Badwater Tyler Nordgren/country extra

Death Valley National Park, California

Death Valley is an International Dark Sky Park, which means it restricts light pollution and can claim an exceptional number of starry nights. Death Valley also benefits from being the driest place in the country. “That means the chances of a cloud-free night are very good,” notes Abby Wines, park management assistant. “This is a great place to see the Milky Way, which most Americans have never seen.”

Wines also suggests taking in the full moon from the salt flats in Badwater Basin or Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, an experience she calls “otherworldly.” Plan to visit during the next few months—in summer, nighttime temperatures often top 100 degrees.

Here are some more of America’s national parks that will leave you awestruck.