America’s 10 Best Stargazing Towns Revealed — With Utah In Top Spot

InnovationScienceAmerica’s 10 Best Stargazing Towns Revealed — With Utah In Top SpotByJamie Carter,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky.Follow AuthorJun 06, 2026, 02:26am EDTA new study has named Torrey, close to Capitol Reef National Park — a Dark Sky park — in southern central Utah, as the best town in America for stargazing.gettyA new study has named Torrey, in southern central Utah, as the best town in America for stargazing trips, thanks to its ideal combination of dark skies, accessibility and proximity to some of the country’s most celebrated night-sky viewing locations.The research, conducted by outdoor travel platform Outforia, evaluated towns across the U.S. using data on sky darkness, average cloud cover, elevation, ease of travel and access to recognized dark-sky areas. It’s more useful information as the summer stargazing season begins, as interest in astrotourism continues to rise. A 2025 report found that 62% of travelers plan to travel for stargazing.Night sky in the Anza-Borrego Desert in California.gettyUtah, California And Colorado Claim Top SpotsTorrey, Utah, secured first place with an overall stargazing score of 81.7. The Utah town earned an exceptional sky-darkness score of 98 and serves as a gateway to Capitol Reef National Park, which was designated a Dark Sky Park in 2015. It’s just eight miles from Torrey.Borrego Springs, California — about 88 miles north of San Diego — followed closely behind in second place with a score of 80.8. The desert Dark Sky Community recorded the lowest average cloud cover among the top 10 destinations at just 28.7%, making it one of the most reliable places in the country for clear night skies. It’s also surrounded by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, a Dark Sky Park since 2018.MORE FOR YOUWestcliffe, Colorado, completed the top three with a stargazing score of 79.6, aided by its elevation of 78...