Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management Area
8 places to stay nearby, rated for darkness ↓
Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management Area is a protected area in Texas with a measured darkness of 53/100 (≈ Bortle 5), a usable sky for casual stargazing, though city glow is noticeable. The best month to come is typically October, when about 62% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 15/100. The moon is 98% lit and above the horizon 96% of the night; typical September clear-sky odds here are 56%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management Area
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 43% | 29/100 |
| February | 37% | 26/100 |
| March | 37% | 26/100 |
| April | 41% | 28/100 |
| May | 41% | 28/100 |
| June | 50% | 32/100 |
| July | 45% | 30/100 |
| August | 44% | 29/100 |
| September | 56% | 35/100 |
| October ★ | 62% | 37/100 |
| November | 46% | 30/100 |
| December | 39% | 27/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night, check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management Area: 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 Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management Area for each.
49/100sky darkness at this stay
45/100sky darkness at this stay
Quality Inn & Suites Bridge City/Orange
- Sky darkness
- 45/100
- To the spot
- 18.2 km
- Location
- Bridge City
45/100sky darkness at this stay
More stays nearby
- Check availability →
SureStay
Darkness: 43/100 · 4.5 km from Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management Area · Orange
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Comfort Inn
Darkness: 43/100 · 10.3 km from Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management Area · Orange
- Check availability →
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Vidor South
Darkness: 41/100 · 28.4 km from Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management Area · Vidor
- Check availability →
Woodmen of the World Lodge-Phoenix Camp Number 32
Darkness: 39/100 · 5.7 km from Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management Area
- Check availability →
Seagull Motel
Darkness: 30/100 · 27.3 km from Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management Area · Port Arthur
Booking links are affiliate links, see the disclosure.
Live prices around Orange
Orange is the closest base to Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management Area 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
- Big Thicket National Preserve 77.7 km · Sky Score 41/100
- Turkey Hill Wilderness 143.3 km · Sky Score 45/100
- Brazos Bend State Park 198.9 km · Sky Score 31/100
- Old Sabine Bottom Wildlife Management Area 313 km · Sky Score 40/100
- Buescher State Park 333.4 km · Sky Score 37/100
Sky data: NASA Black Marble VJ146A4 2025 annual composite · clear-sky climatology ERA5 2015–2024 (methodology).