Numerous campgrounds offer access to dark skies that give great views of the stars.
Editor’s note: This story first appeared on togorv.com.
Few camping experiences are more exhilarating than sleeping under the stars. With North America’s array of campgrounds near — and even within — dark-sky-certified destinations, it’s easy to partake in the fun. Forget city lights. In these dark-sky campgrounds, the glowing Milky Way and twinkling cosmos are the unrivaled stars of the show.
From the Outer Banks in North Carolina to Alberta, Canada, here are 10 of the best RV campgrounds for stargazing.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota
WHY IT’S GREAT FOR STARGAZING:
Minnesota’s one million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness gained dark-sky certification from the International Dark-Sky Association in August 2020. It’s now the largest dark-sky sanctuary in the world, which means Boundary Waters’ stargazing is truly out of this world. And, with more than 1,000 lakes winding through remote stretches of the Superior National Forest, the daytime adventures are hard to beat, too. The Canoe Country Outfitters Campground, located near the eastern Boundary Waters gateway, is packed with RV amenities, making it the perfect home base for those cosmos-and-canoe adventures.
Kanab, Utah
WHY IT’S GREAT FOR STARGAZING:
The Dark Sky RV Campground was built for RVers, by RVers, with a focus on pristine wilderness. Here, guests can gaze across southern Utah’s otherworldly desert vistas like the Red Cliffs and Kaibab Plateau. This campground, just three miles from the center of Kanab, Utah, boasts minimal light pollution and some of southern Utah’s darkest skies, with the Milky Way glowing from spring through fall.
Death Valley National Park, California
WHY IT’S GREAT FOR STARGAZING:
Death Valley, one of the lowest and hottest places in North America, has another superlative up its sleeve: stargazing. This IDA-certified dark-sky park promises peak stargazing conditions: dry, remote desert, and virtually no light pollution overhead. The Furnace Creek Campground, the area’s only National Park Service campground with hookup sites, sits in the heart of it all. Expect a sea of stars and that twinkling Milky Way, with distant peaks as a surreal cherry on top.
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
WHY IT’S GREAT FOR STARGAZING:
Imagine towering dunes, a snow-capped-mountain backdrop, and a splash of sparkling stars overhead. This tranquil scene is more than a stargazer’s fantasy; it’s real-life at Great Sand Dunes National Park, where “half the park is after dark.” This IDA-certified dark-sky park blends Earth and sky for a truly humbling experience. And, at the convenient Great Sand Dunes Oasis campground, the gateway to the park, travelers can enjoy the best seat in the house.
