There is something magical about looking up at the velvety sky on a dark night when the stars hang low and seem close enough to
touch. A single star. Then another. Soon our eyes adjust to the darkness, and we see the entire Milky Way — like a river of diamonds swirling above.

Whether you’re an enthusiastic amateur astronomer or someone who simply enjoys walking out into the backyard to gaze up at the sky, many certified dark sky locations exist in the United States and across the globe to help you elevate your night sky adventures. DarkSky International (globally recognized as the authority on safeguarding the night sky from light pollution) has certified more than 200 dark sky communities, parks and protected areas in 22 countries on six continents.

Flagstaff, Arizona, was named the world’s first international Dark Sky City (in 2001), and that was not entirely unexpected. Back in 1958, Flagstaff enacted the world’s first outdoor lighting ordinance and continues to balance preservation of the night sky’s natural resource with public safety. This dark sky-conscious city also houses Lowell Observatory and the U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station and even boasts a brewery — Dark Sky Brewing Co. — named in honor of the city’s pioneering dark sky status.

Nearly every state has designated dark sky parks, sanctuaries, reserves, communities and urban night sky places. Some states — such as Arizona, California, Texas and Utah — have more than others. Utah has 26 International Dark Sky Places, the highest concentration on Earth. A road trip through southern Utah will take you to five of the best places to see the Milky Way, including Bryce Canyon National Park and Capitol Reef National Park. The most spectacular display of stars is visible during the new moon … good to know as you plan your trip.

Sunset Point in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah © Colin Young | Dreamstime.com

Under Canvas, a DarkSky International-approved lodging, leads in upscale outdoor hospitality (glamping), offering off-grid, safari-inspired tents (with king-sized beds and wood-burning stoves) near many of the dark sky national parks and national monuments through the Mountain West.

In 2024 a 2.5-million-acre swath of Southeastern Oregon — now called the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary was named the world’s largest dark sky sanctuary. Here you can see galaxies and nebulas with the naked eye.

Everything seems to be bigger in Texas. The Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve (covering 9 million acres) currently ranks as the world’s largest reserve and protected Dark Sky Place. This vast acreage covers land in both Texas and Mexico, making it the world’s first bi-national International Dark Sky Reserve. MacDonald Observatory (in the nearby Davis Mountains) offers guided star parties, telescope viewing sessions and astro-educational events.

Joshua Tree National Park offers one of the best places in California to go stargazing; its remote location and dry climate contribute to incredibly clear skies. Its nine campgrounds (Cottonwood has the darkest skies) and wilderness backpacking make this the perfect playground for astronomy enthusiasts. In winter you can easily see the three supergiant stars that make up Orion’s Belt in the southern sky, while the Milky Way shines brightest during the summer months.

San Pedro de Atacama’s private observatory, Chile © Explora

The boundless night sky in New Mexico’s Chaco Canyon (often compared to Machu Picchu) offers a dark sky where visitors witness the same constellations that once guided the Ancestral Puebloans. Valles Caldera National Preserve is New Mexico’s newest International Dark Sky Park. For something more remote, book a campsite at Cosmic Campground, where the stars glow low in the vast and unpolluted darkness.

Located in Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp (one of Georgia’s seven natural wonders), Stephen C. Foster State Park occupies 80 acres within the wide expanse of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Reserve and offers front-row seats to some of the most spectacular astronomical events, from meteor showers to planet alignments. Campgrounds (with water and electric sites) are surrounded by massive oak trees drooping with Spanish moss. A chorus of swamp wildlife — birds calling, frogs vocalizing — provides the soundtrack.

In America’s Midwest, where, perhaps, you’d not expect the perfect stargazing environment, Middle Fork River Forest Preserve (in northeastern Illinois) spans an impressive 1,700-plus dark sky acres. In Michigan, Headlands International Dark Sky Park offers 550 acres of woodlands and 2 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline.

While the park does not permit overnight camping, it stays open 24 hours a day, and visitors are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, food and beverages for what can be an all-night starry sky stakeout. Check the park’s calendar for its family-friendly dark sky events like starry lake cruises, astrophotography nights and storytelling under the stars.

There’s an abundance of astro-tourism destinations Down Under. New Zealand boasts five Dark Sky Reserves, and according to Tourism New Zealand, more than 70 percent of people thinking of visiting New Zealand are interested in stargazing. Perhaps the most famous are the wide-open vistas and spectacular dark skies of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve (the largest in the Southern Hemisphere) with its specially built observation crater and expert astronomy guides.

Australia has six officially recognized dark sky sites. Indigenous people used the night sky to plan their harvest and hunting seasons. One of their observations was the giant Emu in the Sky. Unlike the constellations, which are defined by clusters of stars, the outline of the emu is formed by looking at the dark sky between the stars. Dark sky tours with an emphasis on Indigenous culture are offered by Ayers Rock Resort, Uluru, in Australia’s Northern Territory. Stargazing from the middle of the Great Barrier Reef is spectacular; and if you’re lucky, it will coincide with the annual coral spawn. Journey Beyond plans such trips.

Across South America, the skies gleam with highlights of the Southern Hemisphere, including the Southern Cross, southern Milky Way, assorted nebulae, star clusters and galaxies. With few nearby settlements and the wide-open Atacama Desert, there is almost no light pollution and minimal atmospheric interference.

On a clear, moonless night, the show includes up to 6,000 stars … but after the first hundred, most visitors lose count. Winter (June–September) makes the best time for viewing. Even the naked eye can see the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxy. Explora Atacama in San Pedro de Atacama features a private observatory — just 300 feet from the hotel — equipped with an advanced Meade telescope that can even “see” the seven rings of Saturn and four largest moons of Jupiter.

The African wilderness has inspired generations of poets, including Paul Simon’s iconic album Under African Skies. A quick look at the dark sky map shows only about 5 percent of Africa is illuminated. Singita Grumeti Reserve (350,000 acres of protected Serengeti wilderness) becomes the perfect setting to gaze up at the vividly clear constellations in the night sky. Swarovski spotting scopes allow guests to view celestial bodies up close. San Camp in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, an ancient lake bed, offers guests a bike expedition to remote Kubu Island where they sleep on bedrolls directly beneath the stellar night sky.

Saudi Arabia is fast becoming a hub for astro-tourism. DarkSky International names AlUla Manara and AlGharameel Nature Reserve the first Dark Sky parks in the region, with guided night hikes through AlUla’s Sharaan Nature Reserve. During the Dark Skies Festival, held annually in the spring, a picnic of traditional Saudi dishes is served under a canopy of stars — like those of travelers on trade routes centuries ago.