Dark sky parks in Illinois
Four certified places protect Illinois's night, with 12 stays listed nearby.
At a glance
- Darkest
- Middle Fork River Forest PreserveSome light pollution · Constellations, not much Milky Way. Bortle 5–6, an estimate.
- Next moonless nights
- Nov 6–12
- Dec 5–11
- Jan 3–9
- Feb 1–8
- Mar 2–9
- Apr 1–8
- May 1–7
- Jun 1–6Dark at all four places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 1–7
- Jul 31–Aug 6Dark at all four places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 31–Aug 7The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Aug 29–Sep 4Dark at all four places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Aug 29–Sep 5The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Sep 27–Oct 3Dark at all four places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Sep 27–Oct 4
- Stays nearby
- 12 listedThree near each place.
- Milky Way core season
- Late Feb to early OctLongest at Middle Fork River Forest Preserve; shortest at Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, late Feb to late Sep.
Compare the 4 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 | Middle Fork River Forest Preserve | Some light pollutionConstellations, not much Milky WayBortle 5–6 · estimate | Paxtonabout 10 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–8May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–7Jul 31–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 2 | Hawthorn Woods, Illinois | Bright skyOnly the brightest starsBortle 7–9 · estimate | Lake Zurichabout 1 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–8May 1–7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–7Jul 31–Aug 7Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 4 |
| 3 | Homer Glen, Illinois | Bright skyOnly the brightest starsBortle 7–9 · estimate | Homer Glenin town | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–8May 1–7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–7Jul 31–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 4 | Palos Preserves | Bright skyOnly the brightest starsBortle 7–9 · estimate | Hickory Hillsabout 2 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–8May 1–7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–7Jul 31–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 3 |
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.