Top 5 National Parks for Stargazing

There’s nothing quite like sitting under a clear night sky and watching the stars with your loved ones in one of the world’s top national parks. From comets and meteors to planets and constellations, many parks provide you with a grand view of the Milky Way. Now that summer is in session, there’s no time like the present to take your family on an RV trip to one of these popular destinations for a chance to see our galaxy in a whole new light.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Home to its very own astronomy program, Bryce Canyon National Park is an excellent destination for stargazing. Visitors can choose to go on a guided tour with the park’s “Dark Rangers,” to view the night sky using one of 40 telescopes provided onsite. On a clear night, close to 10,000 stars can be seen at a given time.

Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania

This 48-acre park is a haven for stargazers. It was the first park in the state to be named a “dark skies park” in 2000 and it has also been named one of the gold-tiered International Dark Sky Parks. If you visit the park on a clear night, you may even see the Milky Way cast a shadow. There’s no better place than Cherry Springs to view the night sky in Pennsylvania.

Joshua Tree National Park, California

Due to the deserts low humidity and low light pollution, Joshua Tree National Park has become a go-to destination for those who want to get a great view of the night sky. More than 29 percent of visitors come just to view the stars each night and theirs is even a Night Sky program during the summer months for guests to take advantage of.

Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada

Little artificial light makes Algonquin Park a great spot to see the stars. Head out just about anywhere in the park and you’ll get a clear view of the night sky. If you want to get a good view of the stars with your family, this is the place to go. You can even attend the park’s annual Star Party, which takes place every June.

Big Bend National Park, Texas

Up to 2,000 stars are visible from Big Bend National Park, which sits alongside the border of Mexico. Out of all lower 48 states in the country, it has the lowest light pollution, making it a prime destination for new and seasoned astronomers. Like Cherry Springs State Park, Big Bend is a gold-tiered International Dark Sky Park and provides some of the best views of the night sky.