Camping › Minnesota › Stargazing
Dark-sky camping in Minnesota
2,272 camps in Minnesota under the darkest skies (class 1–2 on our 9-step scale, from NASA night-lights).
Best areas for stargazing
- Around Winton1,085 camps for stargazing within 25 miles
- Around Ely643 camps for stargazing within 25 miles
- Around Grand Marais397 camps for stargazing within 25 miles
- Around Orr223 camps for stargazing within 25 miles
- Around Silver Bay94 camps for stargazing within 25 miles
Questions
How many campgrounds in Minnesota are good for stargazing?
2,272 camps under the darkest skies (class 1–2 on our 9-step scale, from NASA night-lights); 2,010 of them are free.
When is the best time to go?
The best camping months are Jun–Sep, judged from 30 years of weather at a typical camp: comfortable days, mild nights, little rain. In July expect highs near 77°F and lows near 53°F.
What else can you do there?
Of these camps, 4% also offer boating & paddling, 3% also offer fishing, 1% also offer hiking.
Every camp, with a 3D fly-over, weather, cell signal and the drive.
Open stargazing in MinnesotaThis week's picks
A different handful each week.
- Crescent Lake Campground & Backcountry SitesFederal campground · First come, first served · Cell signal
Crescent Lake Campground offers a variety of family camping experiences, including drive-in RV or tent sites, walk-in tent sites, group site, and a site accessible to those with mobility…
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Flour Lake CampgroundFederal campground · Reservable · No cell signalFlour Lake Campground provides a convenient home base for exploring the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Its scenery, amenities and access to outdoor recreation areas make it…
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Sawbill Lake Campground - Superior National ForestFederal campground · Reservable · Cell signalSawbill Lake Campground has immediate access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a beautiful, peaceful and wild natural feature of Minnesota's Superior National Forest. The…
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Mosomo PointFederal campground · Reservable · Cell signalMosomo Point Campground is located between Little and Big Cut Foot Sioux Lakes, in the heart of the Chippewa National Forest. Visitors enjoy the area for canoeing, trophy muskie fishing…
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OnegumeFederal campground · Reservable · Cell signalOne of the Chippewa National Forest's most popular campgrounds, Onegume is located on Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake. It is near MN State Highway 46, also known as Avenue of the Pines Scenic…
View camp →- Two Island Lake CampgroundFederal campground · First come, first served · No cell signal
Two Island Lake Campground is near Grand Marais, but off the beaten path. It offers the services of a fee campground with water, toilets, and trash containers, plus a boat ramp on a lake…
View camp → - Temperance River CampgroundFederal campground · First come, first served · Cell signal
The Temperance River Campground is a small campground easily reached from the Sawbill Trail (Cook County 2). It provides pine-shaded campsites nestled in a bend of the Temperance River and…
View camp → - Divide Lake Campground & Backcountry SitesFederal campground · First come, first served · Cell signal
The Divide Lake Campground provides a northwoods camping experience in a small (only 3 sites) secluded campground located near many recreational opportunities. A walk-down canoe launch…
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Free camps for stargazing
- East Twin LakeDispersed / primitive · Free · Cell signal
This is one of our Backcountry sites which is a near- wilderness single party site and is accessible only by foot or boat. These sites are first come, first served. There are 2 sites on…
View camp → - Little Gunflint LakeDispersed / primitive · Free · Cell signal
This is one of our Backcountry sites which is a near- wilderness single party site and is accessible only by foot or boat. These sites are first come, first served. There are 2 sites on…
View camp → - Greenwood LakeDispersed / primitive · Free · Cell signal
This is one of our backcountry sites which is a near-wilderness single party site and accessible only by foot or boat. These sites are first-come, first-served. There is one site on this…
View camp → - Ball Club LakeDispersed / primitive · Free · No cell signal
This is one of our Backcountry sites which is a near- wilderness single party site and is accessible only by foot or boat. These sites are first come, first served. There is one site on…
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