Springdale, Utah
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →Zion National Park, a Dark Sky Park
Sandstone cliffs framing a dark desert sky, with the darkest viewing on the park's east side and along Kolob Terrace Road.
- How dark?
- Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
- Entry
- $35 per vehicle, 7 days · open all night
- Food & town
- Springdale · under 1 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Park · 2021
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 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 1–6 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–6 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 30–Aug 6 | Mostly none · 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: 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 Zion 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
Many visitors leave Zion as the sunset light fades, and the park goes very dark behind them. As a Dark Sky Park it keeps artificial light to a minimum, and it stays open all night, so there's no gate to beat. Wait about an hour and a half after sunset for full dark, then give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust, using only red light.
The Milky Way is visible from anywhere in the park, but the darkest skies are on the east side and along Kolob Terrace Road. Checkerboard Mesa Pullout, Lava Point Overlook, and the Timber Creek parking lot in Kolob Canyons have wide views and flat ground for a telescope. Lava Point closes seasonally when snow falls, and Checkerboard Mesa has no restroom. In Zion Canyon, the Pa'rus Trail and the accessible Human History Museum patio let the cliffs frame the sky. For most of the year Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is open only to the shuttle, so check its schedule before planning a night up canyon.
Drive slowly after dark; nocturnal animals use the roads. Camping is allowed only in designated campsites or with some wilderness permits, so know where you're sleeping before you set out.
Getting in after dark
The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. While the shuttle runs, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is open only to the shuttle.
Food, fuel, and supplies
South Entrance: Springdale, UT, under 1 mi away, with groceries (Sol Foods Cafe and Deli, Happy Camper Market, Sol Foods), 2 gas stations, and 20+ places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Zion Canyon Brew Pub, perk at zion, and Subway.
East Entrance: Springdale, UT, about 7 mi away, with groceries (Sol Foods Cafe and Deli, Happy Camper Market, Sol Foods), 2 gas stations, and 20+ places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Co-Op Cafe, Cordwood, and Red Rock Grill.
Kolob Canyons: Cedar City, UT, about 15 mi away, with groceries (Walmart Supercenter, Natural Grocers, Smith's and 1 more), 20+ gas stations, and 20+ places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Jewels' Place, Linski's Grill and Hotel, and Brandin' Iron Steakhouse.
Don't count on cell service in the park, and there is no food inside it at night, so bring water, snacks, and warm layers for a desert that turns chilly after sundown.
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Places on the map may not be open. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Night sky tours near Zion National Park
Zion Dark Sky Stargazing Tour
Zion Ponderosa · starts in Zion Ponderosa, East Zion, about 15 min · checked Sep 2026
Stargazing Experience with Powerful Telescopes in Utah
Stargazing Zion · starts in Virgin, about 25 min · checked Sep 2026
Campfire S'mores and Stars Tour in Kanab
Adventure Tour Company · starts in Kanab, about 40 min · checked Sep 2026
Coral Pink Sand Dunes Sunset UTV Tour and Toasting S'mores
ROAM Outdoor Adventure Co · starts in Coral Pink Sand Dunes, near Kanab, about 40 min · checked Sep 2026
Dark Sky UTV Tour with Stargazing in Greater Zion
Mad Moose Rentals and Tours · starts in Hurricane, Sand Hollow, about 40 min · checked Sep 2026
These are affiliate links: we earn a commission if you book a tour through them.
✓ 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 4, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Zion National 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 Park Cedar Breaks National Monument
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →Dark Sky Community Thunder Mountain Pootsee Nightsky
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →Dark Sky Park Pipe Spring National Monument
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →