Isn’t there something so magical about stargazing? No matter the depth of your knowledge of astronomy, it’s hard to deny the allure of the night sky. Here in Virginia, we’re lucky to have a few designated dark sky parks, places where the night sky is so visible thanks to the absence of light pollution that stargazing is optimal. Below, we’ve listed some of the best places for stargazing in Virginia, and it proves that the Old Dominion really is the East Coast’s best spot for stargazing.

Living in Virginia means the ability to enjoy nature at its finest, and that's true even after the sun sets. Our state was recently voted the best state for stargazing on the East Coast, and it's easy to see why.
josephgruber / Getty Images
The Old Dominion is home to no less than five International Dark Sky Parks, which are designated by the International Dark Sky Association.
Virginia State Parks / flickr
This distinction is a coveted one, and Virginia happens to have more than any other state east of the Mississippi River.
Photographed below is a stargazing scene from Staunton River State Park, which was designated as an International Dark Sky Park in 2015.
Virginia State Parks / flickr

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Another beautiful place to enjoy the night sky is James River State Park, as seen below. Imagine pitching your tent next to the river and then watching the night sky put on a show!
Virginia State Parks / flickr
One of the newest additions is Sky Meadows State Park, which was just awarded the title fairly recently.
Virginia State Parks / flickr
Shown above is a scene from Astronomy Night in 2018, hosted by the state park.
The other two Virginia destinations included in the International Dark Sky Park registry are Natural Bridge State Park and Rappahannock County Park.
Bill Dickinson / flickr
Of course, you don't need to visit an International Dark Sky Park to experience incredible stargazing, but it's certainly worth trying.

Have you ever been stargazing in Virginia? Or have you seen some exciting celestial events like a meteor shower lately? We’d love to hear all about your experiences – be sure to share them in the comments! For more about our state’s magnificent parks, check out our list of the most incredible state parks in Virginia.

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