Guides
Best Places to Stargaze in the US
Certified dark sky parks in Utah and Montana, plus the meteor shower dates to plan a trip around.
Photo: NPS Photo / Keith Moore (public domain)
The best places to stargaze in the US include Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah and Waterton-Glacier in Montana, both certified International Dark Sky Parks. Start with the park guide to choose a destination, then use the Bortle scale and meteor shower guides to set your dates.
Start with the Best Places to Stargaze in the US
Bryce Canyon National Park and Waterton-Glacier International Dark Sky Park both hold International Dark Sky Park certification. Bryce Canyon earned its certification in 2019.
Waterton-Glacier is the other certified park. It received provisional status in 2017 and full certification in 2021, and it was the first International Dark Sky Park to cross an international border.
Read what a Dark Sky Park is and which ones are worth visiting before you choose between the two. It explains what the certification means and which parks justify the drive.
Time Your Trip around Dark Skies and Meteor Showers
Pick your dates before you book a campsite or a room. Open the Bortle scale explained to learn what the Bortle scale is.
Next, look up meteor shower dates for 2026 and 2027 and plan your nights around one of them.
Bryce Canyon's Astronomy Festival runs June 11 to 13, 2026, and it is free with park admission. If those dates fit your calendar, build the Utah leg of the trip around the festival.
Where to Stay Near Bryce Canyon and Glacier
At Dark Light Collection, we are building glass pyramids on private land near both parks, opening in 2027. The Bryce Canyon site sits about 15 minutes from the park, and the Glacier site is within 15 minutes of the West Entrance.
Each pyramid is designed with a king bed positioned for sky-gazing and a personal deck telescope on a private deck. On cloudy nights, a built-in projector turns the glass into a cinema. Founding deposits are open now, and you can read why the pyramids are built around the night sky.
Open the Dark Sky Parks guide first, choose Bryce Canyon or Waterton-Glacier, and match that park to a meteor shower date.
Dark skies
Sky calendar
Reserve
Sleep under the stars.
Become part of the legend.
Where ancient alignment meets modern wonder.
Bryce Canyon & Glacier National Park.
Coming 2027 — be first.