Glamping with the celebs: These 7 retreats are good for night-sky watching

Stargazing would possibly sound like one thing to do whereas tenting in a darkish forest or trekking a secluded mountaintop. But with the current rise in astrotourism, pushed partially by large-scale occasions just like the 2026 photo voltaic eclipse, extra persons are in search of new experiences underneath the celebs—with out sacrificing the comforts of a comfy cabin, lodge, or resort. 

Case in level, 62 p.c of 27,000 vacationers surveyed in a 2025 travel predictions report by Booking.com stated they plan to journey for stargazing, making it a well-liked journey development in 2026, too. In response, dark-sky state parks and different low-light air pollution escapes are actually including stylish star-friendly stays. 

(These are one of the best stargazing websites in North America.)

Customizing lodging for stargazing

Adam Krason, an architect and principal of ZMM Architects & Engineers, just lately designed trendy A-frame cabinsparticularly for stargazing. The cabins are in Coopers Rock State Forest in West Virginia, residence to a few of the darkest skies on the East Coast of the U.S. These lodging present a front-row seat to star-studded skies and have floor-to-ceiling home windows and retractable skylights. Each cabin additionally comes outfitted with a working telescope for a better have a look at dazzling constellations.

The cabins are something however primitive. “Our goal on each project is to deliver our client’s vision,” he says. And his shoppers,Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, didn’t desire a conventional, bare-bones cabin. “I think the specific goal was to create something ‘Instagram-worthy,’” he says. They in the end landed on a contemporary model of the basic A-frame as a result of it complemented the park’s topography and local weather, whereas creating a novel expertise for visitors.

Why are vacationers selecting stylish stays to entry the night time sky? According to Krason, not all dark-sky retreats are the identical. Coopers Rock State Forest is understood for its trails and expansive scenic views. And as a very hidden gem, the park poses a serene, crowd-free escape in one of many nation’s most underrated vacationer locations. “Adding the stargazing feature [the sleek, modern cabins] seemed like a great additional amenity,” he says. With 5 cabins open and 7 extra on the best way, these stays provide a one-of-a-kind stargazing getaway for astrotourists. 

(Twelve spectacular night time sky occasions to see in 2026.)

Captain Meriwether Lewis trekked by this space, as soon as wilderness, to get residence. Paws Up Montana is a non-public ranch turned high-end hospitality model combining genuine ranch life—together with the whole lot from fly fishing to cattle drives—with trendy luxurious. This ranch options eating places outfitted with James Beard cooks and wellness choices—all set in opposition to the breathtaking backdrop of Montana’s legendary panorama and ranges, together with Garnet, Swan, Mission, and Rattlesnake.

The Green Haus is one among 12 architecturally ahead hauses tucked among the many bushes and positioned on 37,000 acres of forest. Like all of the hauses, the Green Haus has decks, indoor and out of doors fireplaces, an out of doors sizzling tub, and a big skylight the dimensions of the mattress—not featured within the different hauses. The attract of the property is its safety from mild air pollution, Jake Kvale, the on-site actions supervisor, explains. “All of Paws Up is classified as a Bortle Dark Sky Scale class two area; the second-highest quality category when measuring light pollution,” he says.  

Brasada Ranch sits on 1,800 acres of excessive desert close to a number of Dark Sky International-certified areas and simply past the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary—the biggest on Earth. The property consists of 65 standalone cabins, dubbed the Sage Canyon Cabins, that include one to 4 bedrooms, a totally stocked kitchen, a hearth, and an out of doors eating space. Those with a non-public sizzling tub take pleasure in glorious stargazing alternatives, says Lisa Marchese, president of Northview Hotels, which acquired the property in 2010. “On-property stargazing nights come with warm drinks and s’mores, while Sage Canyon Cabins offer private decks, firepits, and hot tubs.”  

(Dark sky retreats are on the rise—this is the place to take one.)

Located on a 40-acre web site greater than 100 miles north of Las Vegas, Nevada, the Death Valley House isn’t removed from its namesake, Death Valley, the biggest Dark Sky National Park within the U.S. The closest city, Beatty, is 40 miles away, which implies little to no mild air pollution for distinctive stargazing. 

Peter Strzebnoik, the architect, designed the home to reap the benefits of the scenic views. It has giant floor-to-ceiling home windows and was constructed atop a concrete platform, making the home really feel prefer it’s rising out of the panorama. “Also, the house has a large deck, which serves as a perfect platform to watch the night sky while being very close to the amenities that the house provides,” he provides. The deck has a retractable roof that gives a full view of the night time sky from the deck or sizzling tub. The primary bed room additionally has a skylight positioned above the mattress. 

Compass Rose Lodge is a boutique retreat that blends trendy consolation with the character of Ogden Valley. The architectural type honors the world’s heritage, from the barn and grain silo options to the tipis. Guests will wish to discover the close by Ogden Valley for its climbing trails, wildlife watching, and scenic drives. 

But stargazers will particularly like Compass Rose Lodge for its on-site Huntsville Astronomic and Lunar Observatory (HALO), a research-grade facility on the property outfitted with highly effective telescopes and an automatic dome. According to Ashley Smoot, normal supervisor of Compass Rose Lodge, the lodge’s location is acknowledged for minimal mild air pollution, which gives naturally clear night time skies. Some rooms and customary areas are additionally intentionally designed to reap the benefits of sky views. The lodge often hosts astronomy-focused actions and academic periods, making it a welcoming spot for informal skywatchers and severe lovers alike. 

(Where to go stargazing and glamping in southern Utah)

Architect’s Off-Grid Stargazing Cabin, also called Folly Mojave, is part of the Folly Collection, a design-forward hospitality group recognized for sustainable practices, comparable to operating solely on solar energy, in addition to the design and positioning of constructions to maximise pure mild and scale back power use. The cabin is an element artwork set up, half high-comfort hideaway with a design that feels otherworldly but grounded, merging minimalist geometry and uncooked supplies.

Stargazing is central to this luxurious off-grid escape, positioned in a dark-sky pocket within the desert with mild air pollution limits. “We dedicated the upstairs to be the ultimate stargazing experience,” says Hillary Flur, co-founder of Architect’s Off-Grid Stargazing Cabin. The roof is totally retractable, remodeling into a wonderfully framed portal to the cosmos. Guests can actually go to sleep watching the Milky Way. The property deliberately retains mild air pollution across the constructions close to zero. “We have also partnered with a local astronomer who offers a private night sky tour with professional telescopes and lasers,” Flur provides.

The resort sits in a non-public 80-acre canyon simply outdoors of Bryce Canyon National Park, designated a Dark Sky Park. But much more interesting to stargazers is the truth that Clear Sky Resort is the primary and solely glass-dome resort of its form within the United States. The resort’s 62 Sky Domes are full with dual-pane “low-E” glass,  or low-emissivity glass, a sort of window glass that blocks UV rays whereas permitting pure mild to enter. Modern furnishings, non-public bogs, kitchenettes, and high-end linens are contained in the climate-controlled domes. Outside, the resort makes use of totally shielded, downward-facing fixtures with amber/crimson lights to attenuate mild air pollution, illuminating what’s essential to protect night time imaginative and prescient for visitors. 

On-site resort actions embrace stargazing excursions and roasting complimentary s’mores over hearth pits. The glass-domed restaurant, Sky Nova Café Bar & Grill, can be value testing and presents a putting, futuristic eating expertise with a 28-foot-tall panoramic glass window and a patio good for sundown and golden-hour al fresco evenings.

The Lodge at Primland options an on-site observatory, outfitted with Celestron CGE Pro 1400 and CPC 800 telescopes, giving visitors a unprecedented glimpse of the photo voltaic system. A pure paradise within the Blue Ridge Mountains, the area presents remarkably vivid celestial views as a consequence of its altitude and clear night time skies. The observatory is on the market year-round to all visitors for nightly stargazing periods led by a resident astronomer. The resort additionally has distinctive lodging choices, together with towering Mountain Top Tree Houses and the two-story Celestial Suite with starry views. Guests ought to reap the benefits of the complimentary nightly hearth s’mores, nature walks, disc golf, and garden video games comparable to bocce, croquet, and cornhole.

(Essential equipment for stargazing, from cosy clothes to intelligent astronomy instruments)