Dark Sky Places in SC

List of darkest places in South Carolina 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
Battle of Rivers Bridge 3
Capers Island
Congaree National Park
Edisto Beach State Park
Francis Marion National Forest 3
Hampton Plantation 3
Hunting Island State Park
Jones Gap
Kings Mountain
Lake Murray
Sumter National Forest


Light Pollution Map w/ Bortle

On the left is a 2019 satellite image of SC 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.

SC night sky light pollution map