"We were really excited to visit the dark skies of Sedona and this did not disappoint. Harry was a great guide and driver and obviously knew how to get us away from the lights and noise. The stars and galaxies did not disappoint"
CHECK THE SKY
Cloud decides the night
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Cloud over tonight’s dark hours
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Moon tonight
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Full darkness tonight
Forecast cloud for Sedona; the tours do not disclose their observing site · month-by-month sky · checked · data from MET Norway
Sky brightness
No published measurement
None published for this site. Checked October 2026.
Bortle class (est.)
Not estimated
No sky-brightness measurement has been published for the tour sites on the forest land around Sedona. The tours observe outside the City of Sedona, an International Dark Sky Community (DarkSky International, 2014). No Bortle class is estimated from satellite data.
Dark-sky designation
International Dark Sky Community
The tours observe outside the City of Sedona, an International Dark Sky Community (DarkSky International, 2014). Source, checked October 2026.
Elevation
Not published
the tour sites are not disclosed. Checked October 2026.
Best months for the Milky Way
May, Jun, Jul
Most core hours above 20° in full darkness, weighted by night cloud (core season April to August). Computed with JPL DE421 and NASA POWER, checked October 2026.
Sedona · Flagstaff · Kitt Peak · Page
Arizona Stargazing Tours: Sedona, Lowell Observatory and Kitt Peak
Arizona's stargazing runs from a private night on the forest land around Sedona to the telescopes of Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, the world's first dark sky city, and the night programs of Kitt Peak near Tucson.
From
US$200
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.8 / 5 17+ Reviews
- 10 Dark-Sky Places Compared on This Site
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Sedona Private Stargazing Tour Includes
Two hours. Not for pregnant travellers or children under 3.
Highlights
- A private tour with a local guide
- Transport away from the city lights
- Sedona's rock formations after dark
- The night sky on protected U.S. Forest Service land
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead
What's Included
- Private transportation away from city lights
- Guided tour by experienced locals
How an Arizona Stargazing Tour Works
From the meeting point to the telescopes.
Pick Your Base
Sedona for private and small-group nights on forest land, Flagstaff for Lowell Observatory, Tucson for Kitt Peak, Page for a slot-canyon night hike.
Book Ahead for Kitt Peak
Kitt Peak's night programs sell out: the observatory suggests booking about a month ahead, especially from January to May.
Get to the Site
The private Sedona tour drives you; most others meet at the site, so arrange a car or a ride back in advance.
Telescopes After Dark
The guide points out the constellations and lines up the telescopes; some sessions show galaxies on a screen.
Photo Gallery
Arizona After Dark
Red rocks, observatory domes and the desert sky.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
What the Tour Brings, and What You Bring
Red Rock Western Jeep Tours includes
- Private transportation away from city lights
From the tour's GetYourGuide listing, checked October 2026.
Bring
- Warm layers, a hat and gloves: the night is colder than the day, in every month
- A red light, or a phone set to a red screen: white light ruins your night vision
- Binoculars rather than your own telescope: they need no setup and show far more than your eyes
- Closed shoes for uneven ground in the dark
Month by month
When the Sky Is Darkest at Sedona
Night cloud, Milky Way core hours and the next new moon in each month, at the observing site (the nearest disclosed point).
| Month | Night cloud | Full darkness | Milky Way core | Next new moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42% | 10.9 h | 0 h | 7 Jan 2027 |
| February | 42% | 10.2 h | 0 h | 6 Feb 2027 |
| March | 36% | 9.2 h | 0.6 h | 8 Mar 2027 |
| April | 31% | 7.9 h | 1.8 h | 6 Apr 2027 |
| May best | 24% | 6.7 h | 3.2 h | 6 May 2027 |
| June best | 19% | 6 h | 4 h | 4 Jun 2027 |
| July best | 57% | 6.4 h | 3.2 h | 3 Jul 2027 |
| August | 47% | 7.5 h | 1.8 h | 2 Aug 2027 |
| September | 25% | 8.8 h | 0.6 h | 29 Sep 2027 |
| October | 24% | 9.9 h | 0 h | 29 Oct 2027 |
| November | 32% | 10.8 h | 0 h | 9 Nov 2026 |
| December | 43% | 11.2 h | 0 h | 8 Dec 2026 |
Night cloud: NASA POWER climatology (CLOUD_AMT_NIGHT), January 2001 to December 2025, at the observing site's grid cell (1836 m). Darkness and Milky Way hours: computed for 2027 with JPL DE421 via Skyfield (sun more than 18° below the horizon; galactic centre at least 20° up). No night temperatures shown: site elevation not published. Checked October 2026.
What you will see
The Sky Over Sedona, Month by Month
Computed star charts for the observing site on new-moon nights, at the hour the tours are out. The Milky Way is drawn schematically.
Night calendar
Dark Nights Coming Up at Sedona
The nights around a new moon are the darkest of the month. Dates are local to the observing site.
Next new moons
- 9 November 2026
- 8 December 2026
- 7 January 2027
- 6 February 2027
- 8 March 2027
- 6 April 2027
Meteor showers
- Leonids, peak night 17 November 2026 some moonlight
- Geminids, peak night 14 December 2026 some moonlight
- Ursids, peak night 22 December 2026 bright moon
- Quadrantids, peak night 3 January 2027 dark moon
- Lyrids, peak night 22 April 2027 bright moon
- Eta Aquariids, peak night 6 May 2027 dark moon
Milky Way season
Core season April to August. Best months: May, June and July.
Lunar eclipses
- 17 August 2027, 00:14 local: penumbral (a faint shading, easy to miss)
New moons, darkness and eclipse visibility: JPL DE421 via Skyfield. Meteor-shower peaks from the IAU Meteor Data Center's established-shower solar longitudes (Jopek & Kaňuchová); the peak night can shift by a day. Lunar eclipses: Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC. Moon labels: under 25% lit = dark moon, under 60% = some moonlight. Checked October 2026.
Tour or on your own?
Arizona on Your Own, or With a Tour?
- Do you know a dark pull-out on the forest roads around Sedona, and can you drive it at night?
- Do you want to look through a big telescope, or will your eyes do?
- For Kitt Peak, can you book a month ahead and drive the mountain road back after dark?
Yes to all three
Go on your own
Drive out of Sedona onto the national forest land and look up, or visit Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, where the public telescopes are part of the entry.
No to any of them
Book the tour
A guide, transport away from the lights on the private tour, and big telescopes on the small-group nights.
Check dates →Private Sedona Night vs. Night Owl vs. Kitt Peak
Three Arizona stargazing nights side by side. Prices as of October 2026.
| Feature | PRIVATE Red Rock Western Jeep Tours, Private Stargazing | Night Owl Tours, Telescopes and Video Astronomy | Kitt Peak Dark Sky Discovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From US$200/per person | From US$125 | From US$109 |
| Rating | 4.8/5 (17 reviews) | 4.7/5 (31 reviews) | 5.0/5 (2 reviews) |
| Length | 2 hours | 1.5 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Place | Forest land near Sedona | Forest land near Sedona | Kitt Peak, about an hour from Tucson |
| Telescopes | Not stated | Large-aperture telescopes, 4K video astronomy | Telescope viewing session |
| Transport | Private transport included | Make your own way | Make your own way |
| Age Limit | 3 and up | 7 and up | 8 and up |
| Free Cancellation | Up to 24 hours ahead | Up to 24 hours ahead | Up to 24 hours ahead |
| Best For | No driving, a private night | The best telescope views | An observatory visit |
| Check Availability | View Night Owl Tours | View Kitt Peak |
Other Arizona Stargazing Tours
Big telescopes and video astronomy near Sedona, a stargazing hike in a Navajo slot canyon, and Lowell Observatory's public telescopes.
The Arizona Stargazing Guide
Which Arizona Stargazing Tour to Book
Seven nights in four places compared on telescopes, transport and price.
The Arizona night to book in Sedona is Red Rock Western Jeep Tours’ private stargazing tour: a local guide drives you away from the city lights to protected forest land under the red rocks, from US$200 a person as of October 2026, rated 4.8 from 17 reviews. For big telescopes, Night Owl Tours’ session near Sedona adds video astronomy on a 4K screen, from US$125; in Flagstaff, Lowell Observatory’s general entry includes its public telescopes, from US$35.
Why Arizona
Flagstaff became the world’s first International Dark Sky City in 2001, with help from Lowell Observatory, which has pressed for dark-sky lighting there since 1958 and is where Pluto was discovered in 1930. Sedona followed as an International Dark Sky Community in 2014. South of Tucson, Kitt Peak National Observatory stands on the Tohono O’odham Nation, about an hour from the city, and runs public night programs. sedonastargazingtour.com covers the Sedona tours in depth.
The Arizona tours compared
| Tour (operator) | From | Rating (reviews) | Length | Place | Transport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private stargazing tour (Red Rock Western Jeep Tours) | US$200 | 4.8 (17) | 2 hours | Forest land near Sedona | Private transport |
| Telescopes and video astronomy (Night Owl Tours) | US$125 | 4.7 (31) | 1.5 hours | Forest land near Sedona | Make your own way |
| Nighttime UFO and stargazing tour (Sedona UFO Vortex Food Tours) | US$160 | 4.5 (162) | 1 hour | Sedona | Make your own way |
| Antelope Valley Canyon stargazing hike (Antelope Valley Canyon Tours) | US$71 | 4.7 (54) | 2 hours | Near Page, Navajo Nation | Make your own way |
| Lowell Observatory general entry (Lowell Observatory) | US$35 | 4.5 (10) | Self-paced | Flagstaff | Make your own way |
| Kitt Peak Dark Sky Discovery night program (Kitt Peak National Observatory) | US$109 | 5.0 (2) | 4.5 hours | Kitt Peak, near Tucson | Make your own way |
| Kitt Peak Astro 101 binocular tour (Kitt Peak National Observatory) | US$59 | New | 4.5 hours | Kitt Peak, near Tucson | Make your own way |
Prices, ratings and review counts as of October 2026; operators change prices, so treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Who each one suits
Pick by what you want through the eyepiece:
Private, with transport
Red Rock Western Jeep Tours
A local guide drives you to a dark spot on U.S. Forest Service land. Not for pregnant travellers.
Check dates →Big telescopes
Night Owl Tours
Large-aperture telescopes, galaxies and nebulae on a 4K screen, padded chairs and blankets. You drive to the site.
See this tour →An observatory
Kitt Peak night program
A guide-led night sky program, a telescope session and a light meal at Kitt Peak National Observatory.
See this program →Red Rock Western Jeep Tours is the one with no driving for you: private transport to forest land away from Sedona’s lights, and a minimum age of 3.
Night Owl Tours works on Sedona’s forest land under a U.S. Forest Service permit, at sites that change with the season; it sends directions after booking and recommends booking your ride back in advance if you use a taxi or ride share.
Sedona UFO Vortex Food Tours runs a different night out: an hour of stories and night-vision goggles rather than telescopes, cancelled if the sky is too cloudy.
Kitt Peak sells two night programs through GetYourGuide: the Dark Sky Discovery program with a telescope session and a light meal, typically no more than 14 guests per guide, and a binocular-based Astro 101 tour. Both are for ages 8 and up. Arizona State Route 86 has a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint, so visitors from outside the U.S. should carry passports.
Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff sits at 7,200 feet; its general entry includes the Giovale Open Deck Observatory’s telescopes and the dome where Pluto was found.
Near Page, Antelope Valley Canyon Tours walks a Navajo slot canyon at night and stargazes on moonless nights; a US$15 Navajo permit fee is not included (checked October 2026).
Cold, the drive and the moon
Cold. Every operator asks for warm clothing: Kitt Peak lists a hat, gloves and a scarf.
The drive. Most Arizona nights start at the site; plan the drive back after dark.
The moon. The night calendar lists the next new moons for Sedona.
For Utah’s dark sky parks to the north, see Utah stargazing tours.
Guest Reviews
What Recent Guests Say
4.8/5
from 17 verified reviews
"Our tour guide was Jay and he was amazing!!! He knew so much and was so personable and we enjoyed every moment of this tour! Thank you, Jay, for showing us the magic of the stars!"
"We had an amazing experience! Raven was so informative and was a pleasure to have as our guide😊"
"This experience was everything we hoped for. Maverick was our guide and was very friendly and knowledgeable. He took us out to what felt like the middle of the desert where we got to watch the sun set and the stars come out. I highly recommend this tour to get away from all the light pollution and have the opportunity to see the night sky."
"My daughter and I were here on vacation from NY and we loved this tour. Harry was just an amazing tour guide. It was an easy smooth ride and he showed us the Milky Way and gave us the name of the stars we were looking at. He was very thorough and easy to talk too. I highly recommend Harry and this stargazing tour!"
"Richard's knowledge of wildlife is impressive. The spot for stargazing is superbly located. An experience to recommend, especially since it's a local company."
"Nate/White Wolf, was knowledgeable about the stars. We hit it off right away and had a great evening swapping stories and laughing"
"Awesome adventure Bumpy but fun. Excellent guide. All of the stars and planets were out!"
Read all 17 verified reviews
See All ReviewsPick a Night, See the Price
Many stargazing tours on this site move you to another night if cloud cancels the session. Check the terms of the tour you pick before you pay. Starting from US$200 per person.
Check AvailabilityFAQ: Stargazing in Arizona
Sedona, Flagstaff, Kitt Peak and the moon, with prices as of October 2026.
Away from the cities: the forest land around Sedona, Flagstaff and its observatory, and Kitt Peak south-west of Tucson. Flagstaff was the world's first International Dark Sky City, in 2001, and Sedona became an International Dark Sky Community in 2014. Compare the tours on this page.
Yes, out of town on the national forest land. The private tour drives you there from about US$200 as of October 2026; Night Owl Tours' telescope and video astronomy session costs from about US$125 and you drive yourself. See the calendar.
Yes, on its night programs. Kitt Peak National Observatory stands on the Tohono O'odham Nation about an hour from Tucson; its observatory suggests booking about a month ahead, especially from January to May. Two programs are on GetYourGuide; see the cards above.
Yes: the general entry includes the public telescopes of the Giovale Open Deck Observatory. Lowell sits at 7,200 feet in Flagstaff and is where Pluto was discovered in 1930. Entry costs from about US$35 as of October 2026; see the Lowell card.
Yes, on moonless nights away from the cities. The month chart on this page shows when the Milky Way core is up at Sedona, and the night calendar the next new moons. See the month-by-month sky.
The private tour does; most others do not. Night Owl Tours sends directions after booking and suggests booking your ride back in advance if you use a taxi or ride share. See the tour or on your own questions.
Warm layers, a hat and gloves, even after a hot day. Kitt Peak lists a hat, jacket, gloves, scarf and closed shoes; at Lowell Observatory, the altitude is 7,200 feet, so drink water. Read what to wear stargazing.
No published measurement. No sky-brightness measurement has been published for the tour sites on the forest land around Sedona. The tours observe outside the City of Sedona, an International Dark Sky Community (DarkSky International, 2014). No Bortle class is estimated from satellite data. Checked October 2026.
May, June, July. Those months combine the most Milky Way core hours with the least night cloud at the observing site: the core stands at least 20° up for an hour or more of full darkness from April to August. Core hours computed with JPL DE421 via Skyfield; night cloud from NASA POWER (2001-2025), checked October 2026.
9 November 2026, 8 December 2026, 7 January 2027. The nights either side of a new moon are the darkest of the month. Dates are local, computed with JPL DE421 via Skyfield, checked October 2026.
About 35% night cloud cover on average across the year. The clearest month is June (19%), the cloudiest July (57%). NASA POWER climatology, 2001-2025, checked October 2026.
Still have questions? Email us at info@beststargazing.com
Night-cloud and night-low climatology: NASA POWER Project, January 2001 to December 2025 · Tonight's cloud: data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Moon, darkness and Milky Way geometry: JPL DE421 via Skyfield · Lunar eclipses: Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC · Meteor showers: IAU Meteor Data Center list of established showers · Sky data checked October 2026.