Dead Horse Ranch State Park
8 places to stay nearby, rated for darkness ↓
Dead Horse Ranch State Park is a protected area in Arizona with a measured darkness of 63/100 (≈ Bortle 4), a good rural sky: the Milky Way is clearly visible, with some glow on the horizon toward nearby towns. The best month to come is typically June, when about 81% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 23/100. 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 Dead Horse Ranch State Park
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 54% | 40/100 |
| February | 63% | 44/100 |
| March | 59% | 42/100 |
| April | 73% | 49/100 |
| May | 78% | 52/100 |
| June ★ | 81% | 53/100 |
| July | 58% | 42/100 |
| August | 63% | 44/100 |
| September | 78% | 52/100 |
| October | 78% | 52/100 |
| November | 72% | 49/100 |
| December | 59% | 42/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night, check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Dead Horse Ranch State Park: 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 Dead Horse Ranch State Park for each.
58/100sky darkness at this stay
56/100sky darkness at this stay
56/100sky darkness at this stay
More stays nearby
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Iron Horse Inn
Darkness: 55/100 · 1.2 km from Dead Horse Ranch State Park
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The Tavern Hotel
Darkness: 55/100 · 1.4 km from Dead Horse Ranch State Park · Cottonwood
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Super 8 by Wyndham Cottonwood
Darkness: 54/100 · 3.4 km from Dead Horse Ranch State Park · Cottonwood
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Pines Motel
Darkness: 54/100 · 3.7 km from Dead Horse Ranch State Park · Cottonwood
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Best Western Cottonwood Inn
Darkness: 54/100 · 3.8 km from Dead Horse Ranch State Park · Cottonwood
Booking links are affiliate links, see the disclosure.
Live prices around Cottonwood
Cottonwood is the closest base to Dead Horse Ranch State Park 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
- Tuzigoot National Monument 2.6 km · Sky Score 50/100
- Red Rock State Park 18.3 km · Sky Score 55/100
- Montezuma Castle National Monument 24.2 km · Sky Score 52/100
- Slide Rock State Park 31.9 km · Sky Score 58/100
- Agua Fria National Monument 58.7 km · Sky Score 63/100
Sky data: NASA Black Marble VJ146A4 2025 annual composite · clear-sky climatology ERA5 2015–2024 (methodology).