Agua Fria National Monument
4 places to stay nearby, rated for darkness ↓
Agua Fria National Monument is a protected area in Arizona with a measured darkness of 84/100 (≈ Bortle 2), a genuinely dark sky where the Milky Way is a bright, structured band. The best month to come is typically June, when about 80% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 30/100. The moon is 98% lit and above the horizon 96% of the night; typical September clear-sky odds here are 78%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Agua Fria National Monument
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 55% | 53/100 |
| February | 63% | 59/100 |
| March | 61% | 58/100 |
| April | 74% | 67/100 |
| May | 79% | 70/100 |
| June ★ | 80% | 71/100 |
| July | 55% | 54/100 |
| August | 61% | 58/100 |
| September | 78% | 69/100 |
| October | 79% | 70/100 |
| November | 73% | 66/100 |
| December | 59% | 57/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night, check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Agua Fria National Monument: sleep under a dark sky
We measured the night sky over each stay below, not just over the spot: the darkness score is computed at the hotel's own location, so you know what you'll see from the door. Sorted darkest sky first, with the distance to Agua Fria National Monument for each.
84/100sky darkness at this stay
84/100sky darkness at this stay
84/100sky darkness at this stay
More stays nearby
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Mountain Breeze Motel
Darkness: 65/100 · 19.5 km from Agua Fria National Monument · Black Canyon City
Booking links are affiliate links, see the disclosure.
Live prices around Black Canyon City
Black Canyon City is the closest base to Agua Fria National Monument with rooms to book. The map shows everything available there right now, including the hotels, apartments and cabins we do not rate. Use the stays above when darkness decides, use the map when price or availability does.
Prices and availability come from the booking partners shown on the map, and we earn a commission on bookings made through it. Sky darkness is measured only for the stays listed above.
Nearby spots in Arizona
- Montezuma Castle National Monument 51 km · Sky Score 52/100
- Dead Horse Ranch State Park 58.7 km · Sky Score 47/100
- Tuzigoot National Monument 60.8 km · Sky Score 50/100
- Red Rock State Park 68.5 km · Sky Score 55/100
- Slide Rock State Park 84.6 km · Sky Score 58/100
Sky data: NASA Black Marble VJ146A4 2025 annual composite · clear-sky climatology ERA5 2015–2024 (methodology).