Park · AZ, US
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Kartchner Caverns State Park, about 9 miles south of Benson on Arizona Highway 90, is an International Dark Sky Park certified in 2017. Star parties run on a few Saturdays a year, with solar viewing by day, a talk on protecting dark skies, and telescope viewing after dark. Campsites and private cabins can be reserved online, and the Discovery Center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Official site (opens in new tab) View on OpenStreetMap (opens in new tab) Source (opens in new tab)
| Type | Park |
| State / Province | AZ |
| Country | United States |
| Nearest town | Benson |
| Certified | 2017 |
| Coordinates | 31.8400, -110.3505 |
| Source | https://darksky.org/places/kartchner-caverns-state-park-dark-sky-park/ (opens in new tab) |
Plan Your Night
Tonight’s moon
Waning Crescent
1% illuminated. Rises 5:18 AM MST. Sets 4:24 PM MST. Times are local to the park.
Next new moon
November 9, 2026
The darkest, best-for-stargazing night in the current lunar cycle. See the full trip planner for the next 12 months of new-moon windows.
Upcoming meteor showers
- Leonids Meteor Shower Peak 2026, November 17, 2026
- Geminids Meteor Shower Peak 2026, December 13, 2026
- Ursids Meteor Shower Peak 2026, December 22, 2026
5 nearest dark sky places
- Bisbee, Arizona · 61 km (38 mi)
- Tumacácori National Historical Park · 72 km (45 mi)
- Tubac, Arizona · 74 km (46 mi)
- Saguaro National Park · 90 km (56 mi)
- Diamond Mountain Retreat Center · 94 km (59 mi)