Humans have always been fascinated with stars, telling stories about their origins, and naming the constellations. Whether we’re learning how to stargaze in our National Parks, bingeing space-themed movies, or spinning through cosmic visuals in online games like Starburst, this fascination continues to inspire everything from science to entertainment.
There’s something truly special about stargazing, it’s a peaceful way to slow down and rediscover a deeper connection to the natural world. And across America, there are jaw-dropping spots where the night sky steals the show.
With National Camping Month coming up in June, there’s no better opportunity to spend time under canvas while connecting with nature. Grab your gear, pack for the car, and head for the dark – literally.
PlayStar set out to find the best stargazing spots in the US, examining a range of factors, from camping facilities to air and light pollution, wildlife, and Instagram popularity. We then ranked them to make it easy for you to decide where to go stargazing.
Whether you’re venturing into the great outdoors or staying cozy at home, PlayStar’s full range of online slots, from classic fruit machines to star-studded themed games, brings a touch of starlight to your screens.
Read on to discover our recommended locations for stargazing across the US!
Where the Stars Shine Brightest: U.S. Star Visibility
So, what is stargazing? Well, there’s much more to this than just occasionally looking up at the night sky. To experience a sky lit with shooting stars and a Milky Way stretching from horizon to horizon, you need to head towards somewhere that combines low light and air pollution. The good news is that many of our National Parks provide just the right combination.
With its dramatic sandstone cliffs, world-class white water rafting, and iconic bridge, New River Gorge is already a traveler’s dream. But it’s also a stargazer’s paradise, with an overall visibility score of 78.23.
Not far behind in our best stargazing spots is Crater Lane Park in Oregon, with an overall visibility score of 75.43. This tranquil park features the deepest lake in the U.S., formed within a collapsed volcano, and is one of North America’s least light-polluted locations.
Third place in our visibility ranking is Congaree National Park in South Carolina, with a score of 73.92. Famously home to one of the largest deciduous forests in the U.S., this biodiverse park is a firm favorite of stargazers and lovers of the natural world.
Looking for a Fun-Filled Night? Here Are 20 Campsites That Deliver
If you’re looking for the perfect place to camp and enjoy other park perks alongside the wonders of the night sky, then our overall rankings will tell you where to visit this summer.
With a fantastic diversity of landscapes, incredible views, and world-class camping grounds, there’s no better place to enjoy stargazing than Yosemite National Park. Landmarks like Glacier Point are some of the best places to see the Milky Way on the planet. With an overall score of 57.56, Yosemite tops our survey. With a light pollution ranking of 7, this park boasts one of the darkest skies across the whole national park system. Add in one of the lowest summer precipitation scores, and you’ve got perfect conditions for dry and warm adventures by day, with a tranquil and breathtaking sky come nightfall.
With its mountain peaks and crystal clear lakes, Grand Teton National Park is one of the best stargazing spots in Wyoming, and is our deserved runner-up with an overall score of 56.16. This destination features over 1,000 places to pitch up for the night and see the stars, plus it has a good air quality score (AQI) of 22.
Taking third place is Olympic National Park in Washington. It blends glacier-capped peaks with rainforests and a wild Pacific coastline, plus there’s no shortage of great places to pitch your tent (over 1,000 spots) and look for shooting stars.
Spanning Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, Yellowstone provides an array of Instagram-friendly locations to scan the night skies, with over 2,500,000 photos under the hashtag.. It takes fourth place in our overall ranking of the best stargazing spots.
Rounding out our top five is Pinnacles National Park, meaning that between 1st and 5th place, Californians looking for places to stargaze near me are spoiled for choice.
Which Sites Are Best for Nighttime Wildlife Encounters?
As well as watching the skies in our best stargazing spots, you should also keep an eye on what’s around you. Being out at night offers the chance to encounter all kinds of wildlife
Our research discovered that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, situated across both Tennessee and South Carolina, scores highest for wildlife, with over 2,547 different creatures living across the park. If you’re heading to this destination in June, you might catch sight of synchronous fireflies putting on a magical light show to rival the night sky. White-tailed deer are also active across the park at night, and if you’re lucky (or depending on your view, a little unlucky), you could spot a black bear. They’re incredible to see in the wild, but always from a safe distance.
While you’re stargazing in Yosemite, our second-best park for wildlife with 2,073 animals, you might hear the distinctive call of the great horned or spotted owl calling through the forest while bats flitter away above your head.
Florida’s Everglades offer an entirely different wildlife experience: alligators, noisy frogs, and toads. Our third-place park for wildlife, with 1,995 creatures, is filled with bats and night herons.
Stargazing and wildlife are a great basis for an all-American road trip, taking in some of the country’s casino hotspots for a different kind of bright lights. Wherever you are in the wilderness, PlayStar’s live casino games let you enjoy a slice of Vegas from your tent, cabin, or wherever the night sky leads you.
Clear Skies, Fewer Crowds: Hidden Stargazing Gems vs the Nation’s Most Popular Parks
While popular locations such as Yellowstone and Grand Canyon are accessible and offer plenty of park perks, they often come with crowds, light pollution, and limited solitude. In contrast, less frequented parks can offer peaceful surroundings that enhance the stargazing experience.
If you’re looking for a different kind of camping and stargazing experience, there’s no better place to head for than Alaska. This vast state has a small population, and much of it is given over to National Parks. With no roads and a few trails, this pure wilderness is ideal for seasoned adventurers looking for solitude under vast, star-studded skies. As well as the Milky Way, when you’re this far north, there’s a good chance of seeing the dancing Northern Lights. This makes these National Parks some of the best stargazing spots for lovers of wilderness adventure.
Gates of the Arctic, Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark, and Katmai National Park are four of our five lowest-ranked parks based on popularity, but that perhaps has more to do with much lower visitor numbers and fewer facilities for campers than you’ll encounter in busier areas. These isolated wildernesses provide an immersive education if you want to learn how to stargaze.
Isle Royale National Park in Michigan is also on our hidden gems list, and is a designated Dark Sky Park only accessible via ferry or seaplane. Here, you can enjoy back-to-basics camping as you watch the stars reflected on Lake Superior’s mirror-like surface.
Wherever you are in the U.S., and whatever your appetite for wilderness, there are some incredible landscapes, wildlife, and starlit night skies nearby for you and your family to experience!
Methodology
We analyzed U.S. National Parks using data from Instagram, air quality indexes, light pollution maps, weather records, and National Park Service visitor statistics. Parks were ranked based on visibility conditions, stargazing appeal, wildlife presence, and campground features to spotlight both popular and hidden gem camping spots to enjoy the night sky.
