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View of the northern lights over the Mackinac Bridge, Michigan
ADOBE STOCK
Catch the Glow
From the far-north reaches of Alaska to Maine’s coastal cliffs, discover the best spots in the United States for chasing the magical northern lights.
By Jason Frye
Waiting for the aurora borealis under a cold dome of star-littered sky, you gaze at the constellations and wonder if the northern lights will show tonight. They’ve been at the top of your wanderlust wish list for a while, and you can almost feel them waiting for the right moment to appear. Then, at a blink, it happens. A ribbon of purple unfurls, curling from horizon to horizon, bending as if blown by a wind. A twin stripe of neon green joins it, and soon the stars have disappeared behind a curtain of ethereal light.
Intrepid travelers and nature lovers often venture to Iceland, Norway, Greenland, the Canadian Arctic and beyond for a glimpse of the northern lights, but the savviest of U.S.-based travelers know you don’t have to journey so far afield to catch sight of the lights. In fact, you don’t even need a passport.
Alaska offers America a front-row seat for aurora borealis viewing, as do the Pacific Northwest and the northern reaches of the Midwest (including Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness) to the Finger Lakes of New York and the crown of Maine, at the right time of year. With perfect conditions—clear skies, an energetic sun and a little luck—the northern lights even show up far to the south; in recent years, visitors to Shenandoah National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Grand Canyon have glimpsed the lights filling their patches of sky.
For the most reliable aurora watching, however, start planning a trip north. Alaska, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington offer prime northern lights experiences if you know when—typically around the new moon, when skies are darkest; between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.; during equinoxes; and from September to April—and where—to look.
Alaska | Aurora Central
Anchorage, Alaska
Alaska, America’s northernmost state, reigns as queen of the northern lights, with an aurora season extending from August to April. Though you can spot the lights from just about anywhere in the state, Fairbanks offers the most reliable chance to see this incredible show. While there, check in with the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ nightly aurora forecast, and check in to the AAA Three Diamond Hampton Inn & Suites Fairbanks found on the north end of town, to make a quick escape to prime viewing spots. Don’t want to go it alone? You could book a trip with AAA Vacations®; on the seven-day Alaska’s Northern Lights tour, for example, you can travel from Anchorage to Fairbanks (or Fairbanks to Anchorage) for aurora viewing, wildlife spotting, glacier visits, a train ride through Alaska’s stunning countryside, views of Denali and more.
Maine | Acadia’s Auroras
Acadia National Park, Maine
The farther north you go in Maine, the better the aurora viewing can get, thanks to skies free from light pollution and a good position on the globe. For a good chance of a northern lights show, head to Acadia National Park and its highest peak, Cadillac Mountain. Here, in the heart of the park, dark skies and a great view of the northern lights extend over the ocean and Maine’s woodlands. But Cadillac Mountain isn’t the only spot inside the national park from which to view the lights; Jordan Pond and Sand Beach are two other places for prime aurora viewing. The town of Bar Harbor, tucked in against Acadia National Park, offers AAA Diamond and AAA Approved accommodations.
Michigan | Superior Views
Upper Peninsula, Michigan
The hills and plains of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the shoreline of Lake Superior make for superb aurora viewing from October to April. From Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to Mackinac Island, stargazers find cozy spots offering easy views of the northern lights. Mackinac Island, no stranger to visitors year-round, offers AAA Diamond Designated and AAA Approved accommodations. A visit in November or December lets you combine your aurora adventure with the holiday charm of this car-free island.
Click here for more information about Mackinac Island, Michigan
Minnesota | Northern Lights in the Far North
Lake Superior, Minnesota
Minnesota’s lake-studded wilderness makes for frame-worthy photos of the northern lights, and for the best chance at an excellent shot, head north, then head north some more. Make your way to International Falls, a town on the Canadian border not far from Voyageurs National Park (certified as an International Dark Sky Park); aurora-viewing in the park means plenty of dark skies and photo opportunities, but get just a few minutes out of International Falls and you can find secluded spots for prime aurora watching. Plan to spend the night about three miles away in Ranier, Minnesota, at the AAA Three-Diamond AmericInn by Wyndham or the Cantilever Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham.
Learn how AAA Diamond Designations help you understand the type of experience to expect at hotels, so you can book with confidence.
Wyoming | Grand Views in Grand Teton
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park presents some stunning backdrops for northern lights viewing and photos: ribbons of light reflecting in alpine lakes, hanging suspended over rocky peaks and illuminating snowy fields. Bundle up because it’ll be cold, but nearby Jackson, a ski town, offers plenty of warm accommodations including AAA Three, Four and Five Diamond properties, such as Gravity Haus Jackson Hole, Hotel Terra Jackson Hole and Four Seasons Resort & Residences Jackson Hole. This aurora viewing location requires a little adventure, as the national park’s roads close in the heart of winter, but winter hikers, snowshoers and cross country skiers can access the shores of Jenny and Jackson lakes, plus countless other scenic spots for aurora viewing. If you’re not set up for a winter adventure, outfitters in Jackson are ready to help.
Idaho | Lakeside Light Shows
Chatcolet Lake, Idaho
Idaho’s panhandle is a gorgeous landscape by day and an astonishing sight by night when the northern lights fill the sky. Stay in Coeur D’Alene, where a host of AAA Three Diamond properties offers warm, comfortable stays during your aurora hunt. Viewing of the northern lights here peaks in winter, and near Coeur D’Alene, there are plenty of spots to watch them. Hayden Lake and Coeur D’Alene Lake offer several good viewing areas, as do Heyburn State Park on Chatcolet and Round Lakes (a 45-minute drive south).
Washington | Prime Views in Pacific Northwest
Olympic National Park, Washington
In Washington, escape the urban landscape of Seattle and head to the area in and around Olympic National Park, where you stand the best chance of seeing the ethereal lights dance in the sky. A short, paved hiking trail at Hurricane Ridge inside the national park delivers you to a hilltop viewpoint where the vista is nothing short of jaw-dropping, whether you visit in the day, catch sight of the Milky Way and a sky full of stars, or if you spot the northern lights. Stay at one of the AAA Three Diamond accommodations nearby: Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor, in Port Angeles, and Juan de Fuca Cottages, in Sequim. Another option for catching the lights is to drive to the shores of the Pacific Ocean and watch them dance above the waves, stony islands and rocky seastacks rising from the surf.
Awesome Auroras Abound
Fairbanks, Alaska
You’re not limited to the states mentioned above when hunting the northern lights. And a hunt it is. You may go out at the “right” time of year at the “right” time of night, but they don’t appear. There are no guarantees. NOAA’s Aurora Dashboard, Space Weather Live and other websites offer aurora forecasts, and apps like My Aurora Forecast & Alerts and Aurora Alerts will let you know when conditions are good. Also, keep an eye on solar activity and geomagnetic storms as these phenomena help create the best conditions for aurora viewing. Clearly, hunting the aurora borealis isn’t an exact science—but when the stars metaphorically align, the bucket list moment can be out of this world.
Let a knowledgeable AAA Travel Agent help you plan the ultimate aurora borealis adventure — complete with exclusive member benefits and valuable savings only available through AAA.
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