10 U.S. States with the Most UFO Sightings
Most UFO reports come from ordinary moments, such as looking up at the wrong or right time and noticing something that doesn’t behave the way you expect. Over the years, these states have consistently appeared in UFO reports more than others.
Nevada
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Long stretches of empty land shape how sightings get noticed in Nevada. NUFORC reports from Nevada often come from highways and rural stretches rather than cities. Area 51 feeds the state’s reputation, but most reports come from ordinary drivers and residents.
Arizona
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Clear nights do most of the work here, as desert skies stay dark and visibility stretches for miles. According to NUFORC data, Arizona ranks high per capita for sightings, especially around Sedona and Phoenix. Lights that might go unnoticed in brighter cities stand out sharply against the open sky.
Colorado
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Being high up helps when it comes to noticing what’s overhead. Clear mountain skies and long sightlines give people more chances to spot unusual movement, and the state’s busy military airspace has a hand in creating confusion. In 2023, staff at a Colorado concert venue even reported a disc-shaped object that hovered briefly before disappearing.
New York
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UFO reports in this area tend to surprise people, but the numbers support them. The National UFO Reporting Center has logged more than 6,000 sightings since the 1970s. Dense city areas contribute significantly, but places like the Hudson Valley also generate repeat reports. With rooftops, highways, and farmland all in play, sightings don’t feel isolated for long.
Texas
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With wide open spaces, busy flight paths, and several military bases, there’s a lot in the Texas sky at any given time. NUFORC has logged more than 6,000 sightings here since the 1970s. One cluster near Stephenville, reported by dozens of people at once in 2008, still gets referenced whenever new reports come in.
Pennsylvania
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This state tends to fly under the radar until you look at the totals. NUFORC has collected over 5,000 reports from Pennsylvania, ranging from rural farmland to busy highways. The Kecksburg incident of 1965 still remains a topic of discussion. Modern sightings are often logged by drivers or backyard observers who didn’t expect anything unusual.
Oregon
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The state’s UFO reputation didn’t come from one moment, but one photo helped. The McMinnville images from 1950 are still talked about, while people continue to report strange lights across forests, coastlines, and desert areas. The dark skies make a difference in spotting unusual activity.
Florida
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Spending evenings outside in Florida is just part of daily life, and that shows up in the data. NUFORC lists over 11,000 UFO reports from Florida, many clustered along the Gulf Coast. Military flights and frequent rocket launches already stretch expectations, so fast-moving lights over water tend to stand out quickly.
Washington
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Once the population is taken into account, this state climbs higher than most people expect. Sightings often occur in areas near Puget Sound or the foothills, where people spend time outdoors, and the skies remain active. There’s also a long history in the region, as a famous 1947 sighting near Mount Rainier is still mentioned whenever new reports surface.
California
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With more than 36,000 reports logged over the years, California sits at the top of the list. More sightings get reported here than anywhere else, largely because there are so many people and so much in the air. Commercial flights crisscross the state, military exercises happen offshore, and clear coastal skies make movement easier to spot.