Borrego Springs, California
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, a Dark Sky Park
California's largest state park, a sweep of Colorado Desert around the Dark Sky Community of Borrego Springs, two hours from San Diego.
- How dark?
- Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
- Entry
- $10 vehicle day use
- Food & town
- Borrego Springs · about 10 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Park · 2018
How dark is it, really?
Dark enough to see the Milky Way overhead on a clear night, though glow from nearby towns washes out the sky near the horizon. (For the detail-minded: Bortle class 4, an estimate.)
When should I go?
Pick a night when the moon is down. The next stretch of moonless evenings is Nov 6–12.
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6–12 | Thin crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Leonids) |
| Dec 5–11 | Thin crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Geminids) |
| Jan 3–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | A sky full of stars, and a meteor shower peak (Quadrantids) |
More dark windows, through Oct 2027
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2–8 | Thin crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 3–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Apr 2–8 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| May 2–7 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| Jun 1–5 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–6 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 30–Aug 5 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Southern Delta Aquariids) |
| Aug 29–Sep 4 | Crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Sep 27–Oct 3 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
Computed from public astronomical data for this location. Updated monthly. How it's computed
Milky Way season here: Early Feb to late Oct. Out of season until early Feb. In season now, through late Oct.
Meteor showers ahead: Leonids on Nov 17–18 (half moon, sets around midnight), Geminids on Dec 13–14 (thin crescent, sets early), Ursids on Dec 22–23 (full moon, up all night), and Quadrantids on Jan 3–4 (thin crescent, rises late)Lyrids on Apr 22–23 (bright moon for most of the night)Eta Aquariids on May 5–6 (none · darkest skies)Southern Delta Aquariids on Jul 30–31 (thin crescent, rises late)Perseids on Aug 12–13 (bright moon for most of the night).
Email me before the next dark window at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
About one email a month, a few days before the moon goes dark: the dates here, the moonlight, and what's worth staying up for. Unsubscribe in one click.
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What it's like
Anza-Borrego is California's largest state park, a two-hour drive from San Diego, with 12 wilderness areas, 500 miles of dirt roads, and about 110 miles of hiking trails across the Colorado Desert. The rugged ground and hard climate have kept the southern California desert largely undeveloped, and that keeps its night sky relatively dark. It became an International Dark Sky Park in 2018.
The town of Borrego Springs sits in the middle of the park, and it matters to the sky here. It is the biggest source of artificial light in the area, and in 2009 it became the world's second International Dark Sky Community, which helps protect the park around it.
Camping is the easiest way to stay under the sky. Sites are reservable up to six months ahead for October 1 to April 30, and camping fees include entry for one vehicle. In the campgrounds, quiet hours run 10 pm to 6 am, and anyone not staying the night must leave by 10 pm. From June through September the visitor center is open only Friday to Sunday, and some campgrounds, including Tamarisk Grove, close. By day, look for bighorn sheep, wildflowers, palm groves, and cacti.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Borrego Springs, CA is about 10 mi away in a straight line, with groceries (Dollar General Market, Center Market), 1 gas station, and 8 places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: The Propeller Bar and Grill (about 10 mi), Red Ocotillo (about 10 mi), and Jilbertos (about 10 mi). The low desert brings intense summer heat and cold winter nights, and some campgrounds close from June through September, so plan the season before you book.
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Places on the map may not be open. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
✓ Certification verified Aug 2026 against DarkSky International registry (Internet Archive capture) · entry fee from California State Parks (Sep 2026) · darkness: Bortle 4, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
For a trip with more than one dark night: the closest within 150 miles, nearest first. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
Dark Sky Community Dark Sky Community Julian, California
Some light pollution · Constellations, not much Milky Way
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Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
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