Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a protected area in Arizona with a measured darkness of 88/100 (≈ Bortle 2), among the very darkest measurable skies in the American Southwest, the Milky Way casts visible shadows on moonless nights. The best month to come is typically September, when about 85% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 70/100. The moon is 7% lit and above the horizon 13% of the night; typical August clear-sky odds here are 75%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Lake Mead National Recreation Area
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 55% | 56/100 |
| February | 65% | 64/100 |
| March | 60% | 60/100 |
| April | 70% | 67/100 |
| May | 76% | 71/100 |
| June | 83% | 76/100 |
| July | 71% | 67/100 |
| August | 75% | 70/100 |
| September ★ | 85% | 77/100 |
| October | 81% | 75/100 |
| November | 76% | 71/100 |
| December | 59% | 59/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night, check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Each place below is rated for the darkness at its own doorstep, stay dark, and the sky is yours from the parking lot.
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Temple Bar Resort
17.8 km away · darkness at hotel: 89/100
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Canyon's End Motel
27.6 km away · Meadview · darkness at hotel: 88/100
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Meadview Lake Motel
31.5 km away · Meadview · darkness at hotel: 82/100
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Grand Canyon Western Ranch
34.9 km away · darkness at hotel: 91/100
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Hoover Dam Lodge
39.1 km away · Boulder City · darkness at hotel: 54/100
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Nearby spots in Arizona
- Grand Canyon 43.1 km · Sky Score 70/100
- Guano Point 52.7 km · Sky Score 68/100
- Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness 83.2 km · Sky Score 67/100
- Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument 90.7 km · Sky Score 70/100
- Mount Logan Wilderness 114.9 km · Sky Score 70/100