The first step in finding a great stargazing spot means getting as far away from other humans as you can. And honestly, that makes now the absolute best time to re-embrace a pastime that has captivated humankind since well before we had wheels.

There are more than 120 certified International Dark Sky places -- urban settings, parks, nature reserves -- across the globe, many of them in the US. Most of North America’s designated Dark Sky sites are in the southwestern US, but there’s a healthy number sprinkled all around the country. The nonprofit International Dark Sky Association (the folks who do the certifying) evaluates candidates not just on the basis of how dark their respective skies are, but often by how much community support the sites have.

Here, we’ve curated a mix of our favorite dark places where you’re likely to find friendly amateur astronomers and ample opportunities to gaze uninterrupted into the heavens just like our ancestors. Only now, you have wheels to get you there.

MORE: Everything you need to know before you take up stargazing is right here