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Dark-sky places in Georgia

Georgia's certified dark-sky place is Okefenokee State Park, a small park deep inside the Okefenokee Swamp in the southeast of the state. With the refuge around it and almost no lighting, it has some of the darkest skies in the Southeast.

Certified dark-sky places in Georgia

PlaceDesignationManaged byNearest city
Okefenokee State ParkInternational Dark Sky Park (2016)Georgia DNR State Parks & Historic Sites54 mi E of Valdosta

Designations by DarkSky International. Check each place's own site for opening hours, fees and night access before you go.

Moon-free weekends for a Georgia stargazing trip

Friday and Saturday nights when the Moon is down for most of full darkness, worked out for Atlanta; dates are the same across the state, give or take a night.

  • November 2026: Nov 6–7, Nov 13–14
  • December 2026: Dec 4–5, Dec 11–12
  • January 2027: Jan 1–2, Jan 8–9, Jan 29–30
  • February 2027: Feb 5–6, Feb 27
  • March 2027: Mar 5–6, Mar 12
  • April 2027: Apr 2–3, Apr 9–10, Apr 30
  • May 2027: May 1, May 7–8, May 28–29
  • June 2027: Jun 4–5
  • July 2027: Jul 2–3, Jul 9, Jul 30–31
  • August 2027: Aug 6–7, Aug 27–28
  • September 2027: Sep 3–4, Sep 25
  • October 2027: Oct 1, Oct 23, Oct 29–30
  • November 2027: Nov 26–27
  • December 2027: Dec 3, Dec 24–25, Dec 31

Stargazing in Georgia

The darkest protected sky in Georgia is in the southeast corner of the state, in the Okefenokee Swamp near the Florida line. Okefenokee State Park, then called Stephen C. Foster State Park, was certified as an International Dark Sky Park in 2016. It sits inside the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, more than 400,000 acres,, which protects most of North America’s largest blackwater swamp. DarkSky International notes that the refuge keeps development away and that the swamp itself discourages settlement, giving the park a natural darkness that it calls almost without parallel in the eastern US. It is the only certified dark-sky place in Georgia.

Okefenokee State Park

Okefenokee State Park is an 80-acre park that serves as a main entrance to the swamp, with boat tours, canoe and kayak rentals and a campground; the park is building new cottages and was not taking cottage reservations as of October 2026. Staff removed all unnecessary outdoor lighting in 2016, and the park says visitors can see the Milky Way and passing meteors on clear nights. There is no dedicated stargazing area, but the parking lot across from the trading post has an open view. Because the park lies inside a wildlife refuge, the gates lock at 10 p.m. and a $5 refuge fee applies, so plan to stay overnight. The park also offers night programs throughout the year.

Questions and answers

Can I stay at Okefenokee State Park after dark?

Only as an overnight guest. Because the park sits inside a national wildlife refuge, its gates lock at 10 p.m., according to Georgia State Parks.

Where is the best place to stargaze in the park?

The park has no dedicated stargazing area, but it says the parking lot across from the trading post gives wide open views of the sky.

Is Okefenokee State Park the same as Stephen C. Foster State Park?

Yes. The park was previously named Stephen C. Foster State Park, and older guides use that name.

How do I plan a dark-sky trip in Georgia around the Moon?

Aim for the week around the new Moon; a bright Moon hides all but the brightest stars. Check the moon-free nights listed above or our Moon calendar, and see our guide to dark-sky places for how the different certifications compare.

Dark-sky places in other states · Northern lights in Georgia · Tonight's sky in Georgia

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