1 certified dark-sky destination within 200 miles · Nearest: Grand Teton National Park & Jackson Hole (174 mi SW)
Montana's skies are famously dark by national standards, but Billings' Yellowstone Valley dome requires heading south into Wyoming's high country. Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole is 174 miles southwest on US-212 and US-89 — a classic Rockies road trip that also happens to deliver a Bortle 3 sky above 6,800 ft.
🌠 Perseids 2026 — a rare moonless peak. The shower peaks overnight Aug 12 into pre-dawn Aug 13 on a new moon, so the sky stays fully dark all night — the best Perseid conditions in years. From these skies, expect roughly 60–80 meteors/hour under clear conditions under clear conditions. Best rates 2–5 AM local time; no equipment needed, just look up.
1 Certified Dark-Sky Destination Near Billings, MT
Grand Teton National Park & Jackson Hole Nearest
174 mi SW of Billings
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~est. 3.5–5h — verify in maps
Sky: Bortle 3 — rural sky
Designation: IDA Dark Sky Community
Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Milky Way window: late Feb - mid Oct
Gateway town(s): Jackson, WY, Moose, WY
Access: Grand Teton is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; open roads are not gated, so you can enter/exit and stargaze at any hour (entrance fee applies)