The route

82 days, about 13,900 miles, three legs. The first leg runs on fixed dates; after Seattle the plan stretches, and a few parks are still maybes.

Days ahead show the region and a rough window. Campgrounds and exact dates appear once the night is over.

TWR1 East & North · Long Island's East End NY to Seattle WA · about 5,150 mi

When	Where	Night
around Oct 1 to 2	Stowe, VT via Cross Sound Ferry, Orient Point and New London	1 night
around Oct 2 to 3	White Mountains, NH via Kancamagus Highway (NH-112)	1 night	dogs: yes
around Oct 3 to 5	Acadia National Park via US-2 across western Maine	1 night	dogs: yes
around Oct 2 to 4	Freeport, ME	1 night
around Oct 8 to 10	Catskills, NY via NY-23A through Kaaterskill Clove	1 night
around Oct 7 to 10	Finger Lakes, NY via NY-23A and NY-23 west over the Catskills	1 night	dogs: partial
around Oct 10 to 12	Niagara, NY via NY-89 up the west shore of Cayuga Lake, Great Lakes Seaway Trail (NY-18) along Lake Ontario	1 night	dogs: yes
around Oct 11 to 12	East Tawas, MI	1 night
around Oct 12 to 14	Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore via M-77 through Seney and H-58 into Pictured Rocks, Mackinac Bridge, US-2 along the Lake Michigan shore	1 night	dogs: partial
around Oct 13 to 14	MN North Shore via H-58 through Pictured Rocks to Munising, MN-61 North Shore, Two Harbors to Silver Bay	1 night	dogs: yes
around Oct 12 to 16	Grand Marais, MN float day via MN-61 North Shore, Silver Bay to Grand Marais	2 nights	dogs: yes
around Oct 15 to 18	Bemidji, MN via Superior National Forest Scenic Byway, Silver Bay to Hoyt Lakes	1 night	dogs: yes
around Oct 16 to 17	Theodore Roosevelt National Park	1 night	dogs: no
around Oct 16 to 19	Little Bighorn via Theodore Roosevelt NP South Unit Scenic Loop Drive	1 night	dogs: partial
around Oct 17 to 19	Paradise Valley, MT	1 night	dogs: partial
around Oct 19 to 22	Yellowstone National Park	1 night	dogs: no
around Oct 21 to 23	Seeley Lake, MT	1 night
around Oct 22 to 23	Spokane, WA via International Selkirk Loop: Bonners Ferry to Sandpoint to Newport	1 night	dogs: yes
around Oct 22 to 24	Seattle, WA via US-2 over Stevens Pass via Leavenworth	2 nights	dogs: yes

TWR2 Pacific · Seattle WA to Los Angeles CA · about 2,530 mi

When	Where	Night
around Oct 24 to 30	Olympic National Park flexible via Whidbey Island and Deception Pass via Hurricane Ridge Road, US-101 along Lake Crescent via US-101 coastal stretch past Ruby Beach, Upper Hoh Road to the Hoh Rain Forest	3 nights	dogs: yes
around Oct 26 to 29	Astoria, OR flexible via Astoria-Megler Bridge over the Columbia, US-101 along Willapa Bay, Cape Disappointment and the Ilwaco headland	1 night
around Oct 28 to 31	Hood River, OR flexible via Historic Columbia River Highway	1 night	dogs: yes
around Oct 27 to Nov 1	Bend, OR flexible	1 night	dogs: yes
around Oct 30 to Nov 3	Crater Lake National Park flexible via Crater Lake Rim Drive	1 night	dogs: partial
around Oct 29 to Nov 3	Florence, OR flexible via Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway (OR-230 / OR-138)	1 night	dogs: yes
around Oct 30 to Nov 4	Bandon, OR flexible	1 night	dogs: yes
around Nov 1 to 7	Brookings, OR float day via Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor, US-101 Port Orford to Gold Beach, Bandon Beach Loop Road	2 nights	dogs: yes
around Nov 2 to 7	Redwood National Park flexible	1 night	dogs: yes
around Nov 4 to 8	Lost Coast, CA float day via Avenue of the Giants, Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway	2 nights	dogs: no
around Nov 5 to 10	Mendocino, CA flexible via CA-1 from Leggett over the ridge to Mendocino	1 night
around Nov 6 to 10	Point Reyes National Seashore flexible via CA-1 down the Mendocino coast, CA-1 Sonoma Coast, Jenner to Tomales Bay	1 night	dogs: partial
around Nov 8 to 13	San Mateo, CA flexible via CA-1 past Bolinas Lagoon, Stinson Beach and Muir Beach, CA-1 through Pacifica and the Devil's Slide tunnels, Marin Headlands (Conzelman Road), Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to the Point Reyes Lighthouse	1 night
around Nov 9 to 12	Big Sur, CA flexible via CA-1 Big Sur, Carmel to Pfeiffer, 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach	1 night	dogs: no
around Nov 11 to 14	Yosemite NP maybe Pure choice - no weather gate. Valley is open year-round.	+2 days
around Nov 11 to 15	Pismo Beach, CA flexible via CA-1 Big Sur, Pfeiffer to San Simeon, CA-1 Cambria to Morro Bay	1 night	dogs: partial
around Nov 12 to 17	Los Angeles, CA flexible via Pacific Coast Highway, Point Mugu to Santa Monica, CA-154 San Marcos Pass	2 nights	dogs: yes

TWR3 Southwest & South · Los Angeles CA to home · about 6,240 mi

When	Where	Night
around Nov 14 to 18	Lone Pine, CA flexible via Movie Road through the Alabama Hills, US-395 up the Owens Valley, CA-14 through Red Rock Canyon	1 night	dogs: yes
around Nov 13 to 18	Death Valley National Park flexible via CA-190 over Father Crowley Point, Panamint Valley and Towne Pass	2 nights	dogs: no
around Nov 16 to 20	Zion National Park flexible via Valley of Fire Highway	2 nights	dogs: partial
around Nov 19 to 22	Bryce Canyon National Park flexible via Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive to Rainbow Point, Scenic Byway 12 through Red Canyon, Zion-Mount Carmel Highway through the tunnel, US-89 up Long Valley	1 night	dogs: partial
around Nov 20 to 25	Scenic Byway 12 / Escalante float day	2 nights	dogs: yes
around Nov 22 to 26	Moab, UT flexible via UT-24 through Capitol Reef and Caineville	1 night	dogs: no
around Nov 22 to 27	Kayenta, AZ flexible	1 night
around Nov 24 to 28	Grand Canyon (S Rim), AZ flexible via Desert View Drive	2 nights	dogs: partial
around Nov 24 to 29	Holbrook, AZ flexible via Petrified Forest National Park Road	1 night	dogs: yes
around Nov 26 to 30	Santa Fe, NM flexible via Turquoise Trail (NM-14)	2 nights	dogs: yes
around Nov 29 to Dec 2	Great Sand Dunes NP maybe Snow at 8,200 ft in mid-Nov, AND your float-day budget at Santa Fe.	+2 days
around Nov 28 to Dec 4	White Sands National Park float day via Billy the Kid Trail through Capitan, Lincoln and Ruidoso	2 nights	dogs: yes
around Nov 30 to Dec 5	Carlsbad + Guadalupe flexible via US-82 over the Sacramento Mountains via Cloudcroft	1 night	dogs: no
around Dec 2 to 6	Marfa, TX flexible via Davis Mountains Scenic Loop (TX-118) via McDonald Observatory	1 night	dogs: no
around Dec 3 to 8	Big Bend National Park float day via FM-170 River Road, Presidio to Lajitas	2 nights	dogs: no
around Dec 4 to 8	Presidio, TX float day via FM-170 River Road from Lajitas to the Big Hill	2 nights
around Dec 7 to 10	Fort Stockton / Ozona, TX flexible via TX-118 from Study Butte to Alpine	1 night
around Dec 8 to 13	Hill Country, TX float day	2 nights	dogs: yes
around Dec 9 to 12	Houston area, TX flexible via US-290 Wine Road through Stonewall and Johnson City	1 night	dogs: yes
around Dec 11 to 15	New Orleans, LA flexible	2 nights
around Dec 11 to 15	Birmingham / Meridian, AL flexible	1 night
around Dec 14 to 19	Great Smoky Mtns, TN float day via Foothills Parkway West over Look Rock	2 nights	dogs: partial
around Dec 14 to 19	Blue Ridge Pkwy, NC flexible via Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherokee (MP 469) to Mount Pisgah (MP 408), Newfound Gap Road (US-441) and Little River Road	1 night	dogs: yes
around Dec 15 to 19	Blowing Rock, NC flexible via Blue Ridge Parkway, Linville Falls (MP 317) to Blowing Rock (MP 292) via the Linn Cove Viaduct	1 night	dogs: yes
around Dec 17 to 20	Shenandoah National Park flexible via Blue Ridge Parkway, Blowing Rock to the Virginia line via Doughton Park	1 night	dogs: yes
around Dec 18 to 23	Front Royal / north VA flexible	1 night	dogs: yes

How the route has changed

Sep 28: added Freeport, ME; dropped Katahdin Woods and Waters.
Sep 28: added Hood River, OR, Bend, OR, Crater Lake National Park, Lone Pine, CA, Moab, UT, Kayenta, AZ; dropped Tillamook, OR, Newport, OR, Prairie Creek, CA.
Sep 28: added Stowe, VT, White Mountains, NH, Katahdin Woods and Waters, Acadia National Park, Little Bighorn, Paradise Valley, MT, Yellowstone National Park, Seeley Lake, MT, San Mateo, CA, Scenic Byway 12 / Escalante; dropped Glasgow, MT, Glacier National Park, Half Moon Bay, CA; now 82 days.

Fall color along the road

Every place on the route with a fall-color reputation, when it usually peaks, and what we expect to find when we get there. Each window says what it rests on: a 2026 report from the ground, a 2026 forecast, or a typical year where nobody has published a 2026 call. 33 of the 41 places here have a 2026 source. Windows last checked Sep 27. The same dots are on the map, colored for the day we pass.

Place	Peak window, and its source	When we pass	Stage
Stowe and the Mount Mansfield ridge VT · Sugar maples	Sep 30 to Oct 92026 ground report, Sep 23 Vermont Tourism Weekly Foliage Tracker (Week 2)	around Oct 1 to 2	peak color
White Mountains and the Kancamagus NH · Maples, birch	Oct 1 to Oct 112026 ground report, Sep 25 Visit White Mountains Foliage Tracker	around Oct 2 to 3	peak color
Western Maine, US-2 ME · Maples, birch	Sep 30 to Oct 82026 ground report, Sep 23 Maine DACF Fall Foliage Report #3	around Oct 3 to 5	peak color
Acadia and Mount Desert Island ME · Maples, birch, blueberry barrens	Oct 8 to Oct 202026 ground report, Sep 23 Maine DACF Fall Foliage Report #3	around Oct 3 to 5	turning
Catskills NY · Maples, oaks	Oct 5 to Oct 152026 ground report, Sep 23 I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report	around Oct 8 to 10	peak color
Finger Lakes NY · Maples, oaks, vineyards	Oct 12 to Oct 242026 ground report, Sep 23 I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report	around Oct 7 to 10	turning
Niagara and the Lake Ontario shore NY · Maples, oaks	Oct 15 to Oct 282026 ground report, Sep 23 I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report	around Oct 10 to 12	turning
Southern Ontario, 401 corridor ON · Maples	Oct 10 to Oct 212026 forecast, Sep 26 Ontario Parks fall colour report	around Oct 11 to 12	peak color
Lake Huron shore, Tawas MI · Maples, aspen, oaks	Oct 8 to Oct 212026 forecast, Sep 23 More Than Just Parks Michigan foliage tracker	around Oct 11 to 12	peak color
Mackinac and the eastern Upper Peninsula MI · Maples, aspen	Oct 6 to Oct 162026 ground report, Sep 23 UP Travel (UPTRA) Fall Color Report	around Oct 12 to 14	peak color
Pictured Rocks and Munising MI · Maples, birch, aspen	Oct 1 to Oct 142026 ground report, Sep 23 UP Travel (UPTRA) Fall Color Report	around Oct 12 to 14	peak color
Minnesota North Shore MN · Maples inland, then birch and aspen on the shore	Oct 1 to Oct 122026 ground report, Sep 24 Minnesota DNR Fall Color Finder	around Oct 13 to 14	past peak, fading
Grand Marais and the Gunflint MN · Maples, birch, aspen, tamarack	Sep 30 to Oct 102026 ground report, Sep 23 Minnesota DNR Fall Color Finder	around Oct 12 to 16	past peak, fading
Mississippi headwaters MN · Maples, aspen, tamarack	Sep 29 to Oct 92026 ground report, Sep 23 Minnesota DNR Fall Color Finder	around Oct 15 to 18	past peak, fading
Theodore Roosevelt, Little Missouri cottonwoods ND · Cottonwoods, ash	Oct 1 to Oct 122026 forecast NPS Theodore Roosevelt NP, Plants	around Oct 16 to 17	past peak, fading
Little Bighorn and the Bighorn River MT · Cottonwoods	Oct 7 to Oct 212026 forecast, Sep 27 More Than Just Parks Montana state page	around Oct 16 to 19	peak color
Paradise Valley and Livingston MT · Cottonwoods along the Yellowstone	Sep 30 to Oct 132026 forecast, Sep 27 More Than Just Parks Montana state page	around Oct 17 to 19	past peak, fading
Yellowstone north entrance and the Gardner River MT · Aspens, cottonwoods	Sep 25 to Oct 82026 forecast, Sep 27 More Than Just Parks Yellowstone National Park forecast	around Oct 17 to 19	mostly down
Bozeman and the Gallatin MT · Cottonwoods, aspens	Sep 28 to Oct 122026 forecast, Sep 27 More Than Just Parks Gallatin National Forest forecast	around Oct 17 to 19	past peak, fading
Seeley-Swan Valley, MT-83 MT · Western larch (gold needles)	Oct 10 to Oct 25typical year Distinctly Montana, Larch Madness	around Oct 21 to 23	peak color
Spokane and Coeur d'Alene WA · Maples in town, larch and aspen in the hills	Oct 10 to Oct 25typical year Spokesman-Review, Falling into fall	around Oct 22 to 23	peak color
Snoqualmie Pass and the Cascade foothills WA · Vine maple, bigleaf maple, a few larch high up	Oct 1 to Oct 202026 forecast, Sep 27 More Than Just Parks Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF forecast	around Oct 22 to 24	past peak, fading
Seattle, the Arboretum and Japanese Garden WA · Japanese maples, ginkgo	Oct 15 to Nov 5typical year FOX 13 Seattle, peak fall colors	around Oct 22 to 24	peak color
Olympic Peninsula rain forests WA · Bigleaf maple and vine maple in the rain forest	Oct 8 to Oct 302026 forecast, Sep 27 More Than Just Parks Olympic National Park forecast	around Oct 24 to 30	peak color
Astoria and the lower Columbia OR · Bigleaf maple, alder	Oct 12 to Nov 2typical year Oregon Coast Weekend, Fall Foliage Drives	around Oct 26 to 29	peak color
Oregon coast, Newport to Bandon OR · Bigleaf maple in the coast range; the shore itself stays green	Oct 15 to Nov 52026 forecast, Sep 27 More Than Just Parks Siuslaw National Forest forecast	around Oct 29 to Nov 3	peak color
Redwoods and the Avenue of the Giants CA · Bigleaf maple under the redwoods	Oct 25 to Nov 152026 forecast, Sep 27 More Than Just Parks Redwood National Park forecast	around Nov 4 to 8	peak color
Zion Canyon, the Virgin River UT · Cottonwoods, boxelder, maples up the side canyons	Oct 28 to Nov 15typical year NPS Zion - Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter	around Nov 16 to 20	past peak, fading
Bryce Canyon aspens UT · Aspens at 8,000 to 9,000 ft	Sep 26 to Oct 92026 forecast, Sep 27 KSL.com - Fall is almost here	around Nov 19 to 22	mostly down
Scenic Byway 12 and Calf Creek UT · Cottonwoods in the canyons; aspens on Boulder Mountain go in September	Oct 20 to Nov 6typical year BackRoadsWest - Fall colors in Southern Utah	around Nov 19 to 22	mostly down
Grand Canyon South Rim AZ · Gambel oak, a few aspens	Oct 8 to Oct 242026 forecast, Sep 27 More Than Just Parks - Grand Canyon forecast	around Nov 24 to 28	mostly down
Santa Fe, Aspen Vista and the Rio Grande bosque NM · Aspens above town in late September; bosque cottonwoods in November	Oct 28 to Nov 15typical year Visit Albuquerque - Leaf peeping	around Nov 26 to 30	mostly down
McKittrick Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains TX · Bigtooth maples (no dogs on the trail)	Oct 24 to Nov 82026 forecast, Sep 27 NPS Guadalupe Mountains - Fall Colors are Coming	around Nov 30 to Dec 5	mostly down
Big Bend, Rio Grande cottonwoods TX · Cottonwoods at Rio Grande Village; the desert stays desert	Nov 10 to Nov 252026 forecast, Sep 27 More Than Just Parks - Big Bend forecast	around Dec 3 to 8	past peak, fading
Lost Maples and the Hill Country TX · Bigtooth maples	Nov 1 to Nov 18typical year TPWD Lost Maples - Nature	around Dec 8 to 13	mostly down
Smokies, Newfound Gap and Clingmans Dome TN · Maples, birch, beech above 4,000 ft	Oct 10 to Oct 252026 forecast, Sep 27 More Than Just Parks - GSMNP forecast	around Dec 14 to 19	mostly down
Smokies, the low coves and valleys TN · Oaks, hickory, maples in the coves	Oct 24 to Nov 82026 forecast, Sep 27 More Than Just Parks - GSMNP forecast	around Dec 14 to 19	mostly down
Blue Ridge Parkway south, near Asheville NC · Oaks, maples	Oct 15 to Oct 312026 ground report, Sep 25 WataugaOnline - Neufeld Fall Color Report	around Dec 14 to 19	mostly down
Blue Ridge Parkway, Blowing Rock NC · Oaks, maples	Oct 18 to Nov 12026 ground report, Sep 25 WataugaOnline - Neufeld Fall Color Report	around Dec 15 to 19	mostly down
Shenandoah, Skyline Drive VA · Oaks, hickory, maples	Oct 13 to Oct 272026 forecast, Sep 27 More Than Just Parks - Shenandoah forecast	around Dec 17 to 20	mostly down
Front Royal and northern Virginia VA · Oaks, tulip poplar	Oct 20 to Nov 32026 forecast, Sep 27 More Than Just Parks - Virginia county map	around Dec 17 to 20	mostly down

The nationwide prediction map (SmokyMountains.com)

County by county, week by week, from NOAA history and the season's weather. Their estimate, embedded from smokymountains.com.

Every page the windows cite

Dark skies along the road

There are 152 certified dark-sky places in the United States, and all of them are on the map. These are the ones the route passes or comes close to, with the moon on the nights we're nearby. The moon figures are estimates for the evening, and for nights still ahead they cover the whole rough date window.

Place	Designation	When we pass	Moon
AMC Maine Woods ME	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 3 to 5 a detour	22 to 41% dark until the moon rises around midnight to little or no moon
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument ME · national park unit	Dark Sky Sanctuary	around Oct 3 to 5 a detour	22 to 41% dark until the moon rises around midnight to little or no moon
Cherry Springs PA	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 7 to 10 a detour	0 to 7% little or no moon
Lake Hudson Recreation Area MI	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 11 to 12 a detour	2 to 7% little or no moon
Port Crescent MI	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 11 to 12 on the route	2 to 7% little or no moon
Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area MI	Dark Sky Sanctuary	around Oct 12 to 14 a short detour	7 to 21% little or no moon
Dark Sky Coast MI	State dark sky preserve	around Oct 12 to 14 on the route	7 to 21% little or no moon
Headlands MI	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 12 to 14 on the route	7 to 21% little or no moon
Negwegon MI	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 12 to 14 on the route	7 to 21% little or no moon
Rockport MI	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 12 to 14 a short detour	7 to 21% little or no moon
Thompson's Harbor State Park MI	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 12 to 14 a short detour	7 to 21% little or no moon
Wilderness State Park MI	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 12 to 14 on the route	7 to 21% little or no moon
Boundary Waters Canoe Area MN	Dark Sky Sanctuary	around Oct 13 to 14 a short detour	13 to 21% little or no moon
Keweenaw MI	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 13 to 14 a detour	13 to 21% little or no moon
Newport State Park WI	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 13 to 14 a detour	13 to 21% little or no moon
Voyageurs National Park MN · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 15 to 18 a detour	30 to 61% the moon sets in the evening to the moon sets around midnight
Medicine Rock State Park MT	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 16 to 19 a detour	40 to 71% the moon sets around midnight
Glacier National Park MT · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 22 to 23 a short detour	94 to 98% the moon is up most of the night
Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge MT	Dark Sky Sanctuary	around Oct 22 to 23 on the route	94 to 98% the moon is up most of the night
Goldendale Observatory WA	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 28 to 31 on the route	57 to 85% the moon is up most of the night to dark until the moon rises around midnight
Prineville Reservoir State Park OR	Dark Sky Park	around Oct 27 to Nov 1 on the route	47 to 92% the moon is up most of the night to dark until the moon rises around midnight
Oregon Outback OR	Dark Sky Sanctuary	around Oct 30 to Nov 3 a detour	26 to 68% dark until the moon rises around midnight to dark until the moon rises before dawn
Death Valley National Park CA · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 13 to 18 on the route	24 to 75% little or no moon to the moon sets in the evening
Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument AZ	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 16 to 20 a short detour	55 to 91% the moon sets around midnight to the moon is up most of the night
Pipe Spring National Monument AZ · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 16 to 20 on the route	55 to 91% the moon sets around midnight to the moon is up most of the night
Springdale UT	Dark Sky Community	around Nov 16 to 20 on the route	55 to 91% the moon sets around midnight to the moon is up most of the night
Thunder Mountain Pootsee Nightsky AZ	Dark Sky Community	around Nov 16 to 20 on the route	55 to 91% the moon sets around midnight to the moon is up most of the night
Zion National Park UT · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 16 to 20 on the route	55 to 91% the moon sets around midnight to the moon is up most of the night
Bryce Canyon National Park UT · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 19 to 22 on the route	83 to 99% the moon is up most of the night
Cedar Breaks National Monument UT · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 19 to 22 on the route	83 to 99% the moon is up most of the night
Kodachrome Basin State Park UT	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 19 to 22 on the route	83 to 99% the moon is up most of the night
Arches National Park UT · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 22 to 26 on the route	90 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Black Canyon of the Gunnison CO · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 22 to 26 a detour	90 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Canyonlands UT · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 22 to 26 on the route	90 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Capitol Reef National Park UT · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 22 to 26 on the route	90 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Castle Valley UT	Dark Sky Community	around Nov 22 to 26 on the route	90 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Dead Horse Point State Park UT	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 22 to 26 on the route	90 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Fremont Indian State Park UT	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 22 to 26 a short detour	90 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Goblin Valley State Park UT	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 22 to 26 on the route	90 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Helper UT	Dark Sky Community	around Nov 22 to 26 a short detour	90 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Moab UT	Dark Sky Community	around Nov 22 to 26 on the route	90 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Torrey UT	Dark Sky Community	around Nov 22 to 26 on the route	90 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Goosenecks State Park UT	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 22 to 27 on the route	82 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Hovenweep National Monument UT · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 22 to 27 on the route	82 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Mesa Verde National Park CO · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 22 to 27 a short detour	82 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Natural Bridges National Monument UT · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 22 to 27 on the route	82 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Norwood CO	Dark Sky Community	around Nov 22 to 27 a short detour	82 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Nucla-Naturita CO	Dark Sky Community	around Nov 22 to 27 a short detour	82 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Rainbow Bridge UT · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 22 to 27 a short detour	82 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Ridgway CO	Dark Sky Community	around Nov 22 to 27 a detour	82 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Top of the Pines CO	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 22 to 27 a detour	82 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Grand Canyon National Park AZ · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 24 to 28 on the route	74 to 99% the moon is up most of the night to dark until the moon rises around midnight
Big Park/Village of Oak Creek AZ	Dark Sky Community	around Nov 24 to 29 a short detour	64 to 99% the moon is up most of the night to dark until the moon rises around midnight
Camp Verde AZ	Dark Sky Community	around Nov 24 to 29 a short detour	64 to 99% the moon is up most of the night to dark until the moon rises around midnight
Flagstaff AZ	Dark Sky Community	around Nov 24 to 29 on the route	64 to 99% the moon is up most of the night to dark until the moon rises around midnight
Flagstaff Area National Monuments AZ · national park unit	Dark Sky Community	around Nov 24 to 29 on the route	64 to 99% the moon is up most of the night to dark until the moon rises around midnight
Petrified Forest National Park AZ · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 24 to 29 on the route	64 to 99% the moon is up most of the night to dark until the moon rises around midnight
Sedona AZ	Dark Sky Community	around Nov 24 to 29 on the route	64 to 99% the moon is up most of the night to dark until the moon rises around midnight
Chaco Culture National Historical Park NM · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 26 to 30 a short detour	53 to 90% the moon is up most of the night to dark until the moon rises around midnight
El Morro National Monument NM · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 26 to 30 on the route	53 to 90% the moon is up most of the night to dark until the moon rises around midnight
Fort Union National Monument NM · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 26 to 30 a short detour	53 to 90% the moon is up most of the night to dark until the moon rises around midnight
Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge NM	Urban Night Sky Place	around Nov 26 to 30 on the route	53 to 90% the moon is up most of the night to dark until the moon rises around midnight
Valles Caldera National Preserve NM · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 26 to 30 on the route	53 to 90% the moon is up most of the night to dark until the moon rises around midnight
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument NM · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Nov 28 to Dec 4 on the route	15 to 74% dark until the moon rises around midnight to little or no moon
Big Bend National Park TX · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 3 to 8 on the route	0 to 23% little or no moon
Black Gap Wildlife Management Area TX	Dark Sky Sanctuary	around Dec 3 to 8 on the route	0 to 23% little or no moon
Greater Big Bend TX	Dark Sky Reserve	around Dec 7 to 10 on the route	0 to 5% little or no moon
Devil's River State Natural Area TX	Dark Sky Sanctuary	around Dec 8 to 13 a short detour	0 to 27% little or no moon to the moon sets in the evening
Enchanted Rock TX	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 8 to 13 on the route	0 to 27% little or no moon to the moon sets in the evening
Fredericksburg TX	Dark Sky Community	around Dec 8 to 13 on the route	0 to 27% little or no moon to the moon sets in the evening
Horseshoe Bay TX	Dark Sky Community	around Dec 8 to 13 on the route	0 to 27% little or no moon to the moon sets in the evening
South Llano River State Park TX	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 8 to 13 on the route	0 to 27% little or no moon to the moon sets in the evening
UBarU Camp and Retreat Center TX	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 8 to 13 on the route	0 to 27% little or no moon to the moon sets in the evening
Bee Cave TX	Dark Sky Community	around Dec 9 to 12 on the route	1 to 18% little or no moon
Blanco TX	Dark Sky Community	around Dec 9 to 12 on the route	1 to 18% little or no moon
Dripping Springs TX	Dark Sky Community	around Dec 9 to 12 on the route	1 to 18% little or no moon
Jonestown TX	Dark Sky Community	around Dec 9 to 12 on the route	1 to 18% little or no moon
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park TX · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 9 to 12 on the route	1 to 18% little or no moon
Milton Reimers Ranch Park TX	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 9 to 12 on the route	1 to 18% little or no moon
Wimberley Valley TX	Dark Sky Community	around Dec 9 to 12 on the route	1 to 18% little or no moon
Obed Wild and Scenic River TN · national park unit	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 14 to 19 a short detour	36 to 85% the moon sets around midnight to the moon is up most of the night
Pickett Civilian Conservation Corps Memorial State Park TN	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 14 to 19 a detour	36 to 85% the moon sets around midnight to the moon is up most of the night
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute NC	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 14 to 19 on the route	36 to 85% the moon sets around midnight to the moon is up most of the night
Mayland Earth to Sky Park and Bare Dark Sky Observatory NC	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 15 to 19 on the route	47 to 85% the moon sets around midnight to the moon is up most of the night
James River State Park VA	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 17 to 20 a short detour	68 to 92% the moon sets around midnight to the moon is up most of the night
Natural Bridge State Park VA	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 17 to 20 on the route	68 to 92% the moon sets around midnight to the moon is up most of the night
Staunton River State Park VA	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 17 to 20 a detour	68 to 92% the moon sets around midnight to the moon is up most of the night
Watoga State Park WV	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 17 to 20 a short detour	68 to 92% the moon sets around midnight to the moon is up most of the night
Rappahannock County Park VA	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 18 to 23 on the route	77 to 100% the moon is up most of the night
Sky Meadows State Park VA	Dark Sky Park	around Dec 18 to 23 on the route	77 to 100% the moon is up most of the night

Where the list comes from

DarkSky International certifies these places. Its own list can't be read by a program, so this one is merged from copies of it plus news of recent certifications. It is complete through 2024 and partial for 2025 and 2026, so check DarkSky before planning around one.

The night sky at each stop

The moon at each stop: how much of it is lit, when it rises and sets, and how many hours of full darkness are left once twilight ends and the moon is down. Times are local and rounded to 15 minutes. For nights still ahead, every figure covers the stop's whole date window.

When	Where	Moon	Moonrise	Moonset	Full darkness
around Oct 1 to 2	Stowe, VT	50 to 70% lit waning	9:15 pm to 10:15 pm	during the day	1 to 2 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Oct 2 to 3	White Mountains, NH	40 to 60% lit waning	10:15 pm to 11:30 pm	during the day	2.5 to 3.5 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Oct 3 to 5	Acadia National Park	20 to 50% lit waning	11:15 pm to 1:45 am	during the day	3.5 to 6 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Oct 2 to 4	Freeport, ME	30 to 60% lit waning	10:15 pm to 12:45 am	during the day	2 to 5 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Oct 8 to 10	Catskills, NY	0 to 10% lit near new	6 am to 7 am (in daylight some nights)	during the day	about 9.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky
around Oct 7 to 10	Finger Lakes, NY	0 to 10% lit near new	5 am to 6 am (in daylight some nights)	during the day	9 to 9.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky
around Oct 10 to 12	Niagara, NY	0 to 10% lit waxing	during the day	6:45 pm to 7:15 pm (in daylight some nights)	about 9.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky
around Oct 11 to 12	East Tawas, MI	0 to 10% lit waxing	during the day	7 pm to 7:30 pm	about 9.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky
around Oct 12 to 14	Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore	0 to 20% lit waxing	during the day	7:30 pm to 8:45 pm	about 9.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky
around Oct 13 to 14	MN North Shore	10 to 20% lit waxing	during the day	7:15 pm to 8 pm	about 9.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky
around Oct 12 to 16	Grand Marais, MN	0 to 40% lit waxing	during the day	6:45 pm to 9:30 pm	8.5 to 9.5 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Oct 15 to 18	Bemidji, MN	20 to 60% lit waxing	during the day	9 pm to 12 am	6 to 9 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Oct 16 to 17	Theodore Roosevelt National Park	30 to 50% lit waxing	during the day	9:30 pm to 10:30 pm	7 to 8 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Oct 16 to 19	Little Bighorn	30 to 70% lit waxing	during the day	9:45 pm to 1:15 am	5 to 8 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Oct 17 to 19	Paradise Valley, MT	40 to 70% lit waxing	during the day	11:15 pm to 1:30 am	4.5 to 7 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Oct 19 to 22	Yellowstone National Park	60 to 90% lit waxing	during the day	1:30 am to 5 am	1.5 to 4.5 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Oct 21 to 23	Seeley Lake, MT	80 to 100% lit waxing	during the day	3:45 am to 6:15 am	0 to 2.5 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Oct 22 to 23	Spokane, WA	80 to 100% lit waxing	during the day	4:15 am to 5:30 am	0 to 1 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Oct 22 to 24	Seattle, WA	80 to 100% lit waxing	during the day	4:45 am to 7:15 am	0 to 1 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Oct 24 to 30	Olympic National Park	60 to 100% lit near full	6:30 pm to 9:45 pm (in daylight some nights)	7:15 am (in daylight some nights)	0 to 2 hours The moon is up most of the night
around Oct 26 to 29	Astoria, OR	70 to 100% lit waning	6:45 pm to 8:30 pm (in daylight some nights)	during the day	0 to 1 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Oct 28 to 31	Hood River, OR	50 to 90% lit waning	7:30 pm to 11 pm	during the day	0 to 3.5 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Oct 27 to Nov 1	Bend, OR	40 to 100% lit waning	6:45 pm to 11:30 pm	during the day	0 to 5 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Oct 30 to Nov 3	Crater Lake National Park	20 to 70% lit waning	10 pm to 2 am	during the day	2.5 to 7.5 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Oct 29 to Nov 3	Florence, OR	20 to 80% lit waning	8:45 pm to 2 am	during the day	1 to 7.5 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Oct 30 to Nov 4	Bandon, OR	10 to 70% lit waning	10 pm to 3:15 am	during the day	2.5 to 8.5 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Nov 1 to 7	Brookings, OR	0 to 50% lit waning	11:45 pm to 6:30 am	during the day	5 to 11 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Nov 2 to 7	Redwood National Park	0 to 40% lit waning	1 am to 6:30 am	during the day	6 to 11 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Nov 4 to 8	Lost Coast, CA	0 to 20% lit near new	3:15 am to 6:30 am (in daylight some nights)	during the day	8.5 to 11 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky
around Nov 5 to 10	Mendocino, CA	0 to 10% lit near new	4:15 am to 6:30 am (in daylight some nights)	5:45 pm (in daylight some nights)	9.5 to 11 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky
around Nov 6 to 10	Point Reyes National Seashore	0 to 10% lit near new	5:15 am to 6:15 am (in daylight some nights)	5:45 pm (in daylight some nights)	about 10.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky
around Nov 8 to 13	San Mateo, CA	0 to 30% lit waxing	during the day	5:45 pm to 8:15 pm (in daylight some nights)	9 to 10.5 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Nov 9 to 12	Big Sur, CA	0 to 20% lit waxing	during the day	5:45 pm to 7:30 pm (in daylight some nights)	10 to 10.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky
around Nov 11 to 15	Pismo Beach, CA	0 to 40% lit waxing	during the day	6:30 pm to 10:15 pm	7 to 10.5 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Nov 12 to 17	Los Angeles, CA	10 to 60% lit waxing	during the day	7:15 pm to 12 am	5 to 9.5 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Nov 14 to 18	Lone Pine, CA	20 to 70% lit waxing	during the day	9 pm to 1 am	4 to 8 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Nov 13 to 18	Death Valley National Park	20 to 70% lit waxing	during the day	8 pm to 1 am	4 to 9 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Nov 16 to 20	Zion National Park	40 to 90% lit waxing	during the day	11:45 pm to 4 am	2 to 6 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Nov 19 to 22	Bryce Canyon National Park	70 to 100% lit waxing	during the day	2:45 am to 6:15 am	0 to 3 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Nov 20 to 25	Scenic Byway 12 / Escalante	80 to 100% lit near full	6 pm (in daylight some nights)	3:45 am to 6:15 am (in daylight some nights)	0 to 2 hours The moon is up most of the night
around Nov 22 to 26	Moab, UT	80 to 100% lit near full	5:45 pm to 7 pm (in daylight some nights)	6:15 am (in daylight some nights)	0 to 0.5 hours The moon is up most of the night
around Nov 22 to 27	Kayenta, AZ	80 to 100% lit near full	6 pm to 8:30 pm (in daylight some nights)	6 am (in daylight some nights)	0 to 2 hours The moon is up most of the night
around Nov 24 to 28	Grand Canyon (S Rim), AZ	70 to 100% lit waning	6:15 pm to 9:45 pm (in daylight some nights)	during the day	0 to 3 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Nov 24 to 29	Holbrook, AZ	60 to 100% lit waning	6 pm to 11 pm (in daylight some nights)	during the day	0 to 4.5 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Nov 26 to 30	Santa Fe, NM	40 to 90% lit waning	7 pm to 11:45 pm	during the day	0.5 to 5.5 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Nov 28 to Dec 4	White Sands National Park	10 to 80% lit waning	9:30 pm to 3:45 am	during the day	3 to 9.5 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Nov 30 to Dec 5	Carlsbad + Guadalupe	0 to 50% lit waning	11:45 pm to 4:45 am	during the day	5.5 to 10.5 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Dec 2 to 6	Marfa, TX	0 to 30% lit waning	2:45 am to 6:30 am	during the day	7.5 to 11 hours Dark until the moon rises
around Dec 3 to 8	Big Bend National Park	0 to 30% lit near new	3:30 am to 7:30 am (in daylight some nights)	during the day	8.5 to 11 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky
around Dec 4 to 8	Presidio, TX	0 to 20% lit near new	4:30 am to 7:30 am (in daylight some nights)	during the day	9 to 11 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky
around Dec 7 to 10	Fort Stockton / Ozona, TX	0 to 10% lit near new	7:30 am (in daylight some nights)	6:15 pm to 7:15 pm (in daylight some nights)	about 11 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky
around Dec 8 to 13	Hill Country, TX	0 to 30% lit waxing	during the day	6 pm to 9:45 pm (in daylight some nights)	8 to 11 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Dec 9 to 12	Houston area, TX	0 to 20% lit waxing	during the day	5:45 pm to 8:45 pm	9 to 11 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky
around Dec 11 to 15	New Orleans, LA	0 to 50% lit waxing	during the day	7:15 pm to 11 pm	6.5 to 10 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Dec 11 to 15	Birmingham / Meridian, AL	0 to 50% lit waxing	during the day	7 pm to 10:45 pm	6.5 to 10.5 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Dec 14 to 19	Great Smoky Mtns, TN	30 to 80% lit waxing	during the day	10:30 pm to 3:45 am	2.5 to 7.5 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Dec 14 to 19	Blue Ridge Pkwy, NC	30 to 80% lit waxing	during the day	10:30 pm to 3:45 am	2.5 to 7.5 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Dec 15 to 19	Blowing Rock, NC	30 to 80% lit waxing	during the day	11:15 pm to 3:45 am	2.5 to 6.5 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Dec 17 to 20	Shenandoah National Park	50 to 90% lit waxing	during the day	1:15 am to 4:45 am	1 to 4.5 hours Dark after the moon sets
around Dec 18 to 23	Front Royal / north VA	70 to 100% lit near full	during the day	2:15 am to 7:15 am (in daylight some nights)	0 to 3.5 hours The moon is up most of the night

Steinbeck's route, 1960

The dashed line on the map is Steinbeck's own loop, rebuilt from the book and later research. It's approximate: a literary route, not a GPS record. More on that.