Entry No. 40 — the Washington, D.C. file — filed under: dark sky park

Sky Meadows State Park

An International Dark Sky Park an hour past the DC exurbs, where volunteer astronomers set up telescopes for scheduled star parties — and on any other clear night, visitors are permitted to walk out to Turner Pond, the park's designated dark-sky viewing spot, and stay until 2 a.m. watching the Milky Way over sheep pasture, for a $10 parking fee.

The move: Time a visit to a scheduled astronomy program for the guided telescope tour of deep-sky objects, then walk to Turner Pond afterward to keep watching on your own before the 2 a.m. cutoff.

• 📍 Delaplane, VA
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 11012 Edmonds Ln, Delaplane, VA 20144

Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: dcr.virginia.gov

last checked: 2026-07-19