Florida's National Preserve Between Miami & Naples Boasts Spectacular Night Sky Stargazing

Big Cypress National Preserve sits quietly between the buzz of Miami and the breezy calm of Naples, but come nightfall this wild stretch of swamp and sky puts on one of the Sunshine State's best celestial shows. Recognized in 2016 as an International Dark Sky Place by the U.S.-based nonprofit organization DarkSky International, Big Cypress is one of Florida's best parks for stargazing. It's an amazing discovery for enthusiasts looking to escape the light pollution of the coast and experience stars the way nature intended: uninterrupted, unfiltered, and impossibly vast.

The preserve's flat terrain and remote location make it an ideal destination for night sky viewing, especially during new moons or winter months when humidity is low. On clear nights, the Milky Way stretches across the sky like a luminous highway, and constellations feel close enough to touch. Time seems to stand still here. You may find yourself tracing Orion's belt and counting shooting stars without even realizing an hour has passed.

While stargazing is technically possible year-round at Big Cypress, night sky fans know that there are celestial sweet spots on the calendar. Winter and early spring typically offer the clearest skies, thanks to lower humidity and fewer storms. The cool, dry air makes for sharp stargazing conditions, especially if you're able to plan your visit around a new moon. What's more, there will be fewer mosquitoes.

One of the best places to set up for the night is at the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center or the Kirby Storter Roadside Park. These areas offer easy access and open views of the horizon — perfect for wide-angle sky watching and gorgeous photography of the stars. Rangers sometimes host night sky programs, complete with telescopes and laser pointer tours of the constellations, adding an educational layer to your experience. But even solo, all you need is a blanket, some bug spray, and a willingness to embrace the vastness and beauty of the universe. Out here in this peaceful, scenic nature preserve, it's just you and the stars. And the gators. Can't forget about them.

Of course, Big Cypress National Preserve is more than just a stargazing destination — it's a wild, living landscape where ancient cypress trees tower over slow-moving waters and alligators lurk in moonlit shadows. Camping here, even for one night, lets you experience the preserve's unique rhythm of life. Pitch a tent at Midway Campground or Monument Lake, and once the sun sets and the frogs start their nightly chorus, step away from the campfire and look skyward. There's nothing like stargazing while surrounded by the quiet, breathing wilderness of the Everglades.

Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or a curious explorer, Big Cypress offers something rare: a front-row seat to the cosmos. It's a reminder that magic still exists in dark places and that sometimes the best show in Florida isn't at a theme park but in the sky above a swamp. Plus, you can keep the celestial adventure going. For example, space enthusiasts will thrive on a road trip along Florida's Space Coast. On your journey, you'll encounter destinations like Satellite Beach and the American Space Museum.