RV-Friendly Destinations for Stargazing and Space Education in the US and Canada

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This NASA Visitor Center offers space exhibits, astronaut training experiences, a shuttle experience, and VR that takes visitors on the Apollo 11 mission. Take in a show at National Geographic Theater or INTUITIVE^® Planetarium or check out the I.D.E.A.S. Lab.

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Huntsville, Alabama, is also known as Rocket City, for obvious reasons. Find more on what to do in the area here.

RVer Tips

U.S. Space & Rocket Center includes a full hook-up RV Park, where you can conveniently stay during your visit! Learn more here. The Center also offers free parking, including RV parking, for guests.

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Take in a show in the Eos Foundation Planetarium Theater, or explore the night sky at the Flandrau’s observatory, which is free to visit and features a 16-inch telescope. Volunteer astronomers are on hand to help you find Saturn’s rings, the Andromeda galaxy, and more. The Solar System Revealed exhibit featurs scale models of the planets, and HiRISE: Eye in the Martian Sky and Destination Mars exhibits get you a closer look at the mysterious and beautiful planet of Mars.

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Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium is located in Tucson, Arizona. Explore Visit Tucson for more to do in the city.

RVer Tips

There is a limited amount of free curbside parking available. Find full details on nearby parking options here.

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Kitt Peak National Observatory offers something for everyone from its mountaintop perch, helping visitors observe the night sky using binoculars, planispheres, or telescopes. Identify constellations, learn about deep-sky objects, and get to know the moon like never before. There are even overnight programs and workshops available.

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The city of Tucson is nearby, with lots to see and do.

RVer Tips

Kitt Peak does not allow any camping/overnight parking, but Gilbert Ray Campground is a good option to stay nearby. The public parking area for both day and evening activities is near the Visitor Center. You must be registered for a program to visit Kitt Peak after dark.

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California Science Center is currently working on their biggest endeavour to date – the  Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which will become the permanent home to Space Shuttle "Endeavour". In the meantime, you can visit Endeavour Together: Parts & People at the Science Center to see the shuttle and other artifacts, as well as the Humans in Space exhibit. General admission is free!

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California Science Center is located in Los Angeles. National History Museum Los Angeles County is one close-by attraction.

RVer Tips

Check out Eight Great Camping Sites Near Los Angeles for ideas on where to stay nearby. The California Science Center is located in Exposition Park. Oversize vehicle parking is $30.

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"Griffith Observatory is southern California’s gateway to the cosmos!" Take advantage of public telescopes to gaze up at the skies, and take in one of the daily shows at Samuel Oschin Planetarium. The Observatory also features exhibits to explore, designed with the goal of "sparking imagination and inquiry through exposure to the awe and wonder inherent in astronomy." Regular monthly and special events are offered when possible.

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Griffith Observatory is located in Griffith Park, the largest urban-wilderness municipal park in the United States. The Park offers over 4,210 acres to explore, which includes both natural terrain and landscaped parkland and picnic areas. In addition to the Observatory, the Park is home to the Greek Theatre, three city golf courses, Los Angeles Zoo, Autry National Center, Travel Town Museum, an historic Merry-Go-Round, Griffith Park Southern Railroad, and more.

RVer Tips

There are a number of campgrounds very near Griffith Park and the Griffith Observatory, making it easy to enjoy everything this spot offers without rushing to get in and out in a day.

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Joshua Tree National Park is an International Dark Sky Park and offers a great chance to see the Milky Way. Joshua Tree has some of the darkest nights in Southern California, and you can view the stars from anywhere in the park, but some areas are darker than others. Cottonwood Campground has the darkest skies in the Park and is a great choice for camping is you want to enjoy the night sky. Joshua Tree even hosts a yearly Night Sky Festival.

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Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve in nearby Coachella Valley is part of the Coachella Valley Preserve System. Nearby Salton Sea Recreation Area is home to California's largest lake.

RVer Tips

Overnight camping is not allowed along roadsides or in parking lots.

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Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is organized into Mission Zones where attractions and tours are grouped by chronological era. The Complex offers thousands of attractions, including the chance to see an actual launch if you time your trip right. Whenever you visit, the Center includes exhibits like Heroes & Legends, Path to the Moon, and various others. Visit the Rocket Garden to see rockets up close and personal, see Space Shuttle Atlantis and the Mars Rover Vehicle Navigator®, and learn about NASA's current and upcoming missions. That's just the tip of the space shuttle, so check out the website to learn more.

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Visit Space Coast for many other attractions in the area.

RVer Tips

RV parking is available for $15. Find nearby camping suggestions here.

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Museum of Science and Industry Chicago includes the Henry Crown Space Center, home to everything from rocket models to the Apollo 8 capsule, the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon. Learn about different space missions and the journey behind the scenes to get astronauts into outer space, check out the hands-on re-creation of the International Space Station, and try the VR Spacewalk to see what it's like to walk outside a space station.

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Chicago is a vibrant city that offers some of the most popular museums in the country, like the Field Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago. Visit Choose Chicago for information on other attractions in the city to explore.

RVer Tips

Museum of Science and Industry Chicago has an underground parking garage that includes spaces for oversized vehicles in the Blue (D) section. In this section, height clearance is an initial 8 feet 2 inches and reduces to 7 feet 2 inches (check signs).

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The Cosmosphere is a Smithsonian Affiliate and a museum and educational center. Here you can explore the Carey Digital Dome Theatre, Justice Planetarium, Dr. Goddard's Lab, and Hall of Space Museum.

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Hutchinson is located on the Kansas prairies with lots of nearby fishing, biking, or hiking.

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"They say location is everything, and when it comes to night skies that is so true. Out here on the rugged Maine coastline and far from the great eastern metropolises, Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park have clear, bright night skies." Acadia National Park offers five excellent locations for taking in a night sky brilliant with stars. Find more information on dark sky opportunities at the Park and the effects of light pollution here.

RVer Tips

Explore campgrounds available at Acadia National Park here.

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There's no charge to visit the Goddard Visitor Center, where Goddard Space Flight Center's innovative and exciting work in Earth science, astrophysics, heliophysics, planetary science, engineering, communications, and technology development can be explored.

Nearby Attractions

Goddard Visitor Center is only 30 minutes from Washington, DC, Baltimore, and Annapolis, Maryland. Read about the adventures Leisure Explorers Bill and Denise Semion had exploring Washington, DC, while RVing here.

RVer Tips

Free public parking is available at the Center.

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This International Dark Sky Park offers not only the chance to observe constellations, but a unique opportunity to see the Northern Lights – an incredible experience that many people have on their bucket list. The Aurora are unpredictable and elusive, but Headlands does its best to predict their appearance a day or two in advance. Learn about their programs and events here.

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There's no end of opportunity to explore in your RV in the area. Check out Bill and Denise Semion's tour of the Upper Peninsula here for tips on what to see and do.

RVer Tips

The grounds, trails, and viewing areas at Headlands are open 24 hours a day, every day and visitors are welcome to stay out through the night, but camping is not permitted. Mackinaw City KOA offers camping less than 5 miles away.

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INFINITY Science Center features a Space Gallery where a small-scale model of an Apollo command module sits next to the full-scale original Apollo 4 command module, which flew in the first “all-up” test of the Saturn V rocket. The gallery also features space artifacts like astronaut space suits and a moon rock, and a life-size mockup of the International Space Station's Destiny module.

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Pearlington, Mississippi, is located on the Gulf of Mexico, and in close proximity to New Orleans. De Soto National Forest is only about 1.5 hours away.

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Light pollution is nearly nonexistent in this national park, and the nearest town to Many Glacier Campground has rules about light pollution to maintain the dark sky environment. As the Park website puts it, “half the park is after dark”. Lake McDonald and Goat Haunt are recommended as ideal spots to attempt to see the Northern Lights, with great open views to the north. Check the Aurora Forecast and look for KP rating of 5 or above for the best chances. For stargazing, try the head of Lake McDonald, foot of Saint Mary Lake, and Logan Pass for great views of the Milky Way from May through October.

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There's plenty to explore within the Park, and should you be looking for more, the Canadian Rockies lie just to the north. Read about Leisure Explorers Bill and Denise Semion's adventures through the Canadian Rockies here.

RVer Tips

Many Glacier Campground is a great option for stargazing, and certain sites can accommodate an RV up to 35 feet long. There are no hookups at Many Glacier, but there is potable water available. Find additional camping options in Glacier National Park here.

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Great Basin is an International Dark Sky Park, and low humidity combined with high elevation contribute to the great stargazing to be found here. That means that on a clear, moonless night, stars, planets, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Milky Way, and more can all be seen with the naked eye. The Park hosts regular astronomy programming including hikes, solar telescope viewing, and a festival; check the website for the full schedule.

RVer Tips

Four of the Park's five campgrounds are suitable for RV camping. Learn more here.

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Capulin Volcano National Monument is a Gold-Tier International Dark Sky Association Park with public programming and personal observation at its soon-to-be constructed Night Sky Observation station. For those who don't have their own stargazing equipment, Star Parties are held April through September at the base of the Volcano and occasionally on the Volcano Rim. During Star Parties, interpretive park rangers give brief talks about the night sky and all equipment is provided.

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The Volcano Road leads to the crater rim (no trailers or towed vehicles). There is plenty of hiking as well as guided tours at Capulin Volcano National Monument. Check out other nearby attractions here.

RVer Tips

Capulin Volcano is at a higher altitude of over 6,000 feet, and nights can get chilly even in summer. It's recommended to wear a jacket, long pants, and closed toe shoes when attending a Dark Sky program. No reservations are needed. In the Dark Sky Viewing Area, no camping, fires, or music are allowed.

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Another designated International Dark Sky Park in New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park offers deep sky viewing to the public on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. These nights, Chaco Culture's observatory is open with several scopes available for use, and visitors can learn about the astronomical practices of the ancient Puebloans.

RVer Tips

Find camping information at Chaco Culture National Historic Park here.

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Clayton Lake is a Gold level International Dark Sky Park thanks to night skies that feature very little light pollution. The park has its own 14-inch Mead telescope and a Lake Observatory.

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Clayton Lake State Park is also the site of some the most well-preserved dinosaur trail drags anywhere in the US and has a visitor center with information on dinosaurs as well as the geology of the region. Check out the nearby section of the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. See additional northeast region attractions here.

RVer tips

Learn more about camping at Clayton Lake here.

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Cosmic Campground is located in Gila National Forest and was the first designated International Dark Sky Sanctuary in the Northern Hemisphere.  The nearest significant source of artificial light is more than 40 miles away! There is a hard-surface observing area with four pads for telescopes. Arrive in daylight for a 360-degree view of the setting sun, then the planets and stars after nightfall. The Milky Way crowns the mountains of the Gila Wilderness.

Nearby Attractions

Explore nearby attractions here.

RVer Tips

No parking on the observation/telescope pads or camp fires on observation pads. It is recommend to arrive before dark so that your headlights won’t distort your night vision, and to use a red filter over your flashlight lens. The campground has minimal site amenities and minimal shade available.

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The Intrepid Museum has one of the most varied aircraft collections on the East Coast. The Museum's Space Shuttle Pavilion showcases the space shuttle Enterprise, the prototype NASA orbiter that paved the way for the space shuttle program. Seventeen dynamic exhibit zones feature original artifacts, photographs, audio, and films throughout the Pavilion.

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Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is located in New York City, and The Museum of Modern Art, the Empire State Building, and Central Park are just a few of the famous attractions that surround the Museum.

RVer Tips

See three recommended nearby parking options here.

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Great Lakes Science Center is home to NASA Glenn Visitor Center, where you’ll find galleries, interactive exhibits, artifacts, and NASA media. The Apollo Command Module, used in the Skylab 3 space mission, traveled 26.5 million miles in space and now resides here in the NASA Gallery.

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The Science Center is located in Cleveland and sits on the shores of Lake Erie with FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Browns, on one side, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on the other. Visit This Is Cleveland for more attractions in the area.

RVer Tips

Parking is available, with a max height of 6 feet 10 inches. It's worth noting that parking is not open to the public during Browns home games.

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This aviation and space museum is home to the Spruce Goose, along with more than fifty additional military and civilian aircraft, drones, and spacecraft. Along with the aviation and space technology exhibits, Evergreen also houses a flight simulator, IMAX theatre and water park.

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The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is located in the heart of Oregon wine country. Explore Visit McMinnville for more to do in the area.

RVer Tips

The Museum does not allow overnight parking or camping on-site, but does offer convenient parking lots for your visit. You'll find no shortage of nearby camping.

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Elevation and a great location for viewing the Milky Way Galaxy make this state park a popular spot for stargazing, and to support this, all lighting in the park is shielded and all white light has been converted to red. There is an Overnight Astronomy Observation Field for stargazing – bring your own equipment, and note that strict lighting and fire restrictions are in place in this area.

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Susquehannock State Forest is just next-door to Cherry Springs.

RVer Tips

There are no lighting restrictions in the Rustic Campground but as a courtesy it is recommended to use red filters on all lights and keep campfires as small as possible. Pets are prohibited in the campground. Cherry Springs is very remote and most cell phones do not have network coverage.

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Night Sky Viewings are a great way to see the dark skies of the Badlands. Park rangers and astronomy volunteers are available to point out objects in the night sky and help you look through telescopes at the Cedar Pass Amphitheater each evening from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Annual Badlands Astronomy Festival is a three-day celebration with education programs, guest speakers, and hands-on experiences, and no tickets or registration required.

Nearby Attractions

Read about Leisure Explorer Robin North's adventure through the Badlands here.

RVer Tips

Cedar Pass Campground is a great option for remote stargazing within Badlands National Park, and has sites designated for RV camping with electric hookups. Learn more about camping at Badlands here.

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Space Center Houston is the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, which is home to Mission Control and astronaut training. This is one of the only places where you can actually see astronauts train for missions or touch a real moon rock. Independence Plaza is the only exhibit in the world with a full-scale shuttle replica, and VR simulators and motion simulators give visitors a small taste of what space travel feels like. There are many more exhibits, attractions and activities that are designed to tell the story of America’s human space flight program.

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Space Centre Houston is located in Houston, Texas, where there is no end of other things to see and do. Explore Visit Houston for more. Nearby is the smaller city of Webster and the coastal destination of Galveston, both worth a closer look.

RVer Tips

The Center offers ample, spacious parking for RVs, and the cost of parking ($5) is built into the price of your ticket when you buy it online.

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Natural Bridges National Monument was the first International Dark Sky Park certified by the International Dark-Sky Association, and protecting its almost perfect lack of light pollution has remained a priority. During the summer, the park provides astronomy ranger programs under spectacular starry skies.

Nearby Attractions

Natural Bridges is home to three majestic natural bridges. Find out more about must-see attractions at Natural Bridges here. Canyonlands National Park is nearby as well.

RVer Tips

RVs of up to 26 feet are allowed to camp at Natural Bridges, but there are no hookups, dump stations, or potable water, so be sure to come prepared. Find out more about camping at Natural Bridges here.

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Hampton, Virginia, is the birthplace of America’s space program. The Virginia Air & Space Science Center features interactive aviation exhibits spanning 100 years of flight, more than 30 historic aircraft, an hands-on space exploration gallery, unique space flight artifacts, and is home to the Apollo 12 Command Module and the Orion PA-1 Test Vehicle. The Center is the official visitor center of NASA Langley Research Center.

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The coast of Virginia is a lovely place to spend some time. Check out Visit Hampton for more to do in the area, including the Sea to Stars Tour that gives you access to a number of Hampton's attractions, including the Virginia Air & Space Science Center, for one ticket price.

RVer Tips

Free public parking is available across the street from the Virginia Air & Space Science Center in the free public parking garage. Check for height restrictions. Camp nearby at The Colonies Travel Park.

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This Museum is currently displaying Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit from the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing, back on display for the first time in 13 years following a conservation process. Other exhibits include Moving Beyond Earth, Human Spaceflight, Missiles and Rockets, Explore the Universe, and Space Race. Collections include Lunar Module #2, Apollo.

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Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum has two locations, one in Washington, DC, and the other in Chantilly, Virginia.

RVer Tips

See Leisure Explorers Bill and Denise Semion's blog post A Monumental Journey for more on visiting Washington, DC, while RVing.

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At over 11,000 square kilometres, Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies and part of UNESCO's Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. It's also a designated dark sky preserve – the second largest in the world! – and hosts the Dark Sky Festival each year. Find a list of the top 10 spots to stargaze in Jasper National Park here.

Nearby Attractions

When you're in Jasper, you're in the Canadian Rockies – point your RV any direction and you'll find something incredible to explore. The Icefields Parkway scenic drive from Banff to Jasper alone is worth the trip!

RVer Tips

Jasper National Park has various RV camping options to choose from. Check out their Camping 101 information for things you should know.

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Located on the northeast coast of Newfoundland, this dark sky preserve offers Night Sky Kits that include binoculars and other resources, the Night Watch guiding walking tour, and the Night Sky Celebration in August.

Nearby Attractions

Check out this charming post by Leisure Explorers Alexandra and David for lots of inspiration for your time visiting The Rock.

RVer Tips

Find information on Terra Nova's two RV-friendly campgrounds here.

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Kejimkujik is one of Nova Scotia's darkest sky opportunities and a great chance to view stars and other celestial bodies through a telescope, binoculars, or with the naked eye. Outdoor shows "ponder extraterrestrial life and interstellar phenomena alongside incredible imagery, music, and stories," and night hikes and campfire programs educate visitors on how humans and wildlife have been affected by light pollution. Occasional night-time canoe excursions take night-sky appreciation to the next level.

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Nova Scotia is a beautiful island province to explore. Old Town Lunenburg, one hour from Kejimkujik, is one of only two urban communities in North America designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

RVer Tips

There are various camping opportunities in Kejimkujik. Learn more here.

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At over 7,600 square kilometres, there's plenty of space to enjoy the night sky at Algonquin, and the park draws amateur and professional astronomers from at-home and abroad. Evening programs begin at dusk every evening at the Outdoor Theatre between late June and Labour Day, and the park hosts an annual Star Party in June.

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The nearby Georgian Bay area is a beautiful area to explore. Read about Franklin Beecham's time in the town of Parry Sound and nearby Arrowhead Provincial Park in this post, which covers Franklin's full trip along Lake Superior's north shore.

RVer Tips

There are three campgrounds to choose from in Algonquin Provincial Park.

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Explore exhibits like Life in Orbit: The International Space Station, Canada in Space, and Health in Space, and see the original Canadarm used on the Endeavour space shuttle at this museum, located at a former military air base in Ottawa, Ontario.

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Ottawa is the capital of Canada and a beautiful city to explore. All but one of Canada's national museums are located here, as well as the National Arts Centre, Parliament Hill, and much more.

RVer Tips

The museum offers paid, on-site parking, with registration of your license plate.

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Mont-Mégantic National Park is home to the largest public observatory in Canada and the only scientific attraction of its kind in Québec, at the heart of the first International Dark Sky Reserve. ASTROLab museum offers tours and events, two public observatories, numerous telescopes, and fascinating exhibits.

Nearby Attractions

Frontenac National Park is nearby. Beautiful and historic Québec City is less than 3 hours away.

RVer Tips

RVs can camp in the Franceville sector, which has semi-serviced and full-service sites available.

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Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is one of Canada's largest and darkest dark-sky preserves, while at the same time one of the most accessible. The park features a new dome observatory on the Saskatchewan side of the border, which includes a 60-seat Yurt classroom, outside telescope platforms, and three telescopes. The observatory provides educational opportunities on astronomy and stargazing and an Astronomer-in-Residence program, and each August hosts the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party.

Nearby Attractions

Nearby Eastend, Saskatchewan, is the spot where the largest tyrannosaurus rex fossil yet discovered was uncovered, and where you'll now find Scotty the T-Rex at the T.rex Discovery Centre.

RVer Tips

Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park has a number of campgrounds to choose from, ranging from full-service to completely off-the-grid.

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