Manzano Mountains State Park
6 places to stay nearby, rated for darkness ↓
Manzano Mountains State Park is a protected area in New Mexico with a measured darkness of 83/100 (≈ Bortle 2), a genuinely dark sky where the Milky Way is a bright, structured band. The best month to come is typically May, when about 74% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 28/100. The moon is 98% lit and above the horizon 96% of the night; typical September clear-sky odds here are 72%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Manzano Mountains State Park
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 62% | 57/100 |
| February | 68% | 62/100 |
| March | 66% | 60/100 |
| April | 72% | 64/100 |
| May ★ | 74% | 66/100 |
| June | 65% | 60/100 |
| July | 54% | 52/100 |
| August | 56% | 54/100 |
| September | 72% | 64/100 |
| October | 71% | 64/100 |
| November | 71% | 64/100 |
| December | 65% | 60/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night, check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Manzano Mountains 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 Manzano Mountains State Park for each.
70/100sky darkness at this stay
69/100sky darkness at this stay
64/100sky darkness at this stay
More stays nearby
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Mesa Inn Hotel
Darkness: 53/100 · 38.3 km from Manzano Mountains State Park
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Hotel Belen
Darkness: 46/100 · 37.6 km from Manzano Mountains State Park
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Super 8 by Wyndham
Darkness: 46/100 · 38.3 km from Manzano Mountains State Park · Belen
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Live prices around Mountainair
Mountainair is the closest base to Manzano Mountains 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
- Quarai Unit - Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument 6.3 km · Sky Score 62/100
- Abó Unit - Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument 17.2 km · Sky Score 64/100
- Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument 23 km · Sky Score 65/100
- Gran Quivira Unit - Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument 45.4 km · Sky Score 67/100
- Petroglyph National Monument 69 km · Sky Score 31/100
Sky data: NASA Black Marble VJ146A4 2025 annual composite · clear-sky climatology ERA5 2015–2024 (methodology).