Going on an epic camping adventure is one of the best ways to get out in nature and spend quality time with friends, family, or even yourself. Luckily, the US has some of the best camping spots in the entire world. And if you get far enough away from the city lights, you’ll be able to stargaze under a canopy of thousands of twinkling stars. Once you pack your camping gear, tent, cookware, and binoculars for stargazing, you’re on your way to seeing some of the most beautiful places in the world. Check this review first, in case you don’t know what kind of binoculars you to go stargazing. These are the top 5 places for camping and stargazing in the USA.
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1. Death Valley National Park
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Break out your inner Indiana Jones and explore Death Valley National Park, located in eastern California and Nevada. It’s where you come to explore crumbling ghost towns, salt flats, forests of pine trees, and numerous hiking trails. You might be able to spot some wildlife like rattlesnakes! You can catch the sunrise at Zabriskie Point, wander past gorgeous wildflowers, and even take a stroll along a volcano. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the USA for camping and hiking, and it’s one of the darkest places in the states, so you have a good chance of seeing thousands of stars. Don’t forget to pack your binoculars for stargazing!
2. Cherry Springs State Park
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If you’re living on the east coast of the USA, then you need to go camping and to stargaze at Cherry Springs State Park, located in Pennsylvania. It’s the first park in the USA that was certified as a Dark Sky Park. It’s located across 82-acres, and you’ll be able to see the Milky Way and thousands of stars 60-80 nights of the year. The viewing field is elevated and located on a plateau, so you’ll have a gorgeous 360-degree view of the night sky, making it an ideal place for stargazing. The campgrounds have wonderful facilities and are a beautiful place to come and spend a few days under the night sky.
If you catch a clear night, you’ll be able to see 30,000 stars twinkling in the night sky! You might even have the chance to catch the Northern Lights during the winter months. Venus and Asteroids also make an appearance, so if you get lucky, you’re in for a treat!
3. Arcadia National Park
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Spread across 47,000-acres, Arcadia National Park is located in Maine and is one of the best spots in the USA for both camping and stargazing. You can wander around rocky beaches, hike through woods, and try and spot wildlife like moose, birds, and whales. There are 158 miles of hiking trails with some of the most breathtaking views you’ll see on the east coast of the USA. It’s a great destination to visit in every single season, where you’ll get a plethora of activities to choose from. Make sure you head over to Jordan Pond House for one of the best spots in Arcadia National Park for stargazing.
Some of the hiking trails worth exploring are the Cadillac Summit Mountain Loop, Wonderland Trail, Jordan Pond Path, and Gorham Mountain Trail. These hikes range from easy to severe, so depending on what kind of trip you want to have, you can choose a trail to your liking! You can spend several days camping and hiking in Arcadia, and of course, catching the stars every single night!
4. Capitol Reef National Park
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This 60-mile long national park is located in Utah and offers tons of activities like hiking, camping, and stargazing. You can explore its canyons, rock formations, and sandstone domes. It’s also home to the spectacular Waterpocket Fold, a long wrinkle in the earth that extends nearly 100-miles. You can also visit the Chimney Rock Pillar, Capitol Reef, and the Hickman Bridge arch. It’s also a Dark Sky Park, which means you have a good chance of seeing thousands of stars during your visit to Capitol Reef National Park. There are tons of backcountry campgrounds to choose from, so you can select an area that’s best suited for your personal needs and the needs of your friends or family. If you have kids, they’ll love exploring all of nature at this national park!
5. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
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This national park in Colorado is located in the desert of Colorado. Black Canyon offers a stretch of the pitch-black night sky with thousands of stars. The canyon surrounds a steep gorge with hiking trails waiting to be explored. You have the chance to spot tons of wildlife like elk, deer, and eagles.
This national park has something for everyone, whether you’re a novice hiker or a very experienced hiker looking to go deep into the wild. If you’re into more difficult hiking, you can explore the Inner Canyon, where you’ll need tons of extra gear like water, food, a special permit, first aid kit, and a map and compass. On the other hand, you can make some more natural trails on the North and South rims that range from one mile to several miles and can be completed in one day. If you come with a car, some breathtaking scenic drives offer some of the best views in the national park.
If you find yourself craving an adventure, then you have to go camping and to stargaze in the USA! There are so many national parks to choose from, but these are the best five where you can go camping and see thousands of stars light up the night sky. Depending on where you’re located in the USA, you can choose between Death Valley National Park, Cherry Springs State Park, Arcadia National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Not only will you get to go camping, but you’ll also get to explore breathtaking rock formations and landforms that you won’t get to see anywhere else. Grab your tent for camping, binoculars for stargazing, and shoes for hiking, and set off on an adventure you’ll remember for the rest of your life!
