Where can you go when you want to enjoy looking at the stars? Thankfully, light pollution hasn’t disrupted some of the best locations to stargaze.
Discover the country’s most breathtaking stargazing destinations where light pollution disappears, and the cosmos reveals itself in full splendor. From International Dark Sky preserves to remote wilderness areas, these locations offer unparalleled views of the Milky Way, meteor showers, and celestial phenomena that will transform your outdoor adventures after sunset.
Here are ten of the best locations to stargaze around the United States.
Flagstaff, Arizona
The first International Dark Sky Community in the United States is Flagstaff. This community was certified in 2001 by DarkSky International, and it is an amazing place to see the stars. Most cities can’t create dark enough skies to see many stars, but Flagstaff has been a pioneer in the prevention of light pollution and enacted the world’s first outdoor lighting ordinance in 1958. You can see the Milky Way and many constellations from the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center at Lowell Observatory.
Moab, Utah
Utah provides some of the best locations to stargaze in the country, but Moab has many special features that draw people from all over for various reasons. The city of Moab is an International Dark Sky Community, making it a wonderful place for your outdoor recreation and stargazing fun. The area of Arches and Canyonlands national parks, along with the Natural Bridges and Hovenweep national monuments, make it easy to enjoy the wonders of the skies above.
Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, Texas
This wonderful area in Texas and Mexico covers nine million acres and is the largest protected Dark Sky Place in the world. The area encompasses Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park Complex, both of which are Dark Sky Parks that make it easy to enjoy some wonderful stargazing at night.
Oregon Outback, Oregon
Another large area that is one of the best locations to stargaze is the Oregon Outback. This space stretches across 2.5 million acres in the largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world. The Oregon DarkSky Network distributes Night Sky Adventure Kits to regional libraries and hosts dark sky parties with astronomy experts, enabling attendees to learn more about the stars they see.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
You expect the Grand Canyon to be part of this list. This national park is a certified Dark Sky Park allowing you to see some wonderful skies above and enjoy the stargazing you want from one of the most incredible places in the world. You can explore the massive canyon during the day and look up at the stars at night to see everything the sky has to offer.
Paonia, Colorado
The small town of Paonia received its International Dark Sky certification in 2024. This small town is surrounded by several public lands, including a national forest and conservation area. These areas keep light pollution to a minimum, making it easy to enjoy amazing views o the Milky Way above this small town.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
This location in California is the country’s second-largest state park and is home to canyon hiking, wind caves, and beautiful overlooks, which make it a wonderful place to visit. It’s also a fantastic place to see the night sky and is designated as a Dark Sky Park. It’s one of the best locations to stargaze and see what the skies have to offer.
Palos Preserves, Illinois
Few places that are located in urban environments make it on the list, but Palos Preserves is one of them. It is the largest Urban Night Sky Place in the world and one of the oldest conservation districts in the country. This area is part of the 70,000-acre Forest Preserves of Cook County, which has wonderful astronomy events for many to enjoy. The Alder Planetarium’s Doane Observatory offers visitors a great place to see stars and planets by using their telescope.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
Here’s a wonderful place to visit in Southern California when you want to have one of the best locations to stargaze. Joshua Tree is a fantastic escape from the crowded cities and allows you to soak up the stars in the Mojave and Colorado deserts. Going to the eastern side of this Dark Sky Park, in Pinto Basin, is where you’ll see the most stars.
Cosmic Campground, New Mexico
The closest artificial light to this amazing campground is 40 miles away in Arizona. That makes it a fantastic place to see the stars. This was the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary in North America and the first located on National Forest System lands. It spans 3.5 acres of the three million-acre Gila National Forest, which is the country’s first designated wilderness.