Rockhound State Park
8 places to stay nearby, rated for darkness ↓
Rockhound State Park is a protected area in New Mexico with a measured darkness of 79/100 (≈ Bortle 3), a genuinely dark sky where the Milky Way is a bright, structured band. The best month to come is typically May, when about 83% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 27/100. 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 Rockhound State Park
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 67% | 58/100 |
| February | 68% | 59/100 |
| March | 65% | 57/100 |
| April | 77% | 64/100 |
| May ★ | 83% | 68/100 |
| June | 69% | 59/100 |
| July | 53% | 49/100 |
| August | 52% | 48/100 |
| September | 72% | 61/100 |
| October | 75% | 63/100 |
| November | 69% | 59/100 |
| December | 65% | 57/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night, check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Rockhound 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 Rockhound State Park for each.
62/100sky darkness at this stay
62/100sky darkness at this stay
55/100sky darkness at this stay
More stays nearby
- Check availability →
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Deming Mimbres Valley
Darkness: 53/100 · 15.1 km from Rockhound State Park · Deming
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Hampton Inn Deming, NM
Darkness: 53/100 · 15.2 km from Rockhound State Park · Deming
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Best Western
Darkness: 52/100 · 18.5 km from Rockhound State Park · Deming
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The Grand Motor Inn hotel
Darkness: 51/100 · 16 km from Rockhound State Park
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Days Inn by Wyndham Deming
Darkness: 51/100 · 16.1 km from Rockhound State Park · Deming
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Live prices around Columbus
Columbus is the closest base to Rockhound 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
- Pancho Villa State Park 38 km · Sky Score 46/100
- City of Rocks State Park 56.6 km · Sky Score 65/100
- Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument 66.8 km · Sky Score 44/100
- Prehistoric Trackways National Monument 71.3 km · Sky Score 47/100
- Leasburg Dam State Park 75 km · Sky Score 51/100
Sky data: NASA Black Marble VJ146A4 2025 annual composite · clear-sky climatology ERA5 2015–2024 (methodology).