Cerrillos Hills State Park

Sky Score 55/100≈ Bortle 3

8 places to stay nearby, rated for darkness ↓

Cerrillos Hills State Park is a protected area in New Mexico with a measured darkness of 75/100 (≈ Bortle 3), a genuinely dark sky where the Milky Way is a bright, structured band. The best month to come is typically September, when about 75% of the night sky is clear.

Tonight's outlook: 26/100. The moon is 98% lit and above the horizon 96% of the night; typical September clear-sky odds here are 75%. Updated daily.

Best time to stargaze at Cerrillos Hills State Park

MonthClear night skiesSky Score (new moon)
January60%51/100
February66%54/100
March64%54/100
April72%58/100
May72%58/100
June68%56/100
July58%50/100
August60%51/100
September ★75%60/100
October73%59/100
November72%58/100
December66%54/100

Scores assume a moonless night, check the moon before you drive (methodology).

Where to stay near Cerrillos Hills 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 Cerrillos Hills State Park for each.

76/100sky darkness at this stay

#1Darkest sky of these stays

Stay Kit Fox

Sky darkness
76/100
To the spot
18.3 km
Location
Galisteo
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51/100sky darkness at this stay

#2

The Inn at Santa Fe

Sky darkness
51/100
To the spot
19.6 km
Location
Santa Fe
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40/100sky darkness at this stay

#3

Comfort Inn

Sky darkness
40/100
To the spot
22.3 km
Location
Santa Fe
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More stays nearby

Booking links are affiliate links, see the disclosure.

Live prices around Galisteo

Galisteo is the closest base to Cerrillos Hills 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 New Mexico

Sky data: NASA Black Marble VJ146A4 2025 annual composite · clear-sky climatology ERA5 2015–2024 (methodology).