I've travelled all over to find the best stargazing spots in the USA

Louisiana-based climate adviser John O’Donnell travels all over the United States in search of its darkest skies. Here, he shares his picks of the most spectacular destinations. 

“When I was 10, my dad took me camping to see the Perseids meteor shower,” says John O’Donnell. “They’re one of the most spectacular meteor showers, with bright streaks of light cutting through the sky as Earth passes through the debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. 

“It felt like the sky was alive. From that moment on I was hooked.”

John runs an advisory firm that specialises in climate resilience of critical infrastructure, but it’s stars that inform his travels.

“Every place has a different flavour of sky, depending on elevation, air clarity, and how far you are from civilisation,” he says.

“I often think about the cultures and people throughout history who looked up at the same sky.”

John O'Donnell has travelled all over the USA in search of the darkest skies for stargazing.

Davis Mountains, Texas

The Davis Mountains in West Texas have some of the darkest skies in North America and the McDonald Observatory sits at an elevation of about 2073m. The high altitude, dry air, and low light pollution make for crystal-clear views of deep space. The first time I visited, I saw the Andromeda Galaxy with the naked eye – an experience that left me speechless. The observatory hosts “Star Parties”, where you can use powerful telescopes to peer into the cosmos.

Milky Way over the McDonald Observatory, Texas.

Capulin Volcano, New Mexico

Capulin Volcano in northeastern New Mexico is an extraordinary place for stargazing. Rising out of an almost flat plain and grassland, the surrounding landscape looks like it did in prehistoric times. The extinct cinder cone volcano offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the night sky, making it an ideal spot to see the Milky Way in all its glory. I remember hiking up to the rim after sunset and being surrounded by an unbroken dome of stars.

Capulin Volcano, New Mexico.

Laramie, Wyoming

The STAR Rooftop Observatory at the University of Wyoming in Laramie is one of my favourite observatories. It hosts regular public events, including telescope viewing nights where visitors can explore planets, galaxies, and nebulae. I love it because the town of Laramie is quaint, walkable, and full of incredible food spots and cowboy dive bars.

High street in Laramie, Wyoming.

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, Florida

Florida’s Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park is one of the best places for stargazing in the southeastern United States and the first Florida state park to receive a Dark Sky designation. Spending a night under the stars there is a surreal experience as you stand in the middle of a seemingly endless coastal prairie, surrounded by the sometime deafening sounds of nature, with the Milky Way stretching across the sky in perfect clarity.

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, Florida.

JOHN O’DONNELL’S TRAVEL HIGHS AND LOWS

Dog delight

I went camping with my princess of an Aussie shepherd dog, Justice. We adopted her from a shelter expecting a very active dog. She was the opposite. I had to carry her everywhere. We left early and then she got sick all over the car.

Peak wildlife

My best travel experience was camping in Caprock Canyons State Park in Texas. The park is home to the Texas State Bison Herd, which roams freely. I woke up to the sound of grass being chewed and when I unzipped my tent, I was surrounded. It was surreal and humbling.

Originally published as I've travelled all over to find the best stargazing spots in the USA