The 10 Best US National Parks For Stargazing, According to a New Study

If you're headed out on the open road this summer or planning a camping trip near a national park, you might want to add stargazing to your itinerary.

And while you might be able to see the stars in your own backyard, there are spots across the country that provide prime viewing conditions.

To help stargazers and astrophotographers plan their travels, outdoor publication Outforia analyzed sites across the U.S. to determine where visitors have the best chance of seeing a truly dark night sky. The study looked at whether the park has been recognized and certified by DarkSky, its Bortle rating (a nine-class scale that measures the night sky's darkness and light pollution), and the likelihood of clear nights to create an overall stargazing score.

Top 10 US National Parks for Stargazing

1. Death Valley National Park, California
2. Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah
3. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
4. Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico
5. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado
6. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
7. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
8. Big Bend National Park, Texas
9. Canyonlands National Park, Utah
10. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

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Death Valley National Park 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 percent clear night score.

According to the Outforia study, Bryce Canyon is the best place to see the Milky Way. During a new moon on a clear night, you can see thousands of stars and the spectacular band of the galaxy, per the U.S. National Park Service. The period from late April through October is when the brightest, densest part of the Milky Way is highest in the sky, with prime viewing in June and July.

The spot with the best odds of auroras is Glacier National Park in Montana. While it ranks No. 19 out of 30 parks, it's at a high latitude, which means it's closer to the magnetic North Pole, putting it within range during periods of increased geomagnetic activity. You'll have the best chance of spotting the northern lights in the winter months, usually from late October to early March.