From the deserts of California to the swamps of Florida, and the great natural monuments of the Southwest, America is filled with heavenly places to gaze at the night skies. Let your travels take you to new destinations, where your eyes can carry you billions of miles away.<\/p>\n
Exchanging the glare of the city lights for flickering star light has long been part of the allure of RVing and camping, but those ready for the full spectacle of starry nights, can look for destinations with scant \u201clight pollution\u201d and unobstructed views of the night sky.<\/p>\n
Take note, first-time stargazers and amateur astronomers, many of the best views are found far from the distracting glow of city lights \u2013 and some of the very best viewing locales may even have rules limiting how you can use lights around your site.\u00a0 But, the remote locations and inconveniences will be worth it, because, under the right conditions, a galaxy of stars and planets become visible with the naked eye.<\/p>\n
In a world that worships light, one group promotes the preservation of dark skies. The International Dark Sky Association<\/a> bestows the designation of International Dark Sky Place<\/strong> on destinations that have exceptional starry nights and \u201ca nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and\/or public enjoyment.\u201d\u00a0 There are 11 IDSP designated places across the U.S, and while you can still enjoy great star gazing in other parks, the dark sky parks are a great place to start.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah<\/a> was the first place to receive the IDSP designation and remains a favorite destination of stargazers, with ample opportunities to explore the ancient river-carved bridges and Anasazi ruins by day and be awed by the sight of 15,000 stars by night.<\/p>\n According to the National Park Service, “National parks preserve some of the darkest skies in the country. In some areas, it\u2019s possible to see up to 15,000 stars throughout the night. By contrast, fewer than 500 stars may be visible from more urban environments.”<\/p>\n For truly spectacular stargazing in Natural Bridges National Monument follow the Owachomo Bridge trailhead and sit on the mesa to watch the Milky Way rise over the bridge, just as the ancient Puebloans did hundreds of years ago.<\/p>\n There are 13 primitive campsites available at the park that can accommodate RVs up to 26-feet and overflow camping at adjacent Bureau of Land Management property. More accommodation is available in nearby Blanding, UT.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The darkest and one of the least visited national park in the continental 48 states, Big Bend National Park<\/a> along the Rio Grande River in southwestern Texas, on the border with Mexico, may be the best stargazing site in the county. While it\u2019s isolation and vastness \u2013 the park is more than 1,200 square miles — may keep crowds down, the lack of development, vast swaths of Chihuahuan Desert topography, and the park\u2019s commitment to preserving its dark skies, make it a prime destination for stargazers.<\/p>\n In recent years, Big Bend National Park has begun the process of eliminating all \u201cforms of light pollution to help visitors experience the wonders of a night sky free from modern intrusion.\u201d The park has installed LED and shielded lighting as part of its efforts to \u201censure that Big Bend National Park continues to be the best example of primeval night skies available today and for future generations,\u201d helping it earn its IDSP designation.<\/p>\n Enjoy the park\u2019s backpacking and hiking trails, plan a river trip on the Rio Grande, or enjoy border culture, then take in the breathtaking view of the Milky Way in all its glory once night falls. Rangers at the park say visitors can expect to see thousands of starts on a clear night.<\/p>\n The park has a lodge as well as campgrounds that can accommodate RVs, and additional lodging is available in surrounding communities. Camping in Big Bend National Park is limited to 14 consecutive nights \u2013 and 28 total nights for the year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For a surreal and extreme stargazing experience, consider Death Valley National Park<\/a> in California. More famous for its extreme heat, Death Valley is the third, and largest IDSP, National Park in the United States.<\/p>\n According to the Dark Sky website, the park is \u201cdistant enough from the large cities of the southwest so that much of the night sky above the desert floor is near pristine and, in many places, offers views close to what could be seen before the rise of cities.\u201d The organization says the near-pristine darkness and dry environment of the vast park puts Death Valley in the top tier of stargazing sites. Here visitors can see astronomical objects that can only be viewed at some of the darkest locations across the globe.<\/p>\n Use the miles of paved roads and trails to explore the lowest point in North America, the vast salt flats of Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level, and scale Dante’s View at 5,475 feet for a stunning view of the park, visit the Furnace Creek visitor\u2019s center and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes — where R2-D2 and C-3PO cross the desert on their way to a fateful meeting with Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars” — before pondering a round of golf at Devil\u2019s Golf Course. The surreal landscapes in the park\u2019s more than 5,000 square miles are stunning by day, but form an awe-inspiring foreground to huge skies at night.<\/p>\n “At Death Valley, the sky literally begins at your feet,” said Tyler Nordgren, Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Redlands (Calif.) and International Dark-Sky Association board member, on the National Park Service website.<\/p>\n There are nine Death Valley camping facilities as well as inns, lodges, and resorts to accommodate visitors that come to Death Valley National Park, but reserve early during the peak winter and spring seasons. In the winter and spring seasons, park rangers offer night sky programs and hold stargazing events with astronomy organizations, according to the park service.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A park doesn\u2019t need to be vast or extremely remote to offer splendid stargazing. Staunton River State Park<\/a>, a mere 2 hours from Raleigh, N.C. and Richmond, Va. is a 2,400-acre property that has also received the IDSP designation for its clear night skies and attention to controlling light pollution.<\/p>\n Tucked into the heart of Virginia, Staunton River offers woodlands, meadows, and shoreline along the Dan and Staunton rivers. By day, the park offers trails for hikers and equestrians as well as boating, fishing, swimming, sports fields and picnic areas. The park offers accommodations in campgrounds and vintage lodges. By night, the park hosts star parties organized by local astronomy groups as well as interpretive programs by park staff.<\/p>\n To encourage budding astronomers, the park has a \u201clending library\u201d of telescopes available for families to check out and use during their stay. Special stargazing programs are offered throughout the year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cherry Springs State Park<\/a> is small on land, but big on sky. Located in the northeast part of Pennsylvania, Cherry Springs State Park offers some of the darkest skies east of the Mississippi. The 82-acre park carved out of the Susquehannock State Forest sits at an altitude of 2,300 and when conditions are perfect, the Milky Way shines so brightly it casts a shadow.<\/p>\n The park\u2019s astronomy field offers an unobstructed 360-degree view of the skies that attract astronomers for twice-yearly star parties that last for several nights. The park welcomes professional astronomers who can rent viewing domes to study the stars, as well as families who make the trek to enjoy the spectacle of the Milky Way. From May to October, park staff and volunteers offer free programs on Friday and Saturday nights to help the public enjoy the views.<\/p>\n Cherry Springs State Park was the second U.S. park to earn a IDSP designation.<\/p>\n The park has 30 primitive campsites available. Sites with electricity are available at nearby Lyman Run State Park.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nNatural Bridges National Monument, Utah<\/h2>\n
Big Bend National Park, Texas<\/h2>\n
Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada<\/h2>\n
Staunton River State Park, Va.<\/h2>\n
Cherry Springs State Park, Pa.<\/h2>\n
Big Cypress Preserve, Fl.<\/h2>\n