Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
8 places to stay nearby, rated for darkness ↓
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is a protected area in Utah with a measured darkness of 84/100 (≈ Bortle 2), a genuinely dark sky where the Milky Way is a bright, structured band. The best month to come is typically September, when about 80% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 34/100. The moon is 93% lit and above the horizon 92% of the night; typical September clear-sky odds here are 80%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 53% | 52/100 |
| February | 59% | 56/100 |
| March | 58% | 56/100 |
| April | 68% | 62/100 |
| May | 71% | 64/100 |
| June | 77% | 69/100 |
| July | 67% | 62/100 |
| August | 70% | 64/100 |
| September ★ | 80% | 71/100 |
| October | 74% | 67/100 |
| November | 72% | 65/100 |
| December | 57% | 55/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night, check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Escalante Petrified Forest 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 Escalante Petrified Forest State Park for each.
73/100sky darkness at this stay
73/100sky darkness at this stay
73/100sky darkness at this stay
More stays nearby
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Prospector Inn
Darkness: 73/100 · 2.5 km from Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
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The INN of Escalante
Darkness: 73/100 · 2.6 km from Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
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Circle D
Darkness: 73/100 · 2.6 km from Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
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Cowboy Country Inn
Darkness: 73/100 · 2.8 km from Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
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Padre Motel
Darkness: 73/100 · 2.9 km from Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
Booking links are affiliate links, see the disclosure.
Live prices around Escalante
Escalante is the closest base to Escalante Petrified Forest 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 Utah
- Photopoint 21.1 km · Sky Score 68/100
- North Escalante Canyons/The Gulch Instant Study Area 28.7 km · Sky Score 69/100
- Devils Garden Outstanding Natural Area 29 km · Sky Score 68/100
- Steep Creek Wilderness Study Area 30.2 km · Sky Score 67/100
- Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument 30.9 km · Sky Score 68/100
Sky data: NASA Black Marble VJ146A4 2025 annual composite · clear-sky climatology ERA5 2015–2024 (methodology).