The Best Places to Stargaze in the U.S.
For millennia, humans have looked skyward to navigate their earthly and spiritual worlds—and to appreciate the sheer beauty of twinkling constellations overhead.
And travelers are no strangers to chasing stars, journeying to the most remote places to find magnificent night skies. Now, though, as a growing number of destinations work to keep their skies dark and celestial phenomena bright, travelers don’t have to venture too far for fantastic stargazing.
In 2021, the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) designated 37 new International Dark Sky Places, bringing the total to 196 worldwide—and a whopping 129 of them are located right here in the U.S, from the Arizona desert to North Carolina's seashore. Some are even right in cities and towns (these are usually categorized as Dark Sky Communities and Urban Night Sky Places by the IDA, whereas Dark Sky Sanctuaries, Reserves, and Parks are larger, more secluded areas).
Read on for 11 of the best stargazing destinations in the U.S.—all IDA-designated dark sky places—that promise enough natural beauty to keep you busy during daylight hours, too.
All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Robert Loe/GettySedona, Arizona
There’s no need to forgo vibrant city life for a sky full of stars: Sedona has it all. This International Dark Sky Community offers visitors over 200 terracotta-tinted hiking trails, a thriving art scene, and panoramic views of its iconic red rock formations from just about everywhere in town. On select Saturday evenings, travelers can book a sunset ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad Starlight vintage train through the wild Arizona desert to view the night sky from an open-air car. Nearby is the Enchantment Resort, a 218-room property within the rust-hued walls of Boynton Canyon, where guests can stargaze with expert astronomers.
Joe Pohle/UnsplashBoundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota
Set on over one million acres of pristine, secluded forest in the heart of Minnesota’s Superior National Park, the Boundary Waters are a nature lover’s paradise. True to its name, this peaceful preserve is accessible primarily by canoe from scenic lakeshore campgrounds and log-trimmed resorts on its periphery, like the Clearwater Historic Lodge. The serene, mirror-like waters of the area’s 1,200 lakes reflect the luminous glow from the northern lights, creating a special experience for even the most seasoned night sky enthusiasts. Visit in March or September for the best chance of viewing the aurora.
GettyDeath Valley National Park, California
Sitting 282 feet below sea level—the lowest elevation on earth—the expansive salt flats of Death Valley in California provide an otherworldly backdrop for astronomy enthusiasts in search of novel stargazing experiences. Two photographer favorites, Zabriskie Point and Dante’s View—the latter perched 5,575 feet above the Badwater Basin—are prime viewing spots for golden sunrises and sunsets over the rugged badlands, and a shimmering Milky Way come nightfall. The park offers visitors several star-studded events, from ranger-led night sky programs to the annual springtime Death Valley Dark Sky Festival, produced in collaboration with NASA. Visit from October through April to avoid the park’s infamous blazing summer temperatures and enjoy the exceptionally clear skies created by the cooler air.
Jim Daniels/GettyBig Bend National Park, Texas
The University of Texas' McDonald Observatory, located 45 minutes north of the arts community of Marfa, offers evening stargazing parties—a perfect pit stop before heading to Big Bend National Park to traverse its soaring limestone canyons. With some of the darkest skies in the country, astronomy lovers can witness showstoppers year-round: In summer the sky features the Milky Way at its brightest and the Perseid meteor shower peaking in August. The notable Hercules, Virgo, and Scorpius constellations become visible during warm summer months, while the celebrated Orion, Taurus, and Andromeda appear with the crisp, clear air of winter. Set on the outskirts of the park, the Willow House in Terlingua offers guests sweeping views of the Chisos Mountain Range and starry nights around the campfire.
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Diana Robinson/GettyGlacier National Park, Montana
With a color palette worthy of the finest gemstones, Montana’s Glacier National Park is a stunner. During the summer, drivers and cyclists flock to the 51-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road—a transmountain highway carved into the brim of the Rockies’ towering sheer cliffs—for spectacular vistas of snow-capped mountains, lush alpine meadows, and deep turquoise glacial lakes that only Big Sky Country can offer. Adventurous bikers who are up for a full moon ride along this scenic road will be rewarded with mountain peaks illuminated by a starry backdrop and lunar glow. A microscopic view of the planets is available at the park’s new Dusty Star Observatory, while a late-night hike to Lake McDonald offers a glimpse of the ever-elusive aurora borealis from September through April.
Aaron Roth/UnsplashZion National Park, Utah
Silhouettes of jagged rock formations illuminated by the soft light of the Milky Way make for picturesque night sky panoramas at Utah’s Zion National Park. The views at this park are so coveted that five million visitors took to the area’s soaring sandstone cliffs last year, proving that wide-open skies aren’t always a requirement for a first-class stargazing experience. Under Canvas, a luxury glamping spot on the brim of the park, offers a cozy, communal campfire with one-of-a-kind vistas of Zion in the distance—and an open sky to boot.
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Courtesy Camp Sarika, AmangiriRainbow Bridge National Monument, Utah
Boasting the darkest skies in Utah, Rainbow Bridge is the state’s singular International Dark Sky Sanctuary. A culturally significant site for Native Americans, the Navajo people call the bridge, formed of Navajo sandstone “nonnezoshe” meaning “rainbow turned to stone.” Travelers can reach the secluded monument by a scenic boat ride through Lake Powell’s striated sandstone canyons and turquoise waters, or a rigorous multi-day backcountry hike through Navajo Nation. Spring, summer, and autumn skies flaunt the galactic core of the Milky Way, with its center marked by the summertime presence of the bright Sagittarius constellation—the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The Sunset Pavilion at Amangiri’s Camp Sarika offers the best of lookouts—a private, heated plunge pool and fire pit where guests can watch pink- and orange-hued sunsets give way to a sky full of celestial wonders.
Josh Gordon/UnsplashGreat Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Just four hours south of Denver, Great Sand Dunes offers visitors a chance to hike, sled, or sand board the golden, wind-sculpted slopes of the tallest dunes in North America. The park’s high elevation and clear skies showcase the hundreds of billions of stars of the Milky Way over billowy waves of sand, right at the foot of the majestic Sangre de Cristo mountains. For a taste of the Old West by day, a stay at the Zapata Ranch, a historic 1800s-era homestead operated by conservation-focused Ranchlands, allows guests to horseback ride alongside a herd of 2,000 North American plains bison.
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Joe Lamm/NPSCape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina
A string of undeveloped barrier islands forming North Carolina’s southern Outer Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore is a heavenly escape for beach purists seeking sun, sand, and stars. The only International Dark Sky Park gracing a U.S. coastline, this idyllic stretch of sand—with unpaved roads, rustic cabins, and herds of wild horses—offers visitors the rare opportunity to unplug from modern life. Overnight travelers to the islands can pitch a tent facing the Atlantic Ocean and sleep on the sand under a blanket of stars. Day trips to the islands are also available via ferry service.
GettyBig Cypress National Preserve, Florida
Just a one-hour drive from the flashy city lights of Miami, Big Cypress has one of the darkest sky views in south Florida. In the company of alligators and stealthy panthers, visitors can look forward to cosmic delights like star clusters, massive nebulae, and distant galaxies. A ranger-led astronomy program offers constellation tours and close-up views of the cosmos through nifty telescopes throughout the winter season, while the nearby Fox Astronomical Observatory welcomes eager stargazers every Saturday evening from sunset to midnight, year-round. It’s best to visit October through March for starry skies and tolerable temperatures, or April through September to observe the Milky Way in the southern sky.
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Stephen Taylor/AlamyHeadlands Park, Michigan
Crowning the northern tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, the dark skies above the Headlands give abundantly year-round: brilliant constellations, countless stars, planets visible with the naked eye, magical meteor showers, a sweeping Milky Way, and the prized northern lights are all part of the show. Slow summer days are perfect for sailing the deep blue waters of this Great Lakes region; meanwhile horse-drawn carriage rides and savory lunches of locally caught whitefish at the charming Grand Hotel make for a leisurely day on Mackinac Island, a car-free haven accessible only by boat or ferry.
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