins and coastal views. Captains such as Jack, Mark, and Steve have been praised for finding wildlife, but expect spray, sun, and no guaranteed close encounter.

“Captain Mark and first mate Olivia were wonderful! We had a slow start seeing whales but ended with a mom, baby and escort checking us out. What an amazing experience!! Both Capital Mark and Olivia took the time to educate throughout the trip. Capital Mark also nicely reminded people when to sit so others could see.”

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Dolphin and Manatee Stand Up Paddleboard Tour in Daytona Beach - Looking for dolphins and manatees in the canals
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Dolphin and Manatee Stand Up Paddleboard Tour in Daytona Beach

4.Dolphin and Manatee Stand Up Paddleboard Tour in Daytona Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,328 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $65

Meet Three Brothers Boards in Daytona Beach for a gentle paddle through canals, around an island, and under seven bridges. Guides such as Brock, Dallas, Walker, and Spencer teach beginners, watch for dolphins and manatees, and offer kayaks if standing feels difficult. The tour lasts about two hours, but allow three.

“An amazing spur of the moment activity. We were first timers and the tour guy, Ryan, was excellent with teaching us and showing us a great time; especially in windy conditions. A must do! They’ve totally encouraged a new activity into lives. Thank you.”

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Jekyll Island Dolphin Tours - The scenery between dolphin sightings
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Jekyll Island Dolphin Tours

5.Jekyll Island Dolphin Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,242 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $45

Cruise from 366 Riverview Drive through Jekyll Island’s waterways, salt marshes, and wild beaches while captains such as Pablo, Troup, and Paul explain local ecology and history. Bottlenose dolphins are the main prize, but you may also spot turtles, manatees, herons, osprey, and shrimp boats.

“They cant promise Dolphin to be seen but they do everything in their power to make it happen. Which they did, the sky was beautiful with the sun going down high recommend.”

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Clearwater Encounters with Dolphins Tour - The dolphin search: what you may actually see
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Clearwater Encounters with Dolphins Tour

6.Clearwater Encounters with Dolphins Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,185 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Cruise Clearwater Harbor for about 90 minutes aboard a 40-foot Coast Guard inspected boat. Your captain and crew search for bottlenose dolphins, explain local wildlife and landmarks, then stop at Compass Island for swimming and shell hunting. The boat carries up to 38 people, and some departures feature crew members such as Sierra and Katlyn.

“The ride was entertaining and we got to see a lot of dolphins and take a quick trip to a tiny island for seashell collecting.”

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Dolphin and Manatee Adventure Tour of Fort Myers - Fort Myers Beach and the shell stop
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Dolphin and Manatee Adventure Tour of Fort Myers

7.Dolphin and Manatee Adventure Tour of Fort Myers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,167 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Paddleboard through Fort Myers and Bonita Springs waterways with a guide such as Eric or Chase. Look for dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, pelicans, starfish, conch, and other wildlife, then stop at a white-sand beach for shells and coastal views. Boards and safety gear are provided, and beginners ages six and up can join.

“Our tour guide Eric was great and full of knowledge. We were lucky to be able to watch the dolphins play for a while.”

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Sunset & Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time - Key points to know before you book
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Sunset & Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time

8.Sunset & Dolphin Catamaran Cruise with Island Time

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,867 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $57

Spend about two hours aboard Island Time Sailing’s catamaran, cruising Grand Lagoon and the waters near St. Andrews State Park. You’ll look for dolphins, watch the sails go up, enjoy music, and buy drinks or snacks from the onboard galley. Captain Clay and crew members including Christo, Sara, Audra, Carter, and Emma are among the friendly faces connected with this popular cruise.

“It was great, good service and great views. The team was very polite. Being out on the water for 2 hours was definitely worth the experience.”

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Baywatch Dolphin Tours – Pier 21 Galveston - Why Captain Adam shapes the experience
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Baywatch Dolphin Tours – Pier 21 Galveston

9.Baywatch Dolphin Tours – Pier 21 Galveston

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,860 reviews · 40 to 45 minutes (approx.) · from $32

Set out from Pier 21 for a 40 to 45-minute dolphin cruise through Galveston Harbor. Captain Adam often adds local history, jokes, music, and views of ships and waterfront landmarks while guiding the boat toward dolphin sightings. Enclosed, heated vessels with 360-degree views are available, and every seat offers a good look at the water.

“We saw about 20 dolphins and it was very interesting It was very nice to see a variety of dolphins, both adult and juvenile and they were close Thank you, captain Adam for the great tour”

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Oahu Dolphin and Snorkel Tour with Waikiki Pickup & Lunch - Turtle snorkeling, with realistic expectations
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Oahu Dolphin and Snorkel Tour with Waikiki Pickup & Lunch

10.Oahu Dolphin and Snorkel Tour with Waikiki Pickup & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,687 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $164

Ride from Waikiki to Waianae Harbor for a three-hour ocean outing with Dolphins and You. Captain Dani and crew search for spinner dolphins, then set up turtle snorkeling, lunch, hula, kayaks, paddle boards, and a 20-foot slide. Wildlife is not guaranteed, but the crew reports dolphin sightings on most trips.

“So fun and great to do with the family. We brought our 10 and 11 year old, saw many dolphins, and had a lot of fun in the sun!”

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Sunset Dolphin Watch Tour - Cruising the Brazos Santiago Pass
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Sunset Dolphin Watch Tour

11.Sunset Dolphin Watch Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,661 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $19Best value

Join Isla Tours at Sea Ranch Marina for a 90-minute cruise through the Brazos Santiago Pass. You may see Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, frigate birds, fish, the Coast Guard Station, and SpaceX’s Boca Chica area before sunset. Guides such as Patrick, Eric, Michael, and Randy have been praised for lively narration and helping with photos.

“We decided to do this last minute. It was a lot of fun. One of the highlights of our trip! We saw lots of dolphins and a beautiful sunset.”

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Small Group 2 Hour Dolphin Cruise with Snorkeling to Shell Key - Shell Key’s white-sand beach stop
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Small Group 2 Hour Dolphin Cruise with Snorkeling to Shell Key

12.Small Group 2 Hour Dolphin Cruise with Snorkeling to Shell Key

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,523 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $75

Set out from Tierra Verde Marina on a 25-foot pontoon with up to six people. Captain Noel, Megan, or Dave may guide you across Boca Ciega Bay to look for dolphins and manatees, then stop at Shell Key for beach snorkeling, swimming, and shell collecting. Water, gear, ice, and free parking are included.

“Go for 4 hours instead of 2. It was the highlight of our trip to Florida. Noel was the best and made sure we had a great experience..thank you Noel”

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Alabama Gulf Coast Dolphin Cruise - What the water battle adds to earlier trips
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Alabama Gulf Coast Dolphin Cruise

13.Alabama Gulf Coast Dolphin Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,512 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Set out from Orange Beach for a 1.5 to 2-hour cruise along the Gulf and nearby waterways. Watch for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins surfing the wake, spot crabs and hermit crabs, and enjoy coastline views. Earlier departures may include playful water battles with other boats. Makayla is among the friendly crew members praised by name.

“Great experience! The captain and deck hand were really informative and helpful. We were able to see several dolphins in the distance and even saw a couple riding in the wake behind the boat!”

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Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island - The route through South Padre Island waters
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Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island

14.Eco and Dolphin Watch Tour of South Padre Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,428 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $19

Board at Sea Ranch Marina for a 90-minute South Padre Island cruise with Isla Tours. Guides such as Captain Michael, Brandon, Randy, Eric, and Patrick may share local stories, search for bottlenose dolphins, and use a wildlife-safe net to show starfish, seahorses, rays, and other bay life. Bring your own drinks and snacks.

“Saw so many dolphins! The eco part was cool and fun to see some other aquatic creatures up close and personal. Highly recommend!”

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Hilton Head Island Dolphin Boat Cruise - The marsh, birds, and island views
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Hilton Head Island Dolphin Boat Cruise

15.Hilton Head Island Dolphin Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,424 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39

Board at Palmetto Bay Marina for a 90-minute cruise along Broad Creek with a US Coast Guard licensed captain and local guide. Captains such as Kate and Pete, with guides including Wendy and Kim, point out dolphins, birds, marsh life, and island scenery. The tour is family-friendly and includes guaranteed dolphin sightings.

“Wendy was great! Very informative. The boat ride was smooth and lots of great views of islands and wildlife”

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New in USA Dolphin Watching Tours

★ 5.0Red Boat Tours – Dolphin Odyssey and Sightseeing TourFrom $39330 reviews
★ 5.090 minute Hilton Head Sunset Dolphin CruiseFrom $55230 reviews
★ 4.8St. Augustine: Sunset Boat Tour with Dolphin SpottingFrom $40118 reviews
★ 5.02 Hours Dolphin Eco TourFrom $47180 reviews
★ 5.0Sunset Kayaking with DolphinsFrom $60107 reviews
★ 5.0Private Siesta Funship Adventure/Dolphin Cruise Sandbar Stops47 reviews
★ 4.7Savannah: Dolphin Spotting and Wildlife Eco CruiseFrom $47181 reviews
★ 5.0Anna Maria Island Dolphin Sightseeing AdventureFrom $55330 reviews
★ 5.0Anna Maria Island Dolphin Sunset Boat TourFrom $57272 reviews
★ 5.0Whale and Dolphin Watching in San DiegoFrom $149129 reviews
★ 4.0City Cruises San Diego: Whale and Dolphin Watching AdventureFrom $56143 reviews
★ 4.5Dolphin and Whale Watching Sunset CruiseFrom $71249 reviews
★ 4.3San Diego: Whale and Dolphin Watching CruiseFrom $77186 reviews
★ 5.02-Hour Private Hilton Head Dolphin Watching Cruise306 reviews
★ 4.5Hilton Head: Private Dolphin Day or Sunset Catamaran Sail27 reviews

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Dolphin Watching Cruises131Swim with Dolphins30Whale and Dolphin Watching Tours109Sunset Dolphin Cruises54Private Dolphin Watching Charters39Kayak Dolphin Tours22
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Where to see dolphins

Pick a coast, a boat or a swim.

From the deck

Dolphin CruisesWhales and DolphinsSunset SailingsCatamaransRIBs and Speedboats

In the water

Wild SwimsSnorkel TripsDolphin HouseWild EncountersKayak Trips

Smaller boats

Private ChartersSmall GroupsLuxury HullsUnder SailWith a Biologist

Other ways

Dolphins and ManateesEco TripsAquariumsTrips with LunchHalf-Day Trips