Dark Sky Stargazing at Riverside
One of New Hampshire's premier stargazing destinations — right from your campsite.
Riverside Camping & RV Resort is one of the few RV resorts in New Hampshire's White Mountains region to offer a structured dark sky experience. Every night at 10:00–10:30 PM, the resort's exterior lighting is extinguished, allowing guests to observe the Milky Way, meteor showers, and deep-sky objects from their campsites.
Why Lancaster for Stargazing?
Lancaster, NH sits in Coos County, one of the least light-polluted counties in New England, with Bortle Scale ratings of 3–4 in the surrounding area. This means the Milky Way is clearly visible to the naked eye, and even casual stargazers can spot planets, constellations, and satellite passes without any equipment.
Best Times to Stargaze
- Milky Way: Best visibility May through October, after midnight in May, after 10 PM in July–August
- Perseid Meteor Shower: August 11–13 — the year's best meteor shower, visible from Riverside with no light interference
- Fall Equinox: Late September offers excellent dark sky viewing with minimal humidity
- New Moon Weekends: The best stargazing coincides with new moon phases — check a lunar calendar when booking
Tips for Astrophotography
Guests with telescopes and astrophotography equipment are welcome. The flat, paved sites at Riverside provide stable platforms — no vibration from uneven ground. Back-in sites with concrete pads offer the most stable setup. Bring a red headlamp to preserve night vision while navigating the park after lights-off.
Nearby Dark Sky Destinations
Weeks State Park, just 6 miles from Riverside, features a fire tower at the summit of Mt. Prospect with 360° views — an outstanding location for stargazing above the treeline. The park is open seasonally for daytime visits, but the summit offers some of the darkest skies in the region.