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 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
