Sumner Lake State Park
1 place to stay nearby, rated for darkness ↓
Sumner Lake State Park is a protected area in New Mexico with a measured darkness of 88/100 (≈ Bortle 2), among the very darkest measurable skies we have rated: the Milky Way casts visible shadows on moonless nights. The best month to come is typically September, when about 73% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 30/100. The moon is 98% lit and above the horizon 96% of the night; typical September clear-sky odds here are 73%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Sumner Lake State Park
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 64% | 63/100 |
| February | 67% | 65/100 |
| March | 65% | 63/100 |
| April | 70% | 67/100 |
| May | 70% | 67/100 |
| June | 64% | 63/100 |
| July | 61% | 60/100 |
| August | 59% | 59/100 |
| September ★ | 73% | 69/100 |
| October | 69% | 66/100 |
| November | 68% | 65/100 |
| December | 64% | 62/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night, check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Sumner Lake 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 Sumner Lake State Park for each.
67/100sky darkness at this stay
Super 8 by Wyndham Fort Sumner
- Sky darkness
- 67/100
- To the spot
- 22.2 km
- Location
- Fort Sumner
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Live prices around Fort Sumner
Fort Sumner is the closest base to Sumner Lake 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
- Santa Rosa Lake State Park 53.7 km · Sky Score 53/100
- Conchas Lake State Park 90.3 km · Sky Score 64/100
- Oasis State Park 103.4 km · Sky Score 49/100
- Roswell UFO Monument 112.1 km · Sky Score 65/100
- Villanueva State Park 114.5 km · Sky Score 64/100
Sky data: NASA Black Marble VJ146A4 2025 annual composite · clear-sky climatology ERA5 2015–2024 (methodology).