Stargazing Campgrounds

Falling stars, full moons, and a bevy of celestial events this year ... summer camping is full on fantastic when you 'set your sites' on these cool campgrounds featuring dark skies and famous observatories. Bonus: There's first-come, first-served options, too.

Week: 06.27.2019
Regions: Southern CA

White Tank Campground for Stargazing

Stargazing and Camping in Joshua Tree National Park

Heaven for star buffs: the best campground in Joshua Tree National Park for night-sky viewing, in a place named an International Dark Sky Park, with a full-on observatory just minutes away! White Tank Campground is at 3,800 feet in the eastern part of the park.
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Explore Wayyy Northern California!

Del Norte County Summer Adventures

Gondola Through the Redwoods Where else can you take a gondola through a redwood forest? Hop on board the Trees of Mystery “Sky Trail” gondola for a bird’s-eye view of giant redwoods. Bonus: From the summit’s observation deck, you’ll get a mountaintop ocean vista, too! Low Tide L
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Palomar's Star Power

Camp at Observatory Campground on Palomar Mountain

Palomar Mountain State Park in northern San Diego is like having a friend in a high place. There are perks to be had! The 6,138-foot namesake mountain offers cooler climates during the hot summer, and a way-up-there campground brings you even closer to the stars—and closer to one of the most famous observatories in the world!
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Laguna Campground

Stargaze at Laguna Campground in San Diego County

Star travelers can find dark skies and solitude for stargazing only an hour away from downtown San Diego at Laguna Campground in the Cleveland National Forest. Go on a weeknight to enjoy solitary communion with the stars, or pitch your tent over the weekend to become a part of an
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    If you’re looking for all that Point Reyes has to offer in spring, Chimney Rock is the place to be. The 1.75-mile (round-trip) hike to Chimney may be short, but it packs a visual punch, quadrupling the viewing thrills during spring.

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    Reno Mountain High

    Take your vacation to new heights with some of the season’s most original events, and plenty of outdoors to explore. Fall for it all in Reno Tahoe.

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  2. The Big Chill

    In LA, finding a place to chill can be the ultimate flex. So flex, in Franklin Canyon! This unexpected oasis has plenty of shade, cool lake breezes, and ample picnicking spots. Enjoy it on an easy-going 1-mile stroll along its reservoir and duck pond.

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    If you ask a local in Reno about one of the best hiking trails in town, odds are high they’ll point you to Hunter Creek Falls. It’s a year-round favorite, but it absolutely shines in spring, when desert peach wildflowers make a splash—and so does the marquee waterfall.

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