How to Find the Best RV Spots to Stargaze

To us, some of our favorite parts of RVing occur at night. We live to look up at dark skies when we’re on our trips, and we do it regularly when we’re on road trips.

In this article we'll share with you how we find the best RV spots to stargaze so you can also enjoy a great part of camping.

Identify Dark Sky Destinations

What makes a stargazing RV spot ideal?

It starts with finding a location that has minimal light pollution. The further you travel away from cities and towns, the better your view of the stars becomes.

You probably already know that there is less glow from urban lights out in more rural locations. This means you can see more constellations and deep space objects you never knew existed when you get away from populated areas.

We like to use a couple of resources when identifying dark sky destinations. Our favorite is a light pollution map. We have our own map you can try, or use one of many others found on the internet to get started. A dark sky map like this will help you zero in on a specific area to visit. Choose an area in at least the green color, although dark gray is the best.

Dark Sky International is another great resource that can help you on your journey of brainstorming dark-sky areas to park your RV. This organization has helped protect dozens of locations from light pollution. We enjoy looking at their dark sky place finder, which gives us new ideas of areas we want to add to our explore list.

Consider Elevation and Climate Factors

If possible, it's a good idea to find an RV campsite that is at a higher elevation. The air is typically clearer the higher you climb since there is less moisture in the atmosphere where the air is thinner. You'll notice this if you plan a dark sky trip to states like Colorado, Wyoming, California, or any other state with high mountain campgrounds. The stars seem sharper in the thinner air.

The same can be said about deserts. There is less moisture in deserts, so the stars look amazing. We like to plan at least one long RV trip a year to dryer areas to make the most of stargazing. That's why Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and West Texas are in our regular rotation when it comes to dark sky trips.

It's also important to consider what the weather will be like based on the season. Be familiar with the region of the US you plan to visit and know if it's even worth it to try a stargazing trip during that time of the year. For instance, we personally wouldn't plan a trip to the Pacific Northwest in the winter. That's because you can expect a high chance of cloud cover this time of the year. So, do your research.

Last summer, we stayed at a private stargazing campground called Dark Sky RV Park located in Kanab, Utah. Like a good stargazing campground, they have rules on nighttime lighting to help preserve the dark sky experience.

We'll talk more about stargazing etiquette in a bit, but this RV park did a great job with the type of lighting found around the campground in addition to their rules in place.

Most people don't think of lighting to be an amenity. It absolutely is when dealing with viewing the night sky. Essentially, the lights should be minimal, warm, and fully shielded directing light downward or only as necessary. We suggest you call a private campground before booking if this type of lighting is important to you.and you want the best experience. Honestly, it really makes a difference.

Research Seasonal Stargazing Events

Each season brings different celestial events for you to look at when stargazing. The Milky Way core is best seen beginning in the late spring through the summer into the early fall. The Perseid meteor shower peaks in August, while the Geminids are strongest in December. Cold, crisp winter nights (at least here in Texas) are perfect for stargazing.

As you can tell, you'll want to look at a celestial events calendar before planning your trip.

The time of year can greatly determine what you will see in the night sky. We try to align the campsites we pick with seasons in mind. For instance, on our close to home stargazing trips, we might select a sight at Pine Lake in Oklahoma over nearby Pat Mayse certain months but then the opposite other months. This is because visibility for certain stargazing events can vary depending on the season and which way your campsite is facing.

they have dark sky etiquette requirements posted on RV electric pedestals and on campground information bulletin boards near the restroom. Once you stay at one of these campsites, you'll immediately notice the difference compared to parks that have no rules. So, call ahead to see if the campground you are interested in has dark sky etiquette rules in place.

Avoid Crowds When Stargazing 

As camping grows in popularity, certain dark sky spots can get busy. We always try to find less crowded alternatives near popular campgrounds because some people don't always have the best dark sky etiquette. Boondocking is usually a great solution to this potential problem. If you can't find a national forest site that's well monitored, a national park with rules, or a private campground with a lights out policy, it might be best to simply camp at an isolated spot to get away from everyone.

Also, visiting on weekdays could make for a more peaceful experience as compared to weekends. We’ve learned over the years, you stand a better chance of reserving a quiet spot with minimal lights on a weekday. This is because some campers on the weekend like to have bright lights and full-on parties at night. That makes it tougher for you to enjoy an evening of stargazing when the campers around you are drowning out the stars with lots of light pollution.

Locating the best RV spots for stargazing comes down to a little planning and a bit of flexibility. So, wherever you’re planning to enjoy the night skies, do your research and you'll have a stellar experience.