10 Best U.S. National Park Sites For Stargazing Revealed

InnovationScience10 Best U.S. National Park Sites For Stargazing RevealedByJamie Carter,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky.Follow AuthorJun 14, 2026, 03:00am EDTA new study has ranked the best U.S. national park sites for stargazing, with Death Valley National Park taking the top spot.gettyDeath Valley National Park has been named the best U.S. national park site for stargazing in a new study highlighting the country’s top dark-sky destinations.The research, carried out by Outforia, analyzed sites across the U.S. to determine where visitors have the strongest chance of seeing a truly dark night sky. The study looked at whether the park has been recognized and certified by DarkSky, the Bortle rating (a nine-level scale that measures the night sky's brightness) and the likelihood of clear nights, to create an overall stargazing score. The ranking is intended as a planning guide rather than a live forecast.Designing A Good Stargazing TripDeath Valley claimed the top spot with an overall stargazing score of 90.2. The California park recorded a Bortle value of 1, the darkest possible level on the scale, along with a 72% clear-night score. It’s visited by about 370,000 tourists annually. “National park sites can be some of the best places in the country to see the night sky, but darkness on its own does not guarantee a good stargazing trip,” said Carl Borg, outdoor expert and founder of Outforia, in an email. “You can be in a very dark spot and still miss out if the moon is bright, clouds move in, or you are too close to camp lights, cabins, parking lots or passing cars.”Always plan a stargazing trip between the last quarter moon and a few nights after the new moon to avoid bright moonlight in the evening sky — not to do so is the biggest mistake made by first-time stargazers.The Milky Way stretches above the desert landscape of Death Valley Nati...