Stargazing by state

Stargazing in Texas: 51 dark-sky spots, rated by data

We measured the night sky over every one of these spots: satellite radiance, skyglow from surrounding cities, and ten years of cloud climatology (how the Sky Score works). The darkest sky in Texas scores 70/100.

All Texas spots, darkest first

#	Spot	Sky Score	Darkness
1	Big Bend National ParkPark / protected area	70/100	≈ Bortle 2
2	Animal HighwaysViewpoint	70/100	≈ Bortle 2
3	LM PeakViewpoint	70/100	≈ Bortle 2
4	South Rim ViewpointViewpoint	70/100	≈ Bortle 2
5	The Window ViewpointViewpoint	70/100	≈ Bortle 2
6	Rio Grande OverlookViewpoint	70/100	≈ Bortle 2
7	Persimmon Gap Draw hikeViewpoint	69/100	≈ Bortle 2
8	Would You Hold Still PleaseViewpoint	69/100	≈ Bortle 2
9	Mule Ears OverlookViewpoint	69/100	≈ Bortle 2
10	Homer Wilson Ranch OverlookViewpoint	69/100	≈ Bortle 2
11	Santa Elena Canyon OverlookViewpoint	68/100	≈ Bortle 2
12	Desert Mountain OverlookViewpoint	68/100	≈ Bortle 2
13	Tuff Canyon East OverlookViewpoint	68/100	≈ Bortle 2
14	Guadalupe Mountains WildernessPark / protected area	67/100	≈ Bortle 2
15	Salt Basin OverlookViewpoint	67/100	≈ Bortle 2
16	Elephant RockViewpoint	65/100	≈ Bortle 2
17	Caprock Canyons State Park & TrailwayPark / protected area	64/100	≈ Bortle 2
18	Pease River Valley OverlookViewpoint	61/100	≈ Bortle 2
19	Fort Davis National Historic SitePark / protected area	59/100	≈ Bortle 3
20	Padre Island National SeashorePark / protected area	54/100	≈ Bortle 2
21	Lake Meredith National Recreation AreaPark / protected area	53/100	≈ Bortle 3
22	Alibates Flint Quarries National MonumentPark / protected area	53/100	≈ Bortle 3
23	Birds Eye ViewViewpoint	52/100	≈ Bortle 2
24	OverlookViewpoint	52/100	≈ Bortle 2
25	Palo Duro Canyon State ParkPark / protected area	51/100	≈ Bortle 3
26	Inspiration PointViewpoint	49/100	≈ Bortle 2
27	Amistad National Recreation AreaPark / protected area	47/100	≈ Bortle 4
28	Blackwell School National Historic SitePark / protected area	47/100	≈ Bortle 4
29	Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical ParkPark / protected area	46/100	≈ Bortle 3
30	Upland Island WildernessPark / protected area	46/100	≈ Bortle 3
31	Big Slough WildernessPark / protected area	46/100	≈ Bortle 3
32	Indian Mounds WildernessPark / protected area	46/100	≈ Bortle 3
33	Sunset CoveViewpoint	45/100	≈ Bortle 3
34	Turkey Hill WildernessPark / protected area	45/100	≈ Bortle 3
35	Big Thicket National PreservePark / protected area	41/100	≈ Bortle 3
36	Old Sabine Bottom Wildlife Management AreaPark / protected area	40/100	≈ Bortle 4
37	D.R. Wintermann Wildlife Management AreaPark / protected area	39/100	≈ Bortle 3
38	Goose Island State ParkPark / protected area	37/100	≈ Bortle 4
39	Buescher State ParkPark / protected area	37/100	≈ Bortle 4
40	Little Lake Creek WildernessPark / protected area	35/100	≈ Bortle 4
41	Mustang Island State ParkPark / protected area	34/100	≈ Bortle 4
42	Francine Cohn PreservePark / protected area	34/100	≈ Bortle 4
43	Shamrock Island PreservePark / protected area	33/100	≈ Bortle 4
44	Pelican Island SanctuaryPark / protected area	32/100	≈ Bortle 5
45	Waco Mammoth National MonumentPark / protected area	32/100	≈ Bortle 5
46	Brazos Bend State ParkPark / protected area	31/100	≈ Bortle 5
47	Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management AreaPark / protected area	30/100	≈ Bortle 5
48	San Antonio Missions National Historical ParkPark / protected area	30/100	≈ Bortle 5
49	J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management AreaPark / protected area	29/100	≈ Bortle 5
50	World Birding Center - Resaca De La Palma State ParkPark / protected area	28/100	≈ Bortle 5
51	World Birding Center - Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State ParkPark / protected area	26/100	≈ Bortle 6

Other states: Arizona · Nevada · New Mexico · Utah, or see the overall ranking.