Top Dark Sky Cities and Other Places to Stargaze in the U.S.

Natural darkness is one of our natural resources, and it's at risk. Overused and badly used artificial outdoor lights can obscure the stars and threaten ecosystems that need both day and night. Light pollution can also affect humans by increasing the chance of sleep disorders, depression and other health issues.

Organizations like DarkSky International are working to protect star views by certifying lands where outdoor lights are managed or minimized. They certify them as Dark Sky Parks, Sanctuaries, Reserves or Communities or as Urban Night Sky Places.

Use our list of the best dark sky towns and other places in the U.S. to find incredible views of the night sky. Before you go, make sure the area is open to the public (some lands are private, and some places are only open seasonally). Check for conditions like road closures and bad weather, too. Visit first during the day to spot things that might make you trip or fall in the darkness, and be aware of local wildlife. Then go back to your stargazing site at least 30 minutes before nightfall so your eyes have time to adjust. Bring a red light so you can look around without disrupting your night vision. Don't forget a telescope or powerful binoculars.

Before you go, pick up a star map or download an astronomy app like SkyView, Stellarium Mobile, SkySafari 7 Pro or Night Sky. Night Sky is available only for iOS.

Want to help preserve dark skies? Get involved.

Shown here: A ranger at Rocky Mountains National Park using a laser to point out the constellations.

Located in southern Arizona's Pima County, Saguaro National Park is an Urban Night Sky Place, a site that offers a true nighttime experience even though it's near a large, well-lit urban area. The park has two sections: one to the east of Tucson, in the Rincon Mountains District, and one to the west, in the Tucson Mountain District. Both are home to gigantic saguaro cacti, which look amazing when photographed in silhouette against a faintly glowing sky.

Saguaro National Park was certified as only the ninth Urban Night Sky Place in the world and the second in the National Park System. The gates close at 8 p.m., but visit in the winter when the sky gets dark early and you’ll have more time to stargaze (winter temperatures are usually mild). Most ranger-led programs are held from January through April; see the calendar for a list of dark sky events.

If the sky is too bright in one direction, turn around in case it's darker behind you. Avoid canyons and forests and choose an open area for the best views. Pay attention to signage so you don't wander onto private or public lands outside of permitted hours and posted rules.

You can camp in the park year-round; sites are first-come, first-served. When you're not looking up, go hiking, biking or camping in the backcountry (with a permit).

To become a certified International Dark Sky Park, like Arches National Park, parks must offer more than exceptional star views. They must also have scientific, natural, cultural or educational value and provide enjoyment to the public. Arches, which is near Moab, Utah, fits the bill. This "red rock wonderland" boasts more than 2,000 natural stone arches, huge balanced rocks and other amazing rock formations. See the website; you'll need a timed entry ticket to enter the park at certain times of the year. Its excellent air quality and low light pollution make it an ideal destination for star fans.

At present, there are no federal regulations to protect dark skies, but Arches preserves the natural darkness by limiting their artificial outdoor lights to a few visitors and employee areas. Trailheads aren't lighted, and almost 100 percent of the park's lighting fixtures are night-sky friendly. You can use similar dark sky strategies at home and earn a Dark Sky Friendly Home Certification.

Arches National Park doesn't have any lodges or restaurants, but they're available in Moab. There's a campground at Devil's Garden that accepts reservations, but it's usually full in the busy season between March and October. From November to February, the sites are first-come, first-served.

Located in northern Maine, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument boasts some of the darkest skies east of the Mississippi River. This 87,564-acre monument, which includes Mount Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, doesn't use electric lights at night and has no commercial power sources or paved roads.

Katahdin is certified as a Dark Sky Sanctuary, rather than a Dark Sky Park or Reserve, because it's geographically isolated and has limited public outreach. One exception is the annual Stars Over Katahdin event, where stargazers and volunteer park astronomers gather around campfires and peer through state-of-the-art telescopes. See the website for the 2024 dates and location, which are still undetermined.

Currently, the monument has 18 campsites, four lean-tos and two huts that you can book through Recreation.gov. Some are accessible only by hiking, biking, paddling, snowshoeing or skiing. Bring your water; there's no potable water here, and be ready to store your food and scented items in the park's metal food lockers. When you're not stargazing, hike, bike, fish, kayak or canoe. Some roads are closed for the winter, but there are designated trails for activities like snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Ask the rangers when and where hunting is permitted. For the best sky views at the monument, visit during a full moon or in the summer to see the Milky Way.

Fredericksburg, Texas, in the heart of Texas Hill Country, is one of the best stargazing spots in the state, thanks to its big, open spaces and low light pollution. It's also in the path of the next total solar eclipse, which will occur on Monday, April 8, 2024. Click here for detailed information about the eclipse and a list of the best public and private viewing spots, such as Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park and Tres Molinos Ranch & Resort.

Two International Dark Sky Parks are near Fredericksburg: Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, just outside town, and Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park to the east. Enchanted Rock hosts regular stargazing events and is popular with astronomy photographers from around the world. LBJ Park also has astronomy programs.

Fredericksburg is a charming, small town founded by German settlers whose influence can still be seen here. After you view the stars, stay to shop, visit wineries, and explore the museums, National Historic District and more. Many types of accommodations and restaurants are available.

Shown here: Time-lapse photography over the Sauer-Beckman Farm in Fredericksburg.

Some of North America's steepest cliffs are in the rugged Black Canyon of the Gunnison in western Colorado. You can stargaze year-round; the park never closes, and overlooks are shielded from passing headlights so visitors can photograph the dark sky or peer through telescopes. The National Park Service works to preserve what it calls the park's "primordial dark sky" by using artificial lights only where they're needed for safety and security. Motion detectors limit light usage in areas like restrooms, and all outdoor lighting fixtures use low-energy, shielded bulbs.

Chasm View and Sunset View, on the South Rim, are great places for dark sky viewing. On the North Rim, visit the Chasm View Nature Trail or Kneeling Camel View. There's a yearly AstroFest; check the website for 2024 dates, which haven't been announced yet.

Campgrounds are available on each rim. Reserve a site through Recreation.gov. or take your chances for very limited first-come, first-served campsites. Hikers and kayakers with permits can camp in the park's wilderness area. Other lodgings are available about 12 miles away in Montrose, Colorado, the closest big city.

Death Valley National Park, which straddles Nevada and eastern California, is a Gold Tier Dark Sky Park. That's the highest darkness rating given by DarkSky International. The park's next Dark Sky Festival, an annual event, runs from March 1-3, 2024. It's held in partnership with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Ames Research Center, SETI Institute and California Institute of Technology, and the nonprofit Death Valley Natural History Association. Visitors can hike with scientists in the field, snap night photos, attend talks and telescope viewings, and experience hands-on activities.

Camping and lodging are available in the park. You're most likely to see a clear, dark sky during a new moon or when there's an astronomical twilight (a period that begins in the morning or ends in the evening when the center of the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon and the sky is barely illuminated).

Like dark sky sanctuaries, reserves win certification for their scientific, natural, educational and cultural value, and for providing public enjoyment. Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve includes two Dark Sky Parks — Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Ranch Complex — and one Dark Sky Sanctuary, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area. With approximately 9 million acres, the reserve is currently the largest dark sky-certified place in the world. It runs from Fort Davis, Texas, to the Rio Grande River at the U.S./Mexican border and encompasses three areas in Mexico. It's also home to the world-class McDonald Observatory.

Several sites within the reserve host telescope viewings, guided stargazing and special events. See the calendar for details. Before you go, check the reserve's stargazing tips and the weather, which can hit extremes here. Find options for campgrounds and lodgings by visiting the websites of the various locations.

Shown here: Special effects for a star party at Big Bend National Park.

Groveland, Florida became the first Dark Sky Community in the Southeastern U.S. in 2023; there are only 31 in all. Dark Sky Communities are towns, cities and other organized communities dedicated to preserving the night sky. This small town is about 30 miles west of Orlando, so it's easy to reach if you're planning to visit the big theme parks like Disney's Magic Kingdom.

To reduce light pollution, Groveland is installing fully shielded streetlights in its new neighborhoods. The city will also hold a Dark Sky Virtual Workshop on February 24, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., to share ways to preserve star views. You can find more products and practices to limit light pollution here.

Groveland offers a variety of accommodations, including Wilotree Park, which has primitive camping, RV sites with or without hookups, and a lodge.

Visitors come to the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve and Community for the breathtaking star views and an off-grid, wilderness experience. The reserve spans three communities — Ketchum, Sun Valley and Stanley — and covers about 1,416 square miles in the Sawtooth Mountains. Some areas don't have electric lights and mobile phone service, primarily because of the rugged topography.

This reserve was the first in the U.S. to become a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Reserve. Go in August to watch for Perseid meteor showers or in December to see the Geminidis. Planets like Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn are visible to the bare eye throughout the year, although they'll appear in different parts of the sky. Other celestial objects to look for: the moon, the Space Station and satellites. With a small telescope, you might see Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons.

Restaurants and accommodations are available in all three communities. Fly into Friedman Memorial Airport and drive 12 miles to the reserve, or Boise Airport and drive about 2 1/2 hours. If you'd rather skip the drive, catch a Sun Valley Express shuttle from Boise. When you're not stargazing, try the world-class skiing, hiking or horseback riding if the weather permits.

In this image, the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy glow in the darkness over Sun Valley.