Dark sky parks in Florida
Three certified places protect Florida's night, with 7 stays listed nearby.
At a glance
- Darkest
- Dark, shared by two placesBig Cypress National Preserve and Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. Bortle 4, all estimates.
- Next moonless nights
- Nov 6–11
- Dec 5–11
- Jan 4–9Dark at all three places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Feb 2–8
- Mar 4–9Dark at all three places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Apr 2–8
- May 2–7
- Jun 1–5
- Jul 1–5
- Jul 31–Aug 4Dark at all three places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 31–Aug 5The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Aug 29–Sep 3
- Sep 27–Oct 2
- Stays nearby
- 7 listedNear all three places.
- Milky Way core season
- Early Feb to late Oct
Compare the 3 parks
Sorted darkest first; places with the same rating are A to Z. The numbers match the map.
| Number | Place | How dark | Nearest town | Stays | Next moonless nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Cypress National Preserve | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Ave Mariaabout 35 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–11Dec 5–11Jan 4–9Feb 2–8Mar 4–9Apr 2–8May 2–7Jun 1–5Jul 1–5Jul 31–Aug 4Aug 29–Sep 3Sep 27–Oct 2 |
| 2 | Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Okeechobeeabout 25 mi | 1 stay | Nov 6–11Dec 5–11Jan 4–9Feb 2–8Mar 3–9Apr 2–8May 2–7Jun 1–5Jul 1–5Jul 31–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 3Sep 27–Oct 2 |
| 3 | Groveland, Florida | Some light pollutionConstellations, not much Milky WayBortle 5–6 · estimate | Grovelandabout 2 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–11Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 2–8Mar 3–9Apr 2–8May 2–7Jun 1–5Jul 1–5Jul 31–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 3Sep 27–Oct 2 |
Darkness ratings are estimates from satellite data unless marked measured (how we rate darkness). Moonless nights are computed for each place's coordinates; weather isn't included (how). A town has at least 250 people and a grocery store on the map; distances are straight lines, so the drive is longer (how). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.