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Monarchs are especially noted for their lengthy annual migration. They make massive southward migrations from August through October. A northward migration takes place in the spring. Female Monarchs deposit eggs for the next generation during these migrations. The population east of the Rocky Mountains overwinters in the sanctuaries in the area of Angangueo, Michoacán, Mexico, and the western population overwinters in various sites in central coastal California, United States, notably in Pacific Grove and Santa Cruz. The length of these journeys far exceeds the lifetime of most Monarchs, which is less than two months for butterflies born in early summer. The last generation of the summer lives up to 7 months, during which it flies to the overwinter location. This generation does not reproduce until it leaves the overwinter location the following spring, but it is actually this generation's children and great-grandchildren that return to their northern location in the spring. How the species manages to return to the same overwintering spots over a gap of several generations is still a subject of research; the flight patterns are inherited, based on a combination of circadian rhythm and the position of the sun on the sky.

This is one of the few insects to manage transatlantic crossings. Once very common in Bermuda, they are becoming endangered due to the loss of milkweed, eradicated as a weed. A few Monarchs turn up in the far southwest of Great Britain in years when the wind conditions are right. Monarchs can also be found in New Zealand during summer, but are absent the rest of the year.

On the island of Hawaii no migrations have been noted. Monarchs can live a life of six to eight weeks garden having their host asclepias plants and sufficient flowers for nectar. This is especially true if the flower garden happens to be surrounded by native forest that seems to be lacking in flowers.

Monarch butterflies thrive throughout the state of Hawaii.

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