Palo Duro Canyon State Park
8 places to stay nearby, rated for darkness ↓
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a protected area in Texas with a measured darkness of 72/100 (≈ Bortle 3), a good rural sky: the Milky Way is clearly visible, with some glow on the horizon toward nearby towns. The best month to come is typically September, when about 71% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 22/100. The moon is 100% lit and above the horizon 100% of the night; typical September clear-sky odds here are 71%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Palo Duro Canyon State Park
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 63% | 51/100 |
| February | 63% | 51/100 |
| March | 61% | 50/100 |
| April | 65% | 52/100 |
| May | 60% | 49/100 |
| June | 61% | 50/100 |
| July | 61% | 50/100 |
| August | 59% | 48/100 |
| September ★ | 71% | 55/100 |
| October | 70% | 54/100 |
| November | 67% | 53/100 |
| December | 64% | 51/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night, check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Palo Duro Canyon 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 Palo Duro Canyon State Park for each.
44/100sky darkness at this stay
44/100sky darkness at this stay
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Canyon
- Sky darkness
- 44/100
- To the spot
- 25.4 km
- Location
- Canyon
44/100sky darkness at this stay
Best Western Palo Duro Canyon Inn & Suites
- Sky darkness
- 44/100
- To the spot
- 25.5 km
- Location
- Canyon
More stays nearby
- Check availability →
Buffalo Inn
Darkness: 43/100 · 26.4 km from Palo Duro Canyon State Park · Canyon
- Check availability →
Hudspeth House Bed & Breakfast
Darkness: 43/100 · 26.7 km from Palo Duro Canyon State Park
- Check availability →
Fairfield Inn & Suites Amarillo Airport
Darkness: 30/100 · 32.2 km from Palo Duro Canyon State Park · Amarillo
- Check availability →
La Quinta Inn & Suites Amarillo Airport
Darkness: 30/100 · 32.3 km from Palo Duro Canyon State Park · Amarillo
- Check availability →
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Darkness: 30/100 · 32.4 km from Palo Duro Canyon State Park · Amarillo
Booking links are affiliate links, see the disclosure.
Live prices around Canyon
Canyon is the closest base to Palo Duro Canyon 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 Texas
- Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument 74.4 km · Sky Score 53/100
- Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway 74.8 km · Sky Score 64/100
- Lake Meredith National Recreation Area 76.6 km · Sky Score 53/100
- Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness 442.3 km · Sky Score 67/100
- Salt Basin Overlook 447.3 km · Sky Score 67/100
Sky data: NASA Black Marble VJ146A4 2025 annual composite · clear-sky climatology ERA5 2015–2024 (methodology).