Death Valley National Park, a Dark Sky Park
A desert park with no closing time and a Gold Tier dark sky, where half the experience happens after sunset.
- How dark?
- Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
- Entry
- $30 per vehicle, 7 days · open all night
- Food & town
- Pahrump · about 40 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Park · 2013
How dark is it, really?
Dark enough to see the Milky Way stretch across the sky on a clear night, with only a faint glow from distant towns low on the horizon. (For the detail-minded: Bortle class 3, an estimate.)
When should I go?
Pick a night when the moon is down. The next stretch of moonless evenings is Nov 5–12.
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5–12 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | 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 1–8 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 3–9 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Apr 1–7 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| May 1–7 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| Jun 1–5 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–6 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 30–Aug 5 | Thin crescent, rises late | 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: Mid Feb to mid Oct. Out of season until mid Feb. In season now, through mid 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 Death Valley National 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
Death Valley has no closing time, and it is as striking at night as by day. DarkSky International rates its sky at the highest, Gold Tier level, and the park has shielded, redirected, and switched off lighting at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells to keep it that way.
Almost anywhere away from lodging, campgrounds, and major roads gives good viewing. The rangers' top picks are Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Harmony Borax Works, Badwater Basin, and Ubehebe Crater. The mountains here are tall, though, so from a low spot like Badwater some of the sky sits behind the ridgelines. A wide, open place with a little elevation shows the most stars. Aim for the new moon, allow about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust, use a red light, and bring binoculars if you have them.
Rangers lead night sky programs in winter, and the park holds a multi-day Dark Sky Festival each spring. You may park along major roads to photograph the sky, but camping along paved roads is prohibited. Under a full moon, the park suggests a casual stroll on the dunes or at Badwater Basin instead; bring a flashlight and water all the same.
Getting in after dark
The park is open year-round, 24 hours a day, and you may enter or leave at any time. Some areas close when weather makes them unsafe.
Food, fuel, and supplies
East Entrance (Ryan Kiosk): Pahrump, NV, about 40 mi away, with groceries (Albertsons, Walmart Supercenter, Smith's), 20+ gas stations, and 20+ places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: The Inn Dining Room, The Last Kind Words Saloon, and 1849 Buffet.
Hell's Gate (Daylight Pass Road): no town nearby; Furnace Creek, CA, a small community about 20 mi away, has 5 places to eat and gas on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Badwater Saloon, Toll Road Restaurant, and Gema's Café.
Panamint Springs Area: Searles Valley, CA, about 40 mi away, with groceries (Pioneer Point Market) and 3 gas stations on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Panamint Springs Restaurant, Toll Road Restaurant, and Badwater Saloon.
Summer nights can stay above 100°F, so carry water after dark, and on the Park to Park in the Dark route into Nevada, towns are separated by long stretches without cell service, restrooms, or gas.
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 National Park Service (Sep 2026) · after-dark access from National Park Service (Sep 2026) · darkness: Bortle 3, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Death Valley National Park
No other dark sky place on this site is within 150 miles of Death Valley National Park. The closest is Joshua Tree National Park, about 174 mi south. Or browse every place by state.