Every summer, I head to a national park to watch the Perseids meteor shower streak across the sky. I travel often for celestial events: I’ve gotten on planes to see total solar eclipses, camped out for comets and even gone above the Arctic Circle to see the northern lights. But the Perseids are what keep me coming back every year, sending up to 100 meteors an hour overhead — something I’d never be able to see beneath the bright lights of Las Vegas.
While many national parks offer darker skies than cities, some are so free of light pollution that the best sights only come after sunset, not before. Ready to drink in the majesty of the cosmos? These are the best national parks for stargazing this summer.
Great Basin National Park
Nevada’s only national park slips under the radar in the company of its more popular neighbors, but it’s one I keep returning to. The park is home to ancient bristlecone pines — trees with winding, sinuous trunks that have survived for more than 5,000 years. But the real attraction begins after dark. With virtually no light pollution and even fewer flashlight-wielding visitors, you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye.
For a closer look, Great Basin’s astronomy rangers host weekend programs with telescopes trained on Saturn, the Andromeda Galaxy or whatever other celestial wonders happen to appear that night.
Acadia National Park
Stretching along Maine’s coast, most of Acadia is spread across Mount Desert Island. Wide pathways weave through the island meadows, making for easy walking, biking and movement for wheelchair users.
As twilight falls, the stars aren’t the only lights to emerge — lightning bugs begin twinkling among the trees. For one of the park’s best stargazing spots, bring a blanket or camp chair to the Seawall Picnic Area on the quieter western side of the island. Below, waves roll melodically across the stone beach while falling stars light the sky above.
Voyageurs National Park
Minnesota’s Voyageurs is built around water, and summer days are best spent paddling and fishing the endless waterways. But stick around after sunset, because Voyageurs is one of the best places in the lower 48 to spot the Aurora Borealis. That’s right: No need to journey up to the Arctic Circle.
For the best chance of seeing the northern lights, plan your visit around a new moon and keep an eye on aurora forecasts . Then, head to a north-facing spot like the Ash River Visitor Center. Even if the aurora never appears, you’ll still get a memorable show as stars reflect across the surface of the water.
Mammoth Cave National Park
Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park is perfect for those who love the dark. Guided tours lead visitors into the world’s longest known cave system, where massive chambers and underground rivers reveal millions of years of geologic history.
But the darkness doesn’t end back above ground. Mammoth also has some of the darkest skies in the region, making it a great perch for spotting meteor showers, constellations and even the International Space Station orbiting overhead. Plus, rangers host nightly programs covering everything from astronomy to wildlife.
Big Bend National Park
Texas’ Big Bend National Park is known as one of the best places in North America for stargazing, with less light pollution than any other national park in the lower 48. This is a great place to learn why dark skies matter (for example, artificial light can disrupt migration and life cycles of both plants and animals).
Whether you’re gazing up alone in the desert or joining a ranger-led star party, you can reflect on why dark skies, solitude and the world’s natural beauty may be important to you too. (Practical tip: By swapping out your flashlight for a red light, you can preserve both the darkness and your night vision.)
