In terms of tenting, the enjoyable doesn’t have to finish after darkish! Choosing a campsite for some stargazing alternatives–additionally generally known as “darkish sky tenting”–is an more and more fashionable tenting technique.
But it surely’s essential to seek out the best campsites in the best locations…in any other case, your view of the celebs could also be too restricted to take pleasure in.
Learn on for our roundup of the most effective campsites for stargazing, all throughout america. At any one among these locations, you’re certain to take pleasure in an exquisite darkish sky tenting expertise!
Northeast
Acadia Nationwide Park – Close to Bar Harbor, Maine
An awesome decide for stargazing on the higher tip of the northeast coast, Acadia Nationwide Park is thought for its sensible view of the evening sky. It gives distinctive alternatives to take pleasure in constellations and star patterns not seen within the southern hemisphere.
This nationwide park boasts a number of glorious stargazing areas, a lot of that are positioned close to water. These embrace Jordan Pond, Seawall, Ocean Path, and Sand Seashore. The park additionally supplies
There are numerous seasonal tenting alternatives on the campgrounds in Acadia Nationwide Park. This state park additionally supplies a useful, detailed stargazing information that can assist you time your journey, pack appropriately, and take the right security precautions.
Cherry Springs State Park – Coudersport, PA
Cherry Springs State Park just isn’t solely one of the vital family-friendly alternatives for stargazing in america. It’s additionally one among solely 5 state parks in the entire nation to have acquired the best certification as a darkish sky park from the Worldwide Darkish-Sky Affiliation.
For a nominal charge, people can take pleasure in a country tenting expertise at Cherry Springs from April by means of October. Throughout this time, private stargazing alternatives can be found for severe astronomers who convey their very own gear. Guided excursions by laser level and park-provided gear are additionally hosted on the weekends throughout this time.
Southeast
Large Pine Key – Decrease Keys, Florida
Although it isn’t relegated inside a nationwide park or state forest, Large Pine Key in Florida is without doubt one of the finest stargazing areas alongside the southeast! This portion of the Florida Keys gives some spectacular evening sky views,
Actually, stargazing is so fashionable in Large Pine Key, it performs host to the annual Winter Star Social gathering, held each February. Of us who’re wanting to camp and benefit from the distinctive view of the southern-hemisphere stars can pitch camp at Bahia Honda State Park or keep on the Solar Outdoor Sugarloaf Key Campground. This can be a nice strategy to take pleasure in each stargazing and tenting in a heat, great location.
Blue Ridge Parkway – North Carolina
It ought to come as little shock that the Blue Ridge Mountains would function on an inventory of finest campsites for stargazing in america! These notorious mountains within the southeastern area are full of sturdy magnificence within the daytime…and simply as a lot in the dead of night.
As a result of this parkway winds and wends by means of a lot forestry up within the mountains, mild air pollution just isn’t a difficulty. Which means at any time after darkish, you possibly can witness a wide ranging array of stars from all alongside the parkway. This distinctive stargazing alternative has appealed to many drivers and campers through the years…will you be the newest?
Midwest
Indiana Dunes Nationwide Lakeshore – Indiana
Situated proper within the Crossroads of America, you can find an exquisite stargazing alternative awaits at Indiana Dunes Nationwide Lakeshore! Simply far sufficient from Chicago to flee big-city mild air pollution, the Indiana Dunes gives miles of serene shoreline with good stargazing alternatives. Actually, the small city of Beverly Shores within the Dunes space has been licensed as a Darkish Sky neighborhood.
There’s a beautiful campground throughout the Indiana Dunes, not far in any respect from the lakeshore. This supplies the perfect circumstances for pitching camp and strolling a brief distance out to the waterfront for some unforgettable stargazing!
Apostle Islands Nationwide Lakeshore, Wisconsin
Rugged and distant, the Apostle Islands Nationwide Lakeshore is about as far north as you will get in Wisconsin. This makes it completely very best for stargazing. Actually, you possibly can see extra than simply the celebs right here…below the best situations, this can be a nice location to witness the Northern Lights as effectively!
Circumstances are so great for stargazing at this far-flung nationwide lakeshore, people have been petitioning for a Darkish Sky certification for a while now. With a number of completely different choices for tenting, alone or in teams, everybody can come and benefit from the Apostle Islands and the unimaginable stargazing alternatives this area gives.
Theodore Roosevelt Nationwide Park – North Dakota
A bit farther to the west of the midwest, Theodore Roosevelt Nationwide Park is taken into account among the many finest areas on this area to benefit from the celestial our bodies. That is helped by its location, teetering on the sting of Montana’s “Large Sky” nation. Even to the bare eye, with out a speck of apparatus, the evening sky above this nationwide park is a marvel to behold.
Campers can have their decide of three completely different campgrounds throughout the park, every boasting its personal campsite choices…together with a horse camp! That makes this state park the perfect spot for people of all completely different tenting types and preferences to come back to take pleasure in some unimaginable stargazing.
Southwest
Large Bend Nationwide Park – Texas
Though it’s among the many largest and most stunning state parks in america, Large Bend Nationwide Park can be notoriously under-visited. Which means, at any given time, it may possibly really feel like you have got all the park to your self.
This makes for some very best tenting and stargazing alternatives…notably as this park is listed because the one with the least mild air pollution of all of the Decrease 48 states. You possibly can reserve a tenting spot at Large Bend Nationwide Park with the arrogance that the sky might be an open tapestry. And definitely one price viewing as you take pleasure in it out of your campsite, or out within the physique of the park itself.
The Sky Islands – Arizona
Arizona is among the many most beloved stargazing states within the nation. The huge spans and ranging elevations supply loads of completely different stargazing alternatives. Among the many most well-known for these are the Sky Islands–akin to the favored Chiricahua–that are high-elevation communities.
Lots of the Sky Islands are scarcely populated and closely forested, providing minimal sky air pollution so you possibly can take pleasure in stargazing to your coronary heart’s content material. Varied areas throughout the Sky Islands boast their very own multifarious tenting alternatives, from rugged to extra glamorous. So, no matter your tenting fashion, you possibly can be sure you come and benefit from the Sky Islands of Arizona!
West
Dinosaur Nationwide Monument – Utah/Colorado Border
The very first thing you must learn about Dinosaur Nationwide Monument is it is without doubt one of the newly-named Darkish Sky parks in america! So you possibly can belief that this location gives some actually exceptional stargazing alternatives. Situated close to the Utah/Colorado border, Dinosaur Nationwide Monument gives one of many darkest evening skies within the nation.
This setting makes for a really breathtaking stargazing expertise! Campers can pitch camp at Break up Mountain Campground and revel in stargazing from the consolation of their campsite. Or, strike off on a ranger-guided tour by means of Echo Park or to the close by rivers for some wilderness stargazing.
Joshua Tree Nationwide Park – California
The notions of California and stargazing don’t usually coincide, as this state is infamous for among the largest cities with the best mild air pollution within the nation. Nonetheless, once you get out to Joshua Tree Nationwide Park, you’ll uncover a complete completely different evening sky awaits!
This licensed Darkish Sky park gives a view in contrast to every other. Boasting one of many darkest skies on the Darkish Sky park roster, Joshua Tree gives unbelievable stargazing views from quite a few areas. From the campgrounds themselves to designated pull-offs, you’ll find so many alternatives to pause and behold the wonders of the evening sky from nearly anyplace throughout your tenting journey right here.
The Outer States
Denali Nationwide Park and Protect – Alaska
Is it any marvel that Alaska has some prime areas for stargazing? The interaction of sunshine and darkish with the varied seasons could make it tough to plan a stargazing journey to this northernmost state. Nonetheless, when you time it proper, Denali Nationwide Park and Protect gives some unbelievable views of the evening sky.
You possibly can take pleasure in extra than simply the celebs within the sky over Denali, too. The Northern Lights are completely magnificent on this space, most frequently noticed round sundown and dawn. Planning a tenting journey to Denali for some wilderness exploring and stargazing is certain to be a memorable expertise!
The Hawaii Volcanoes Nationwide Park – Large Island
There are quite a few unimaginable stargazing alternatives all throughout the islands of Hawaii. It’s all only a matter of being in the best place on the proper time, and away from mild air pollution that encumbers your view!
For those who’re searching for a assured stunning stargazing alternative with great tenting choices as effectively, the Volcanoes Nationwide Park on Hawaii’s Large Island is a unbelievable possibility. This nationwide park boasts plenty of nice campsite alternatives in addition to loads of locations all through the park the place you possibly can strike off into distant areas and behold the great thing about the evening sky.
The place Will You Go Tenting for Stargazing?
Excited to go to among the finest campsites for stargazing within the USA? Earlier than you get began, be sure you take a look at our Tenting web page! This can present sources to assist guarantee you have got every thing you want for a protected and enjoyable stargazing campground tour!
