Top 6 States With The Most Alien Encounters

UFOs visit California and Florida more than any other state according to the UFO Reporting Center.

Photo of a UFO with five light beams.

Here are the top six states with the most alien encounters.

Photo by: Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (Screenshot from TRVL's "Alien Endgame")

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (Screenshot from TRVL's "Alien Endgame")

The US military may insist that they haven’t found any concrete evidence of aliens, but the thousands of reports compiled by the UFO Reporting Center beg to differ. UFORC is a comprehensive database that allows users to report their extraterrestrial encounters. The database contains online reports dating back to 1998. These counts are current as of April 2022.

Here are some of the most recent and compelling UFORC accounts from the states with the most reported alien encounters. Reports have been edited for clarity and length.

California — 15,195 sightings

In April 2022, a person in Fresno, California, reported seeing a large, silent black object moving east to west across the midday sky. The double-helix-shaped object, described as “larger than a man but smaller than a car” hovered 200-300 feet above the ground but sped away once the viewer began taking pictures of it.

Florida — 7,612 sightings

A Valrico, Florida, woman was awoken in the early morning hours of Feb. 2, 2022, by a bright light shining through her bedroom window. A stationary object hovered in the sky to the east, and she went outside to watch it and take photos for 10-15 minutes. The object disappeared when she stepped inside to wake her husband. The woman also noted her home is near a US Air Force base and it’s not uncommon for her to see drones and “dark helicopters” over her house.

Washington — 6,784 sightings

A resident in Port Townsend, Washington had three strange experiences over the course of a late summer day in August 2021. While stargazing one night, the resident saw what they believed to be a satellite that curved upwards across the sky, circled back counterclockwise, and then hovered in the sky for several minutes. About 10 minutes later, the resident’s room was illuminated with a gridwork of white light that flashed twice before vanishing. That night, the person reported waking up standing in front of their window where they had dreamed of watching several spacecraft flying outside.

Texas — 5,684 sightings

A Plano woman stepped outside to get the newspaper when she saw a ball of light hovering in the sky. She immediately went to grab some binoculars and call the police. While using the binoculars, she could see wings on four sides of the strange craft. While on the phone, part of the object zoomed away while the second part remained in the sky for several more minutes before it disappeared.

New York — 5,474 sightings

An eagle-eyed New Yorker was walking in Manhattan in February 2022 and happened to glance up towards the Empire State Building and see six white orbs with auras in the air near the top of the skyscraper. Over the course of just a few seconds, the orbs moved northeast before disappearing completely.

Arizona — 4,656 sightings

In June 2021, bright lights described as “moving stars” appeared low on the horizon at sunset in Anthem, Ariz. For almost an hour, a resident watched three UFOs disappear and reappear while their lights pulsed in random rhythms and colors. As the sky grew dark with the night, the flying orbs dimmed and some of them split before they eventually moved away and went completely dark.

What could the aliens want from us? Alien Endgame, a discovery+ special, documents the work of an investigative journalist and UFO researcher who seeks out the truth from retired military personnel who have a terrifying theory: we are not prepared for an alien invasion. Watch the two-hour documentary streaming on discovery+.

Next Up

11 Twin Peaks Locations You Can Visit in Real Life

Where to find a damn fine cup of coffee and more.Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these links.

National Dive Bar Day: Is There a Portal To Hell In Memphis?

National Dive Bar Day is July 7, and a small Memphis joint may be pulling double duty as a dive bar and a portal for dark energy.

Who Knows NYC Best?

Man v. Food’s Casey Webb matches wits (and appetites) with Food Network’s Vivian Chan to find out who has the real 411 on their home city in Man v. NYC. Ready to judge their throwdown?

11 Things Not to Miss in San Francisco

Christine Williams and Jules Hatfield from Don't Forget to Move, tell us how to do San Francisco right, on  a shoestring budget.

How the 1906 Earthquake Changed San Francisco

Disaster leveled "the Paris of the West" a century ago — and its aftermath echoes through the city today.

5 Family Adventures in Hawaii

Put the phones down and make memories to last a lifetime with these thrilling activities on the island of Hawaii.

Visit Gorgeous Tulip Fields Without Flying to Holland

Washington’s Skagit Valley is the next best thing.

9 NYC Restaurants You Have to Try

A Travel Channel editor picks her high-end to affordable favorites in New York City right now.

12 Family-Friendly NYC Restaurants

Hit up these fun, food-forward spots for good eats for the entire family.

7 Fun Things to Do on Your Fort Myers Vacation

From sunset kayaking to delicious eats, there is so much to explore in southwest Florida's island sanctuary.

What's New from TRVL

Stream discovery+

Your favorite shows, personalities and exclusive originals. All in one place.

Subscribe Now

Follow Us Everywhere

Join the party! Don't miss Travel Channel in your favorite social media feeds.