In Part 1 of our Dark Sky Tourism blog, we defined dark sky tourism (also called astrotourism), explored the appeal of dark sky sanctuaries for travelers and shared ways DMOs could benefit from promoting this unique outdoor product. Thanks to the work of various city- and state-level activists—as well as DMOs that balance the line between showcasing and preserving their local environments—more and more destinations are promoting dark sky areas as local attractions.
By crafting a sense of place and respectfully partnering with park services and science communicators, some U.S. destinations are ahead of the curve when it comes to sharing the night sky with current and future generations. These destinations range from state parks to cities and provide valuable models for sustainable dark-sky tourism programs.
Here are some of the leaders in dark sky tourism:
Nebraska
Decades before earning its International Dark Sky Park designation in 2022, the Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area was already hosting annual Star Parties for stargazers. To officially meet DarkSky International requirements, the park had to conduct a lighting inventory and install shields around outdoor light fixtures as well as low-temperature bulbs.
Today, the Nebraska Tourism Commission and other partners support and promote night sky education programs to focus on threats to the region’s dark skies through education, outreach and policy initiatives. For night sky enthusiasts, Merritt Reservoir offers great stargazing from April through October, and 2025’s Nebraska Star Party has already been scheduled for July 20-25.
Colorado
Colorado is home to one of the darkest places in the United States (Dinosaur National Monument), in addition to 14 more dark sky places throughout the state. DarkSky Colorado, the state chapter for DarkSky International, actively advocates for the preservation of these sites and educates visitors about the impact of light and darkness in our lives. Visitors can easily check out their calendar to see upcoming nighttime programming across the state.
Each of the 10 dark sky parks and monuments in Colorado offers special night sky programming, from the AstroFest event each September in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park to weekly summer stargazing programs at Lake Fork Earth & Sky Center. Several of the five dark sky communities in Colorado also offer their own nighttime programming, including the Westcliffe & Silver Cliff Planet Walk. This unique exhibit allows visitors to take an interpretive walk through our solar system at a four-billion-to-one scale, where the sun is only 14 inches in diameter!
Maine
Maine is the only state in New England with officially designated dark sky destinations—and the Pine Tree State boasts two of these unique sites. Near the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, the 87,500 acres of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument offer up the darkest skies east of the Mississippi River. This national site, which earned its status as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2020, hosts the Stars Over Katahdin events every September, led by local astronomers who lead campfire chats and guided night sky viewing.
Further efforts helped the Appalachian Mountain Club’s (AMC) Maine Woods earn its label as an International Dark Sky Park in 2021. The AMC park offers multiple wilderness lodges for travelers to spend the night while still taking in special celestial programming.
In Maine, dark sky activism is thriving. Local activists founded Dark Sky Maine to continue the work to save all of the state’s dark skies. Their 2025 events will include the Maine Star Party at Cobscook Bay State Park, a Maine Astronomy Retreat, and the Maine Stargazing and Photography Retreat with science journalist and internationally renowned dark sky photographer Babak Tafreshi.
Arizona
Arizona leads the way for dark sky tourism—currently, the state is home to 20 different dark sky sites. Not surprisingly, two are officially within the Grand Canyon area itself, with more scattered throughout the Flagstaff, Sedona, Phoenix and Tuscon regions. Flagstaff actually carries the honor of being the first International Dark Sky Place, designated in 2001 as a Dark Sky Community. The city has long been a leader in outdoor lighting policy, enacting the world’s first outdoor lighting ordinance in 1958, and it’s also home to Lowell Observatory and the U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station.
The Arizona Office of Tourism has fully embraced the draw of dark skies for tourists, even offering a “Stay & Stargaze” page on their website as a central resource for visitors who want to spend some nights looking up at the sky and suggesting what sort of events or packages would be the best for their needs.
Dark Sky Tourism Beyond the United States
These are just four examples of regions where DMOs have tapped into the unique allure of dark sky tourism. More dark sky destinations exist around the world, from Canada and Mexico in North America to sites across Europe, Africa and Asia. Southern Africa currently has two officially recognized dark sky destinations, while Japan has its own dark sky island—Kozushima Dark Sky Island, a thirty-minute flight from Tokyo.
These astrotourism hubs offer visitors truly authentic experiences beneath the stars, but they also give DMOs the opportunity to align themselves with the core values of destination stewardship by promoting sustainable tourism. As the world continues to urbanize, these celestial experiences will only grow in appeal, creating an environmentally focused and lucrative market for right-fit destinations.
