Dark Sky Places in FL

List of darkest places in Florida for stargazing, astrophotography, astrotourism, star parties, and astronomy club events. Often these are national and state parks and forests that are either remote or "protected" against light pollution.

National and state parks often let you stay overnight under the stars, hence their motto - "Half the park is after dark".

Bortle scale for sites is given where known. Also ask your local astronomy club for guidance as they will know the darkest places.

NAME BORTLE
Apalachicola National Forest
Bald Point State Park
Big Cypress Preserve National Park 2
Big Pine Key
Biscayne National Park
Cedar Key
Cedar Key Scrub State Park
Dry Tortugas National Park
Econfina River State Park
Everglades National Park 3
Groveland
Gulf Islands National Seashore
John Bethea State Forest
Kissimmee Prairie State Park 2
Ocala National Forest
Ochlockonee River State Park
Osceola National Forest
St George Island State Park 2
Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
Tates Hell State Forest


Light Pollution Map w/ Bortle

On the left is a 2019 satellite image of FL showing light pollution from the NOAA National Geophysical Data Center. On the right is a 2015 light pollution map showing sky brightness at the zenith from World Atlas data. Colors correspond approximately to the Bortle scale. Use as a guide to find the darkest sky locations near you.

FL night sky light pollution map