Discover Dark Skies in Tennessee

The Volunteer State offers several opportunities to stargaze in nature.

Pickett CCC Memorial State Park Credit: Mark Taylor

Noctourism, or the love of enjoying nature after dark, is one of the top travel trends in 2025, according to Booking.com. In its study, 62 percent of travelers surveyed in 33 countries are considering visiting darker sky destinations, with stargazing, after dark nature tours, and evening cultural events becoming increasingly popular. Wayfairer Travel reports nocturnal excursions were up by 25 percent in 2024.

If you're a nocturnal beast looking to get outside, Tennessee’s stunning scenery is written in the stars. The state is home to one-of-a-kind landscapes, attractions, and outdoor allure, from scenic vistas and hiking trails to campsites and planetariums. There's a universe of possibilities awaiting you under a blanket of glittering stars.

The Milky Way and stars above Obed Wild and Scenic River. Credit: NPS

Obed Wild & Scenic River National Park along the Cumberland Plateau offers an other-worldly experience with unobscured views of stars and constellations, which are particularly magical at Lilly Bluff Overlook. Visitors have been known to feel as if they can reach out and literally touch the night sky. Certified by the International Dark Sky Association as an official International Dark Sky Park, the area offers year-round astronomy and dark sky interpretive programs supported by ORION Astronomy Club and the Knoxville Observers.

The Tennessee Night Sky Trail recently announced nine stops dedicated to the exploration of wide-open spaces after dark. Stargazers and outdoor enthusiasts alike can enjoy an array of different astronomical activities ranging from hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and a planetarium, dotting iconic landscapes in Northeastern Tennessee, including the Appalachian Trail and Roan Mountain. Several locations on the Tennessee Night Sky Trail are ADA Accessible with wheelchair accessibility.

Fall Creek Falls State Park Credit: Mark Taylor

Cosmic wonders await in Jamestown at Pickett CCC Memorial State Park - the first Southeastern state park to be designated as a Silver-tier International Dark Sky Park. The park offers a celestial haven for stargazing enthusiasts, hosting star parties throughout the year. The area is also home to an astronomy field, open year-round to night skywatchers.

Another night-time necessity along the Cumberland Plateau is Fall Creek Falls State Park. The park hosts astronomy weekends and star-viewing parties, offering visitors a front-row seat to the wonders of the cosmos. Astronomical aficionados can see glimpses of galaxies, planets, and constellations through telescopic lenses and brush up on their astronomical knowledge. Back on Earth, visitors can extend their stay with overnight cabin reservations and campsites for a peaceful night’s sleep after celestial exploration.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park also offers unforgettable nighttime adventures. Transforming the park after dark, limited light pollution brings a newfound peace to the Smokies, particularly at one popular spot for stargazing, Newfound Gap Trailhead. At more than 6,000 feet above sea level, the elevation makes it a must-see destination for astronomy enthusiasts.

Harrison Bay State Park outside Chattanooga.

One can stroll with the stars at Harrison Bay State Park, just a short drive from Chattanooga. The Star Walk, installed by the Barnard Astronomical Society, offers a self-guided trail of the everyday effects of the universe. The park also offers stellar sunset views over Chickamauga Lake. Sleep under the stars at Harrison Bay State Park's campground.

Stars at Roan Mountain. Credit: Jay Huron

At Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium in the northeastern Tennessee town of Kingsport, part of the Tri-Cities area, which includes Johnson City and Bristol, visitors can enjoy the magic of the night sky, peering through two different observatory telescopes. Free to the public, solar viewing and night viewing sessions are available throughout the year. Stargazers can also completely immerse themselves in the night sky at their cutting-edge planetarium.

Visitors can explore more of the cosmos from the comfort of the indoors at Sharpe Planetarium at the MoSH (Memphis Museum of Science & History).  The attraction offers a 4,000-square-foot screen, completely immersing guests in a projection of star fields, constellations, and patterns using both sight and sound.

Weird, Wacky & Wild South is written by travel writer Cheré Dastugue Coen who adores stargazing and searches out a dark sky any chance she can. She was so excited to witness the aurora borealis in Alaska that she set her latest Viola Valentine mystery there (under her pen name of Cherie Claire).