Photos: The 15 Best Places To Stargaze In The United States
Stargazing and stargazing tourism are growing in popularity in recent years. Especially during Covid, it is a free and “socially distant” activity that anyone can participate in. Many of the…
Milky Way at Nakayama Pass
Getty Images CreativeStargazing and stargazing tourism are growing in popularity in recent years. Especially during Covid, it is a free and "socially distant" activity that anyone can participate in. Many of the best places to stargaze have seen an influx of visitors recently, and it's easy to see why! Google trends show that over 10,000 people search for "stargazing near me" each month.
Are you looking for a great place for your next nighttime spectacular vacation? Well, Next Vacay commissioned a new study that revealed the top Instagrammable destinations to sleep under the stars in 2022. This list is based on Instagram hashtags, air pollution levels, overall star visibility, and more.
Pollution as well as conflicts from other lights make major cities difficult to stargaze in, if not impossible. Therefore getting out into nature away from people makes for the best stargazing destinations. So it comes as no surprise that it's National Parks that are well represented on this list. According to Next Vacay, national parks usually have ideal conditions for stargazing. This includes dry and clean air and a seemingly never-ending skyline that's hardly ever obstructed.
Methodology
We analyzed 60 of the most popular U.S. national parks and ranked them based on the number of hashtags on Instagram, from most to least popular. We added the air pollution level on each national park, usually tied to stargazing opportunities. A low light pollution score is better for stargazing than a high one. The less light pollution there is, the more radiant the stars appear. According to Air Quality Index, an AQI under 50 means good air quality.
Using Ahrefs and Keyword Tool we analyzed various terms, including:
- ‘stargazing near me'
- ‘national parks after dark’
- 'stargazing events near me'
Search demand data is correct as of April 8, analyzed over the preceding twelve-month period.
List: 15 Best Places To Stargaze In the United States
1. Zion National Park
Located in Utah, Zion comes number one on this list. The park is known for it's incredible views, and those are highly photographed. In fact, the park has over 1.3 million photos tagged there on Instagram. If you're planning a trip to sleep under the stars Zion should be at the top of your list (just like it is this one).
2. Glacier National Park
Known as the "Dark Sky Park" Montana's Glacier National Park comes in at number 2 on this list. The views are stunning and with a telescope you can view clear images of planets, constellations, and other galaxies. It's a star gazers dream! The Montana skies are darker in the winter making it prime time, though camping will get a little cold! Though not as many as Zion, Glacier comes in with over 950,000 Instagram photos!
3. Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is the third best spot for star gazing in 2022. Rocky Mountain National Park will get you closer to the stars with elevations as high as 14,259 feet, making it perfect for viewing the stars! In fact 693,127 people have shown their love for the park on Instagram.
4. Arches National Park
Perhaps one of the most recognizable national parks comes in at number 4 for star gazing spots. The Utah air is clearest during the winter months making it a great time to visit. The over 2,000 natural sandstone arches only get prettier when placed in front of the backdrop of stars in the night sky. Arches comes in with just over 612,000 photos.
5. Acadia National Park
The first east coast destination on our list is Acadia National Park. Located in Maine, the park is known for it's views and pristine lakes over which you can get a lovely view of the stars. There are 522,000 + people who shared their love of Acadia on Instagram.
6. Crater Lake National Park
Location: Oregon
Air Pollution Level: Good
Instagram Hashtags: 394,197
7. Grand Canyon National Park
Location: Arizona
Air Pollution Level: Good
Instagram Hashtags: 379,069
8. Death Valley National Park
Location: California
Air Pollution Level: Good
Instagram Hashtags: 294,295
9. Canyonlands National Park
Location: Utah
Air Pollution Level: Good
Instagram Hashtags: 276,421
10. North Cascades National Park
Location: Utah
Air Pollution Level: Good
Instagram Hashtags: 238,802
11. Mauna Kea
Location: Hawaii
Air Pollution Level: Moderate
Instagram Hashtags: 232,962
12. Bryce Canyon National Park
Location: Utah
Air Pollution Level: Good
Instagram Hashtags: 222,644
13. Big Bend National Park
Location: Texas
Air Pollution Level: Good
Instagram Hashtags: 200,875
14. Badlands National Park
Location: South Dakota
Air Pollution Level: Good
Instagram Hashtags: 151,235
15. Denali National Park
Location: Alaska
Air Pollution Level: Good
Instagram Hashtags: 149,639
