Arkansas has seen a lot of development in recent years and some local astronomers are frustrated, but if you know where to look there are still some beautiful skies to observe.
Most of the dark skies in the state are in the northern half of the state. The central part of the state is mostly too bright for pleasant observing.
Plan to drive a few hours outside of central Arkansas to find the real dark skies.
Hobbs State Park
Bortle: 2-5
The Sugar Creek Astronomical Society hosts several events at the Hobbs State Park, this is their preferred observin location for outreach events.
Hobbs State Park is the largest state park in Arkansas and offers moonlight kayaking, primitive camping and mountain biking.
This park is about 3 hours from Little Rock and pretty close to the Missouri border.
There are only a very few campsites and they are primitive, so you will want to bring your own power for your time observing here. We love using an inexpensive battery jumper pack to power all the accessories like for our scopes.
Buffalo National River Park
Bortle: 2-4
Buffalo River State Park became an International Dark Sky Park in 2019 and implemented responsible lighting practices.
This is a great place for observing in central northern Arkansas. The park is about 2 hours from Little Rock and has skies between bortle 2 and 4.
The park hosts 3 Star Party events with the local astronomy clubs as well as regular events led by rangers. You can find the events on the park calendar.
Pettigrew, Arkansas
Bortle: 2
This is a secret spot, but very very dark. You may not want to head out here without 4 wheel drive.
About 2 hours south of Branson, MO this town is a great place to find a dark spot to set up. This town is located in the north west corner of Arkansas.
There are not many restaurants, gas stations or lodging in the area, but that is what keeps the sky dark!
Plan to pack all the food and water you need. There is a challenging mountain bike trail in the area with parking areas that are great places to set up.
There are a few local campgrounds that you can call and ask about lighting and make reservations.
Allison, Arkansas
Bortle: 2
Allison is just 2 hours north of Little Rock and has a great dark sky.
Consider booking a campsite in Allison when observing in Arkansas. Consider a site on the White River where you will have a wide view of the sky.
There are some local caverns that would be a great daytime activity for your visit as well.
White Rock Wilderness
Bortle: ?
Another location in north western Arkansas is White Rock Wilderness.
The park is remote and rustic, there are less than 10 campsites and they do not accommodate large RVs. This means the skies in the sites are likely a bit darker.
The White Rock Wilderness is an interesting historical site as well; there are 3 stone cabins that were built in the 1930s and restored in the 1980s.
This park does host star gazing activities throughout the year.
Eureka Springs
Bortle: 4
Eureka Springs is a great location for stargazing events, although it is not as dark or secluded as other spots. This is the place for more social astronomers.
Located in the center of northern Arkansas. They host the Stars and Sauce event each year, it is not your typical star party, this event features live music and performances.
It is sponsored by Explore Scientific which provides high quality telescopes for use by the public at the event.
Find more details about Stars and Sauce at the event website.
The Farm at Eureka Springs is a venue that is open most of the year and offers camping, RV hookups, and other amenities to make it a very comfortable place to visit.
You can spend time here any time of year and they have a dedicated area for setting up your telescope or stargazing.
What About Southern Arkansas?
You have probably noticed that most of the areas in this post are in northern Arkansas, but what about the southern half of the state?
Well, according to the light pollution map, there are plenty of dark skies available, but I did not find any astronomers talking about spots in the south.
So, the spots there must be heavily guarded secrets!
You can find dark sky areas by using a combination of Google Maps and a Light Pollution Maps. Find
Where Can You See the Milky Way in Arkansas?
Arkansas has most of the dark areas in the northern third of the state. You can see the Milky Way without any special equipment in Hobbs State Park, Buffalo State Park and in Allison, AK.
There are a few dark areas in southern Arkansas, but they are not as accessible as the locations in Northern Arkansas.
Visiting Dark Sites in Arkansas
If you are new to visiting dark sites, there are a few unspoken rules to be aware of:
- Turn Off Headlights
Be sure not to aim headlights towards the observing area. White light disrupts night vision and makes it harder to see the stars, so be sure to use running lights when parking and park facing away from the observing area.
- Use Red Light
When you need light for safety use a red light. We love a red headlamp from Amazon, but you can also cover a flashlight with nail polish or red film to turn it red.
You will see other attendees wearing these red lights and that is the reason.
- Enjoy the Sky
Don’t be afraid to ask to look through a telescope. The astronomers love to share their passion for the night sky.
Try not to bump or move the telescope as you look through the eyepiece as it might make the object you are trying to view move out of the center of the telescope.
Arkansas has some dark skies that can be enjoyed by everyone. Be sure to attend some of these events to support the hobby, learn and see more of the beautiful world beyond.
