Dark sky parks in Tennessee
Two certified places protect Tennessee's night, with 6 stays listed nearby.
At a glance
- Darkest
- Pickett CCC Memorial State Park & Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural AreaDark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down. Bortle 4, an estimate.
- Next moonless nights
- Nov 6–12
- Dec 5–11
- Jan 3–9
- Feb 1–8
- Mar 3–9
- Apr 1–8
- May 2–7Dark at both parks on these nights. Each park's own dates are in the table.
- Jun 1–6
- Jul 1–6
- Jul 31–Aug 5
- Aug 29–Sep 4
- Sep 27–Oct 3
- Stays nearby
- 6 listedThree near each park.
- Milky Way core season
- Mid Feb to mid Oct
Compare the 2 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 | Pickett CCC Memorial State Park & Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Jamestownabout 9 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–8May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 31–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 2 | Obed Wild and Scenic River | Some light pollutionConstellations, not much Milky WayBortle 5–6 · estimate | Fairfield Gladeabout 9 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–8May 2–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 31–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 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.