Take your Sky View Tent where it belongs—under truly dark skies.
One of the greatest ways to do that is to take it on an epic road trip from Mexico to Canada on US Route 89. In addition to passing seven national parks, it also crosses some of the most diverse landscapes in a single road trip. The crystal-clear mesh of your tent will ensure you get the best Milky Way views from some of the thirty certified Dark Sky Places along this route.
Ninety percent of Americans can no longer see the Milky Way from where they live, making travel essential for experiencing our galaxy. Route 89 takes you across the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, up the Grand Staircase to the Colorado Plateau in Utah, and to the tops of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming and Montana, often referred to as the "Backbone of America."
National Geographic once named Route 89 its "#1 Driver's Drive," but it has also been dubbed the National Parks Highway, and I like to call it America's Dark Sky Highway. Communities, parks, and preserves along this 1,600-mile corridor are committed to lighting practices that protect natural darkness from excessive artificial light, ensuring uninhibited night sky views while protecting nocturnal wildlife.
The Native American peoples who thrived in these places for thousands of years connected to the night sky through the landscapes where they lived. The Hohokam embedded features in Casa Grande Ruins that tracked equinoxes. The Moqui created calendar symbols at Fremont Indian State Park linked to solstices. The Blackfeet painted constellation symbols on their tipis to tell origin stories.
Whether you experience the entirety of Route 89 or just a section, your Sky View Tent will allow you to immerse yourself under the stars while offering protection and privacy as needed. Below are thirteen exceptional locations offering extraordinary dark sky camping experiences.
ARIZONA
Saguaro National Park- International Dark Sky Urban Place
Saguaro is divided into two units on the east and west sides of Tucson. They offer frequent stargazing events, and you can see astronomical petroglyphs at Signal Hill in the west unit. For wilderness camping, secure a permit at the Visitor Center in the east unit.
Grand Canyon National Park- International Dark Sky Park
Grand Canyon offers stargazing throughout most of the year, with their week-long Star Party every June. The North Rim is more remote but has some of the darkest skies along the entire Route 89 corridor. Some locations are so dark that the Milky Way can cast a shadow on a moonless night.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Whether you drive or boat to your camping spot near Lake Powell, you'll find pristine night skies next to rugged landscapes. There are occasional telescope-viewing events from the Wahweap Marina and nearby Horseshoe Bend.
UTAH
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Called one of the darkest places in America by the White House, Grand Staircase-Escalante offers skies completely outside the influence of light pollution. It's mostly wilderness and requires careful planning. Get information at the Big Water Visitor Center (link) or the Cannonville Visitor Center (link) near Kodachrome Basin State Park.
Zion National Park- International Dark Sky Park
The sandstone cliffs of Zion Canyon become part of the night sky experience. Standing under the winter night sky at Zion, you can look at the stars of Orion, which hadn’t been illuminated when the Virgin River first started carving this canyon. The park hosts regular stargazing events and an annual Astro Fest.
Cedar Breaks National Monument- International Dark Sky Park
At an elevation of over 10,000 feet, the air is clearer, making the stars appear as crisp points of light above the hoodoos, ridges, and arches of the amphitheater. In midsummer, you'll sleep with the scent of wildflowers filling the meadows. The park hosts weekly stargazing.
Bryce Canyon National Park- International Dark Sky Park
This is one place where a Full Moon won't ruin your nighttime experience. The moon is so bright it illuminates the hundreds of tall hoodoos below the amphitheater rim. The park hosts regular stargazing events, Full Moon hikes, and an annual Astro Fest.
Kodachrome Basin State Park- International Dark Sky Park
Although Kodachrome is a detour from Highway 89, it's not far from Bryce Canyon. The campsites are secluded and incredibly quiet, positioning you on the northern edge of Grand Staircase-Escalante. Monthly stargazing events are held during warmer months.
Antelope Island State Park- International Dark Sky Park
Drive down the 7-mile causeway to the island in the Great Salt Lake and camp where you can watch extended sunsets over the water. You'll be surprised to see the Milky Way this close to a major metro area. Monthly stargazing events are offered.
WYOMING
Grand Teton National Park- International Dark Sky Preserve (in progress)
Experience the magic of sunset and twilight over the Teton Mountains. As darkness falls, watch stars emerge one by one until the Milky Way blazes across the sky. Wyoming Stargazing offers telescope viewing from Jackson Lake Lodge during the summer.
Yellowstone National Park- International Dark Sky Preserve (in progress)
Imagine seeing the Milky Way reflected in the still waters of Grand Prismatic Spring at night when most visitors are asleep. Campgrounds away from the lodges offer pristine night sky views throughout the park.
MONTANA
Glacier National Park- International Dark Sky Park Nothing feels as pure as Glacier along the Continental Divide, and the Milky Way enhances the park's pristine character. The park hosts stargazing events on alternate nights at Apgar and St. Mary's Visitor Centers. The Dusty Star Observatory at St. Mary allows glimpses of deep-space objects.
TIPS FOR THE BEST STARGAZING EXPERIENCES
- Take your Sky View Tent so you can continue stargazing after going to bed.
- Camp during the week between the Third Quarter Moon and the New Moon for the darkest skies.
- Pre-hike trails in daylight before attempting night hiking for safety.
- Use a red flashlight to protect your night vision.
- Use stargazing apps with minimum brightness and night mode.
- Check Park event calendars for stargazing events or night hikes.
RESOURCES
Night Sky Tourist offers custom trip itineraries for US Route 89 with an emphasis on stargazing experiences. Visit NightSkyTourist.com/customtrip.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vicky Derksen is the host of the Night Sky Tourist podcast, author of the Night Sky Tourist blog and upcoming book about night sky experiences on Highway 89, and owner of a stargazing business in Fountain Hills, AZ. She also owns the website USroute89.com. Vicky is the past president of the Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association and serves on the board of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center.
