Ever wanted to spend a night sitting under thousands of twinkling stars? Well, that’s what stargazing is all about! Thousands of summer vacationers take advantage of stargazing sites around the country each year. Many states have vast, wide-open areas that allow for a brilliant night sky, and Pennsylvania stargazing is amongst the best. Of the 10 most amazing places for stargazing around the world, Cherry Springs State Park stargazing in North-Central Pennsylvania actually comes in at magnificent #5.
What are you waiting for? It’s time to book your Pennsylvania stargazing road trip and experience the breathtaking views of the night sky.
Most summer vacationers are stargazing beginners. Our best advice? Start by just looking up. See what you can take in with your own two eyes and go from there. For additional assistance, here’s a quick list of some of the basics:
Those traveling across the state may want to make a whole vacation out of stargazing in PA and stop at several venues. Luckily, we have a list of the best stargazing spots across Pennsylvania for you to visit along your journey.
Finding a great site for stargazing in a major metropolis isn’t always easy. However, despite the radiant light coming from the city, there are still plenty of locations to view the cosmos in the night sky.
Pennsylvania stargazing and Philadelphia’s revolutionary past come together in this quaint spot. Besides Philadelphia being home to our revolutionary government, it has the famous Delaware River that George Washington crossed on Christmas night in 1776.
The specific stargazing spot in PA is on the bridge that connects New Hope, Pennsylvania to Lamberton, New Jersey. A person standing on the bridge gets a breathtaking view of the night sky while looking down on the powerful beauty of the mighty Delaware.
Novice stargazers may enjoy interacting with the celestial night sky by using some serious astronomical equipment. If that’s the case, head on over to the Bloom Observatory located on the Franklin Institute rooftop.
This observatory features the 10-inch Zeiss refractor and four Celestron CPC 800 GPS computerized telescopes, along with an 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain model. This gear provides vacationers with outstanding views of stars, planets, and even galaxies while stargazing in PA. Set up camp nearby at the Philadelphia South / Clarksboro KOA Holiday for an all-immersive experience.
When people think of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh is often the first city to come to mind. This popular location comes with its own set of unique and interesting fun facts.
And last, but certainly not least, it has a couple of perfect spots for Pennsylvania stargazing.
The Henry Buhl, Jr. Planetarium & Observatory offers an excellent stargazing experience. There are sessions several days a week at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Even on cloudy days, you can enjoy a virtual tour of the stars from this beautiful observatory. Park your RV at the Washington / Pittsburgh SW KOA Journey and head to the observatory for the day.
A neighborhood located between the 15212 and 15214 zip codes, Perry North is a good general area for stargazing. Home to the highest point in Pittsburgh, you can enjoy the landscape of the city in Riverview Park. Located 1,370 feet in the air, you’ll find the Allegheny Observatory. It provides outstanding views of not only the starry skies but also of downtown Pittsburgh and the Ohio River Valley.
The dark skies above Erie are great for stargazing. Most of the area is set back from the excessive lighting of the cities, so you don’t have to worry about city lights distorting the view. The combination of the dark skies and the celestial clarity brings to life thousands of stars and astronomical phenomena.
Cherry Springs State Park stargazing is simply the best that Pennsylvania has to offer. This location consists of 82 beautiful acres of land surrounded by the Susquehannock State Forest, perfect for an RV camping trip or trying your hand at dispersed camping. Erie’s dark skies over this wide-open vista make for unmatched views of stars, planets, and galaxies. The state park trail is nearby, allowing visitors to hike and backpack as part of their experience as well.
No stargazing PA road trip would be complete without a stop at Sara’s Campground. Located on the shores of Lake Erie, it has one of the signature stargazing experiences in the state. Visitors can watch the sunset and reflect over the lake as the dark skies, star clusters, and galaxies take their places. This location has over 100 campsites, public beaches, and many other attractions that make it a must-see destination.
Pennsylvania has some of the darkest skies on the entire eastern seaboard. As such, there are numerous first-rate stargazing spots throughout the state. Cruise America has the transportation and all the information you need to make Pennsylvania stargazing a part of an epic family road trip. Contact Cruise America today and get your RV pointed in the right direction!