Stargaze Atlas

California dark-sky map — light pollution by town

485 towns rated · darkest: Bayside · measured from VIIRS 2024 satellite night-lights

California has 485 towns rated for light pollution here, from its darkest — Bayside (Bortle 4) — to its brightest city cores, with 5 rating as genuinely dark or rural sky (Bortle 4 or better). Every town is listed with the nearest measurably darker town to drive to. It also holds 3 certified International Dark Sky Places, listed below with the nearest rated town to each. Ratings are a VIIRS satellite proxy, not survey-grade sky-brightness readings.

Statewide California · VIIRS 2024
Towns rated
485

5 rate as genuinely dark or rural sky (about Bortle 4 or better).

Darkest town
Bayside
Genuinely dark towns
5
Certified dark-sky places
3

Certified dark-sky places in California

3 sites in California hold an International Dark Sky Place certification — awarded for actively protecting the night sky, not measured from orbit like the town ratings below. What each designation means →

Certified International Dark Sky Places in California.
Place Designation Coordinates Nearest rated town Distance That town's sky
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Dark Sky Park 33.259°N, 116.399°W San Diego Country Estates 28 mi B5
Borrego Springs Dark Sky Community 33.247°N, 116.372°W La Quinta 29 mi B6
Joshua Tree National Park Dark Sky Park 33.873°N, 115.901°W Twentynine Palms 20 mi B6

All California towns by darkness

Darkest sky first, each with the nearest measurably darker town to drive to. Sort or filter below.

California towns, darkest sky first.
Sky Nearest darker sky
Bayside 4 Rural / suburban transition 0.8 already the darkest nearby
Magalia 4 Rural / suburban transition 1.7 already the darkest nearby
Tamalpais-Homestead Valley 4 Rural / suburban transition 2.0 already the darkest nearby
Agoura Hills 4 Rural / suburban transition 2.9 already the darkest nearby
Prunedale 4 Rural / suburban transition 2.9 already the darkest nearby
Granite Bay 5 Suburban sky 4.0 Magalia — B4, 76 mi
San Diego Country Estates 5 Suburban sky 4.0 Agoura Hills — B4, 140 mi
Cameron Park 5 Suburban sky 4.3 Gardnerville Ranchos, NV — B4, 69 mi
Hillsborough 5 Suburban sky 4.7 Tamalpais-Homestead Valley — B4, 23 mi
Malibu 5 Suburban sky 4.7 Agoura Hills — B4, 8 mi
Pacifica 5 Suburban sky 4.7 Tamalpais-Homestead Valley — B4, 19 mi
Barstow Heights 5 Suburban sky 4.9 Agoura Hills — B4, 110 mi
Crestline 5 Suburban sky 5.0 Agoura Hills — B4, 85 mi
Lake Arrowhead 5 Suburban sky 5.6 Agoura Hills — B4, 91 mi
Wildomar 5 Suburban sky 5.6 Agoura Hills — B4, 93 mi
Los Osos 5 Suburban sky 5.8 Prunedale — B4, 110 mi
Rancho Palos Verdes 5 Suburban sky 5.9 Agoura Hills — B4, 35 mi
Lakeland Village 5 Suburban sky 6.0 Agoura Hills — B4, 89 mi
Big Bear City 5 Suburban sky 6.1 Agoura Hills — B4, 110 mi
Coto De Caza 5 Suburban sky 6.1 Agoura Hills — B4, 77 mi
Larkspur 5 Suburban sky 6.1 Tamalpais-Homestead Valley — B4, 4 mi
South Lake Tahoe 5 Suburban sky 6.1 Gardnerville Ranchos, NV — B4, 13 mi
Sun Village 5 Suburban sky 6.6 Agoura Hills — B4, 55 mi
Encinitas 5 Suburban sky 6.8 Agoura Hills — B4, 115 mi
Palos Verdes Estates 5 Suburban sky 6.9 Agoura Hills — B4, 32 mi
California City 5 Suburban sky 7.0 Agoura Hills — B4, 82 mi
Fortuna 5 Suburban sky 7.0 Bayside — B4, 18 mi
El Dorado Hills 5 Suburban sky 7.2 Gardnerville Ranchos, NV — B4, 74 mi
Saratoga 5 Suburban sky 7.2 Prunedale — B4, 39 mi
Truckee 5 Suburban sky 7.3 Gardnerville Ranchos, NV — B4, 39 mi
San Anselmo 5 Suburban sky 7.6 Tamalpais-Homestead Valley — B4, 7 mi
Lafayette 5 Suburban sky 7.7 Tamalpais-Homestead Valley — B4, 23 mi
Vincent 5 Suburban sky 7.7 Agoura Hills — B4, 45 mi
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix 5 Suburban sky 7.8 Agoura Hills — B4, 140 mi
Fairview 5 Suburban sky 7.8 Tamalpais-Homestead Valley — B4, 30 mi
South Yuba City 5 Suburban sky 7.8 Magalia — B4, 48 mi
Arcata 6 Bright suburban sky 8.1 Bayside — B4, 2 mi
Agua Caliente 6 Bright suburban sky 8.3 San Anselmo — B5, 25 mi
Mill Valley 6 Bright suburban sky 8.3 Tamalpais-Homestead Valley — B4, 2 mi
Olivehurst 6 Bright suburban sky 8.3 South Yuba City — B5, 5 mi
Morro Bay 6 Bright suburban sky 8.4 Los Osos — B5, 4 mi
Yucca Valley 6 Bright suburban sky 8.4 Big Bear City — B5, 26 mi
Canyon Lake 6 Bright suburban sky 8.6 Lakeland Village — B5, 5 mi
Nipomo 6 Bright suburban sky 8.8 Los Osos — B5, 27 mi
Paradise 6 Bright suburban sky 8.8 Magalia — B4, 4 mi
Orcutt 6 Bright suburban sky 8.9 Los Osos — B5, 38 mi
Discovery Bay 6 Bright suburban sky 9.0 Lafayette — B5, 28 mi
Pacific Grove 6 Bright suburban sky 9.1 Prunedale — B4, 18 mi
Half Moon Bay 6 Bright suburban sky 9.3 Hillsborough — B5, 8 mi
Clayton 6 Bright suburban sky 9.7 Lafayette — B5, 11 mi
Lake Los Angeles 6 Bright suburban sky 9.7 Sun Village — B5, 8 mi
Mead Valley 6 Bright suburban sky 9.7 Lakeland Village — B5, 14 mi
Alamo 6 Bright suburban sky 10 Lafayette — B5, 5 mi
American Canyon 6 Bright suburban sky 10 San Anselmo — B5, 21 mi
Marina 6 Bright suburban sky 10 Prunedale — B4, 10 mi
Scotts Valley 6 Bright suburban sky 10 Saratoga — B5, 15 mi
Clearlake 6 Bright suburban sky 11 South Yuba City — B5, 54 mi
Hercules 6 Bright suburban sky 11 Lafayette — B5, 13 mi
Benicia 6 Bright suburban sky 11 Lafayette — B5, 12 mi
Isla Vista 6 Bright suburban sky 11 Agoura Hills — B4, 65 mi
Laguna Beach 6 Bright suburban sky 11 Coto De Caza — B5, 12 mi
Moraga 6 Bright suburban sky 11 Lafayette — B5, 4 mi
Orinda 6 Bright suburban sky 11 Lafayette — B5, 3 mi
Shasta Lake 6 Bright suburban sky 11 Magalia — B4, 73 mi
Winter Gardens 6 Bright suburban sky 11 Casa de Oro-Mount Helix — B5, 5 mi
Bonita 6 Bright suburban sky 12 Casa de Oro-Mount Helix — B5, 8 mi
Burlingame 6 Bright suburban sky 12 Hillsborough — B5, 1 mi
McKinleyville 6 Bright suburban sky 12 Bayside — B4, 7 mi
Oak Park 6 Bright suburban sky 12 Agoura Hills — B4, 3 mi
Alpine 6 Bright suburban sky 12 San Diego Country Estates — B5, 12 mi
Capitola 6 Bright suburban sky 12 Saratoga — B5, 20 mi
Avenal 6 Bright suburban sky 13 Los Osos — B5, 62 mi
Palo Alto 6 Bright suburban sky 13 Saratoga — B5, 14 mi
North Tustin 6 Bright suburban sky 13 Coto De Caza — B5, 16 mi
Placerville 6 Bright suburban sky 13 Cameron Park — B5, 11 mi
Carpinteria 6 Bright suburban sky 13 Agoura Hills — B4, 46 mi
El Sobrante 6 Bright suburban sky 13 Lafayette — B5, 12 mi
Valle Vista 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Wildomar — B5, 25 mi
San Lorenzo 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Fairview — B5, 5 mi
Sonoma 6 Bright suburban sky 14 San Anselmo — B5, 23 mi
Susanville 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Magalia — B4, 64 mi
Muscoy 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Crestline — B5, 7 mi
Phelan 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Crestline — B5, 21 mi
Rohnert Park 6 Bright suburban sky 14 San Anselmo — B5, 26 mi
Solana Beach 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Encinitas — B5, 3 mi
Turtle Rock 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Coto De Caza — B5, 13 mi
Piedmont 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Lafayette — B5, 8 mi
Alameda 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Lafayette — B5, 11 mi
Los Altos 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Saratoga — B5, 10 mi
Diamond Springs 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Cameron Park — B5, 10 mi
Seal Beach 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Rancho Palos Verdes — B5, 16 mi
Linda 6 Bright suburban sky 14 South Yuba City — B5, 5 mi
Grover Beach 6 Bright suburban sky 15 Los Osos — B5, 18 mi
Camp Pendleton South 6 Bright suburban sky 15 Encinitas — B5, 14 mi
Petaluma 6 Bright suburban sky 15 San Anselmo — B5, 18 mi
Suisun 6 Bright suburban sky 15 Lafayette — B5, 25 mi
Manhattan Beach 6 Bright suburban sky 15 Palos Verdes Estates — B5, 6 mi
La Crescenta-Montrose 6 Bright suburban sky 15 Vincent — B5, 20 mi
Coronado 6 Bright suburban sky 15 Casa de Oro-Mount Helix — B5, 14 mi
Healdsburg 6 Bright suburban sky 15 San Anselmo — B5, 47 mi
Agoura 6 Bright suburban sky 15 Agoura Hills — B4, 2 mi
Murrieta 6 Bright suburban sky 15 Wildomar — B5, 5 mi
Rio Linda 6 Bright suburban sky 16 Granite Bay — B5, 16 mi
Live Oak 6 Bright suburban sky 16 Saratoga — B5, 20 mi
East Hemet 6 Bright suburban sky 16 Wildomar — B5, 22 mi
Farmersville 6 Bright suburban sky 16 California City — B5, 105 mi
Soledad 6 Bright suburban sky 16 Prunedale — B4, 31 mi
Arroyo Grande 6 Bright suburban sky 16 Los Osos — B5, 19 mi
Woodcrest 6 Bright suburban sky 16 Lakeland Village — B5, 17 mi
Atascadero 6 Bright suburban sky 16 Los Osos — B5, 15 mi
Rowland Heights 6 Bright suburban sky 16 Palos Verdes Estates — B5, 30 mi
La Presa 6 Bright suburban sky 16 Casa de Oro-Mount Helix — B5, 4 mi
Laguna Niguel 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Coto De Caza — B5, 9 mi
Rossmoor 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Rancho Palos Verdes — B5, 18 mi
Anderson 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Magalia — B4, 58 mi
Menifee 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Wildomar — B5, 12 mi
Chino Hills 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Coto De Caza — B5, 29 mi
Pinole 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Lafayette — B5, 13 mi
Jurupa Valley 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Crestline — B5, 22 mi
Lompoc 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Los Osos — B5, 51 mi
North Highlands 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Granite Bay — B5, 12 mi
Carlsbad 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Encinitas — B5, 9 mi
Grass Valley 6 Bright suburban sky 17 South Yuba City — B5, 32 mi
Dixon 6 Bright suburban sky 18 Granite Bay — B5, 42 mi
Oakley 6 Bright suburban sky 18 Lafayette — B5, 23 mi
Lemoore 6 Bright suburban sky 18 Los Osos — B5, 90 mi
San Marino 6 Bright suburban sky 18 Vincent — B5, 26 mi
Vineyard 6 Bright suburban sky 18 El Dorado Hills — B5, 21 mi
La Cañada Flintridge 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Vincent — B5, 21 mi
La Quinta 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Big Bear City — B5, 51 mi
Spring Valley 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Casa de Oro-Mount Helix — B5, 2 mi
Auburn 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Granite Bay — B5, 10 mi
Danville 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Lafayette — B5, 8 mi
Greenfield 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Prunedale — B4, 39 mi
Ramona 6 Bright suburban sky 19 San Diego Country Estates — B5, 6 mi
Sierra Madre 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Vincent — B5, 24 mi
Twentynine Palms 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Big Bear City — B5, 46 mi
Garden Acres 6 Bright suburban sky 20 Fairview — B5, 49 mi
Ladera Ranch 6 Bright suburban sky 20 Coto De Caza — B5, 4 mi
Citrus Heights 7 Suburban / urban transition 20 North Highlands — B6, 5 mi
Red Bluff 7 Suburban / urban transition 20 Anderson — B6, 19 mi
Delhi 7 Suburban / urban transition 20 Garden Acres — B6, 44 mi
Los Gatos 7 Suburban / urban transition 20 Saratoga — B5, 4 mi
La Riviera 7 Suburban / urban transition 21 Vineyard — B6, 7 mi
Bay Point 7 Suburban / urban transition 21 Clayton — B6, 6 mi
Exeter 7 Suburban / urban transition 21 Farmersville — B6, 4 mi
Norco 7 Suburban / urban transition 21 Jurupa Valley — B6, 5 mi
Parlier 7 Suburban / urban transition 21 Lemoore — B6, 26 mi
Riverbank 7 Suburban / urban transition 21 Garden Acres — B6, 23 mi
San Clemente 7 Suburban / urban transition 21 Laguna Niguel — B6, 9 mi
Laguna Woods 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 Turtle Rock — B6, 5 mi
Oroville 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 Paradise — B6, 17 mi
Tehachapi 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 California City — B5, 26 mi
Altadena 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 La Cañada Flintridge — B6, 3 mi
Mountain View 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 Los Altos — B6, 2 mi
Lake Forest 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 Ladera Ranch — B6, 6 mi
Santa Paula 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 Oak Park — B6, 21 mi
Fair Oaks 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 North Highlands — B6, 6 mi
Mission Viejo 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 Ladera Ranch — B6, 3 mi
North Auburn 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 Auburn — B6, 2 mi
Daly City 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 Pacifica — B5, 7 mi
Bayview-Hunters Point 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 Alameda — B6, 7 mi
Paso Robles 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 Atascadero — B6, 10 mi
Rosedale 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 Farmersville — B6, 63 mi
Foothill Farms 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 North Highlands — B6, 1 mi
King City 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 Greenfield — B6, 10 mi
Pedley 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 Jurupa Valley — B6, 3 mi
Quartz Hill 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 Vincent — B5, 12 mi
El Cerrito 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 El Sobrante — B6, 4 mi
Hermosa Beach 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 Manhattan Beach — B6, 2 mi
La Palma 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 Rossmoor — B6, 5 mi
Novato 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 San Anselmo — B5, 9 mi
Dana Point 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 Laguna Niguel — B6, 4 mi
Chowchilla 7 Suburban / urban transition 24 Lemoore — B6, 63 mi
Ukiah 7 Suburban / urban transition 24 Clearlake — B6, 34 mi
Winton 7 Suburban / urban transition 24 Garden Acres — B6, 52 mi
Fallbrook 7 Suburban / urban transition 24 Murrieta — B6, 13 mi
Imperial Beach 7 Suburban / urban transition 24 Bonita — B6, 7 mi
Monterey 7 Suburban / urban transition 24 Pacific Grove — B6, 2 mi
Orangevale 7 Suburban / urban transition 24 Granite Bay — B5, 7 mi
Martinez 7 Suburban / urban transition 24 Benicia — B6, 3 mi
Eureka 7 Suburban / urban transition 25 Bayside — B4, 6 mi
Moorpark 7 Suburban / urban transition 25 Oak Park — B6, 10 mi
Walnut 7 Suburban / urban transition 25 Rowland Heights — B6, 4 mi
Kerman 7 Suburban / urban transition 25 Lemoore — B6, 33 mi
Shafter 7 Suburban / urban transition 25 Farmersville — B6, 55 mi
Irvine 7 Suburban / urban transition 25 Turtle Rock — B6, 2 mi
Lakeside 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 Winter Gardens — B6, 2 mi
Lindsay 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 Farmersville — B6, 9 mi
Valencia 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 Oak Park — B6, 20 mi
Lamont 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 California City — B5, 53 mi
Rancho San Diego 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 Casa de Oro-Mount Helix — B5, 2 mi
Goleta 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 Isla Vista — B6, 3 mi
Newman 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 Garden Acres — B6, 46 mi
Woodland 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 Dixon — B6, 16 mi
Rocklin 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 Granite Bay — B5, 4 mi
Cherryland 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 San Lorenzo — B6, 2 mi
Corcoran 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 Lemoore — B6, 19 mi
Carmichael 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 North Highlands — B6, 5 mi
Hollister 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 Prunedale — B4, 16 mi
San Carlos 7 Suburban / urban transition 27 Burlingame — B6, 8 mi
Fillmore 7 Suburban / urban transition 27 Oak Park — B6, 18 mi
Yorba Linda 7 Suburban / urban transition 27 Chino Hills — B6, 8 mi
Lincoln 7 Suburban / urban transition 27 Granite Bay — B5, 11 mi
Wasco 7 Suburban / urban transition 27 Farmersville — B6, 49 mi
Antioch 7 Suburban / urban transition 27 Oakley — B6, 5 mi
Arvin 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 California City — B5, 48 mi
Elk Grove 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 Vineyard — B6, 4 mi
Folsom 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 El Dorado Hills — B5, 5 mi
Menlo Park 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 Palo Alto — B6, 2 mi
Windsor 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 Healdsburg — B6, 5 mi
Hacienda Heights 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 Rowland Heights — B6, 4 mi
Aliso Viejo 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 Laguna Niguel — B6, 3 mi
Rosemont 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 Vineyard — B6, 6 mi
Pleasanton 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 Fairview — B5, 9 mi
Yucaipa 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 Lake Arrowhead — B5, 17 mi
Galt 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 Vineyard — B6, 15 mi
Napa 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 American Canyon — B6, 9 mi
Adelanto 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 Phelan — B6, 14 mi
Redwood City 7 Suburban / urban transition 29 Palo Alto — B6, 6 mi
Rosamond 7 Suburban / urban transition 29 California City — B5, 21 mi
Poway 7 Suburban / urban transition 29 Winter Gardens — B6, 11 mi
Livingston 7 Suburban / urban transition 29 Garden Acres — B6, 49 mi
Cerritos 7 Suburban / urban transition 29 Rossmoor — B6, 5 mi
San Luis Obispo 7 Suburban / urban transition 29 Los Osos — B5, 10 mi
Salida 7 Suburban / urban transition 29 Garden Acres — B6, 20 mi
Banning 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Valle Vista — B6, 12 mi
Mendota 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Lemoore — B6, 46 mi
Stanford 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Palo Alto — B6, 2 mi
Belmont 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Burlingame — B6, 7 mi
Eastvale 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Jurupa Valley — B6, 3 mi
Santa Clarita 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Oak Park — B6, 19 mi
Apple Valley 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Lake Arrowhead — B5, 17 mi
Davis 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Dixon — B6, 8 mi
San Gabriel 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 San Marino — B6, 2 mi
McFarland 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Farmersville — B6, 43 mi
Patterson 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Garden Acres — B6, 34 mi
Los Banos 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Prunedale — B4, 49 mi
Albany 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Piedmont — B6, 6 mi
Grand Terrace 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Muscoy — B6, 9 mi
San Ramon 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Danville — B6, 3 mi
Santa Cruz 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Live Oak — B6, 3 mi
Vista 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Carlsbad — B6, 7 mi
Chico 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Paradise — B6, 12 mi
Temple City 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 San Marino — B6, 3 mi
Lemon Grove 7 Suburban / urban transition 31 Spring Valley — B6, 2 mi
Coalinga 7 Suburban / urban transition 31 Avenal — B6, 16 mi
Highland 7 Suburban / urban transition 31 Muscoy — B6, 8 mi
Oceanside 7 Suburban / urban transition 31 Camp Pendleton South — B6, 2 mi
La Mesa 7 Suburban / urban transition 31 Spring Valley — B6, 2 mi
Port Hueneme 7 Suburban / urban transition 31 Agoura Hills — B4, 24 mi
Reedley 7 Suburban / urban transition 31 Farmersville — B6, 25 mi
Simi Valley 7 Suburban / urban transition 31 Oak Park — B6, 6 mi
Morgan Hill 7 Suburban / urban transition 31 Capitola — B6, 20 mi
Imperial 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Fortuna Foothills, AZ — B6, 69 mi
Camarillo 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Oak Park — B6, 16 mi
Campbell 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Saratoga — B5, 4 mi
Florin 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Vineyard — B6, 4 mi
Dublin 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Fairview — B5, 6 mi
Kingsburg 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Lemoore — B6, 20 mi
Laguna Hills 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Ladera Ranch — B6, 5 mi
Newark 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Palo Alto — B6, 8 mi
Cypress 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Rossmoor — B6, 4 mi
San Pablo 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 El Sobrante — B6, 3 mi
South Whittier 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Rowland Heights — B6, 8 mi
Union City 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Fairview — B5, 6 mi
Santee 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Winter Gardens — B6, 2 mi
Ventura 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Carpinteria — B6, 15 mi
Victorville 7 Suburban / urban transition 33 Phelan — B6, 18 mi
Cathedral City 7 Suburban / urban transition 33 La Quinta — B6, 12 mi
Ashland 7 Suburban / urban transition 33 San Lorenzo — B6, 2 mi
Avocado Heights 7 Suburban / urban transition 33 Rowland Heights — B6, 6 mi
San Juan Capistrano 7 Suburban / urban transition 33 Laguna Niguel — B6, 3 mi
Hesperia 7 Suburban / urban transition 33 Crestline — B5, 13 mi
Vincent 7 Suburban / urban transition 33 Rowland Heights — B6, 9 mi
Arden-Arcade 7 Suburban / urban transition 33 North Highlands — B6, 6 mi
Glen Avon 7 Suburban / urban transition 33 Jurupa Valley — B6, 2 mi
San Rafael 7 Suburban / urban transition 33 San Anselmo — B5, 2 mi
Rancho Cordova 7 Suburban / urban transition 33 North Highlands — B6, 8 mi
Vallejo 7 Suburban / urban transition 33 American Canyon — B6, 5 mi
Lathrop 7 Suburban / urban transition 34 Garden Acres — B6, 10 mi
South Pasadena 7 Suburban / urban transition 34 San Marino — B6, 3 mi
Castaic 7 Suburban / urban transition 34 Oak Park — B6, 23 mi
La Mirada 7 Suburban / urban transition 34 Rowland Heights — B6, 7 mi
San Mateo 7 Suburban / urban transition 34 Burlingame — B6, 3 mi
Santa Rosa 7 Suburban / urban transition 35 Rohnert Park — B6, 7 mi
Oildale 7 Suburban / urban transition 35 Farmersville — B6, 62 mi
Pittsburg 7 Suburban / urban transition 35 Clayton — B6, 7 mi
Newport Beach 7 Suburban / urban transition 35 Turtle Rock — B6, 7 mi
Lake Elsinore 7 Suburban / urban transition 35 Lakeland Village — B5, 2 mi
Brentwood 7 Suburban / urban transition 35 Oakley — B6, 5 mi
La Verne 7 Suburban / urban transition 35 Chino Hills — B6, 7 mi
Diamond Bar 7 Suburban / urban transition 35 Chino Hills — B6, 4 mi
Fountain Valley 7 Suburban / urban transition 35 Seal Beach — B6, 9 mi
Ridgecrest 7 Suburban / urban transition 35 California City — B5, 39 mi
Temecula 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Murrieta — B6, 6 mi
West Puente Valley 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Rowland Heights — B6, 6 mi
Monterey Park 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 San Marino — B6, 4 mi
Perris 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Mead Valley — B6, 5 mi
Santa Barbara 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Isla Vista — B6, 9 mi
Clovis 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Lemoore — B6, 37 mi
Ceres 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Garden Acres — B6, 30 mi
Santa Clara 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Saratoga — B5, 7 mi
Vacaville 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Suisun — B6, 9 mi
Valinda 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Rowland Heights — B6, 5 mi
East Palo Alto 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Palo Alto — B6, 2 mi
San Jacinto 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 East Hemet — B6, 3 mi
Huntington Beach 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Seal Beach — B6, 8 mi
Sunnyvale 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Los Altos — B6, 4 mi
Castro Valley 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Fairview — B5, 3 mi
Rubidoux 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Jurupa Valley — B6, 6 mi
Desert Hot Springs 7 Suburban / urban transition 37 Yucca Valley — B6, 11 mi
San Marcos 7 Suburban / urban transition 37 Encinitas — B5, 10 mi
Livermore 7 Suburban / urban transition 37 Fairview — B5, 15 mi
Lomita 7 Suburban / urban transition 37 Palos Verdes Estates — B5, 5 mi
Cupertino 7 Suburban / urban transition 37 Saratoga — B5, 4 mi
La Habra 7 Suburban / urban transition 37 Rowland Heights — B6, 4 mi
Claremont 7 Suburban / urban transition 38 Chino Hills — B6, 8 mi
Seaside 7 Suburban / urban transition 38 Pacific Grove — B6, 4 mi
Hemet 7 Suburban / urban transition 38 East Hemet — B6, 2 mi
Stevenson Ranch 7 Suburban / urban transition 38 Oak Park — B6, 18 mi
Norwalk 7 Suburban / urban transition 39 Rossmoor — B6, 8 mi
Santa Maria 7 Suburban / urban transition 39 Orcutt — B6, 6 mi
Selma 7 Suburban / urban transition 39 Lemoore — B6, 21 mi
Atwater 7 Suburban / urban transition 39 Garden Acres — B6, 54 mi
Los Alamitos 7 Suburban / urban transition 39 Rossmoor — B6, 1 mi
Lodi 7 Suburban / urban transition 39 Garden Acres — B6, 12 mi
Citrus 7 Suburban / urban transition 39 Rowland Heights — B6, 10 mi
Ripon 7 Suburban / urban transition 40 Garden Acres — B6, 16 mi
Foster City 7 Suburban / urban transition 40 Burlingame — B6, 6 mi
Home Gardens 7 Suburban / urban transition 40 Jurupa Valley — B6, 8 mi
Loma Linda 7 Suburban / urban transition 40 Muscoy — B6, 9 mi
Sanger 8 City sky 40 Parlier — B7, 7 mi
Manteca 8 City sky 40 Lathrop — B7, 4 mi
Pleasant Hill 8 City sky 40 Lafayette — B5, 5 mi
Marysville 8 City sky 41 Linda — B6, 3 mi
Antelope 8 City sky 41 Foothill Farms — B7, 2 mi
Berkeley 8 City sky 41 Albany — B7, 2 mi
Beaumont 8 City sky 41 Banning — B7, 6 mi
Thousand Oaks 8 City sky 41 Oak Park — B6, 4 mi
Madera 8 City sky 41 Chowchilla — B7, 16 mi
Moreno Valley 8 City sky 41 Loma Linda — B7, 8 mi
Chula Vista 8 City sky 42 Bonita — B6, 3 mi
Brea 8 City sky 42 La Habra — B7, 3 mi
Rancho Cucamonga 8 City sky 42 Claremont — B7, 7 mi
Pomona 8 City sky 42 La Verne — B7, 3 mi
Fairfield 8 City sky 42 Suisun — B6, 1 mi
West Sacramento 8 City sky 42 Arden-Arcade — B7, 8 mi
Del Aire 8 City sky 42 Manhattan Beach — B6, 3 mi
Westmont 8 City sky 42 Manhattan Beach — B6, 7 mi
Bellflower 8 City sky 43 Norwalk — B7, 3 mi
East Rancho Dominguez 8 City sky 43 Norwalk — B7, 7 mi
Tracy 8 City sky 43 Lathrop — B7, 10 mi
Fremont 8 City sky 43 Newark — B7, 3 mi
Bostonia 8 City sky 43 Winter Gardens — B6, 2 mi
Orange 8 City sky 43 North Tustin — B6, 4 mi
Yuba City 8 City sky 43 South Yuba City — B5, 2 mi
Barstow 8 City sky 44 Barstow Heights — B5, 3 mi
Dinuba 8 City sky 44 Reedley — B7, 5 mi
Montebello 8 City sky 44 Monterey Park — B7, 4 mi
Westminster 8 City sky 44 Cypress — B7, 4 mi
Pico Rivera 8 City sky 44 South Whittier — B7, 4 mi
Tustin 8 City sky 45 North Tustin — B6, 2 mi
West Carson 8 City sky 45 Lomita — B7, 2 mi
Gilroy 8 City sky 45 Morgan Hill — B7, 10 mi
Richmond 8 City sky 45 San Pablo — B7, 2 mi
Lakewood 8 City sky 45 Cerritos — B7, 4 mi
Upland 8 City sky 45 Claremont — B7, 4 mi
Lawndale 8 City sky 45 Hermosa Beach — B7, 3 mi
Willowbrook 8 City sky 45 Hermosa Beach — B7, 9 mi
Redondo Beach 8 City sky 46 Hermosa Beach — B7, 1 mi
San Dimas 8 City sky 46 La Verne — B7, 2 mi
Hawaiian Gardens 8 City sky 46 La Palma — B7, 2 mi
Millbrae 8 City sky 46 Burlingame — B6, 2 mi
Placentia 8 City sky 46 Yorba Linda — B7, 4 mi
Roseville 8 City sky 46 Citrus Heights — B7, 3 mi
Baldwin Park 8 City sky 46 Vincent — B7, 2 mi
Fresno 8 City sky 46 Clovis — B7, 7 mi
Garden Grove 8 City sky 46 Fountain Valley — B7, 5 mi
Rosemead 8 City sky 46 Temple City — B7, 2 mi
Delano 8 City sky 46 McFarland — B7, 6 mi
El Segundo 8 City sky 46 Manhattan Beach — B6, 2 mi
Florence-Graham 8 City sky 46 Monterey Park — B7, 10 mi
Glendora 8 City sky 46 Citrus — B7, 2 mi
Rancho Mirage 8 City sky 47 Cathedral City — B7, 4 mi
Torrance 8 City sky 47 Lomita — B7, 3 mi
Visalia 8 City sky 47 Farmersville — B6, 5 mi
Stanton 8 City sky 47 Cypress — B7, 3 mi
Montclair 8 City sky 47 Claremont — B7, 2 mi
Fontana 8 City sky 47 Glen Avon — B7, 6 mi
Colton 8 City sky 48 Grand Terrace — B7, 3 mi
Watsonville 8 City sky 48 Prunedale — B4, 11 mi
Arcadia 8 City sky 48 Sierra Madre — B6, 2 mi
Parkway 8 City sky 48 Florin — B7, 3 mi
Bell Gardens 8 City sky 49 Norwalk — B7, 6 mi
Blythe 8 City sky 49 Lake Havasu City, AZ — B7, 62 mi
Costa Mesa 8 City sky 49 Newport Beach — B7, 2 mi
Carson 8 City sky 49 Lomita — B7, 3 mi
San Leandro 8 City sky 49 Ashland — B7, 3 mi
Rancho Santa Margarita 8 City sky 49 Coto De Caza — B5, 3 mi
San Bruno 8 City sky 49 Burlingame — B6, 4 mi
Hayward 8 City sky 50 Cherryland — B7, 1 mi
West Whittier-Los Nietos 8 City sky 50 South Whittier — B7, 3 mi
Compton 8 City sky 50 Norwalk — B7, 8 mi
Santa Fe Springs 8 City sky 50 South Whittier — B7, 3 mi
Porterville 8 City sky 51 Lindsay — B7, 10 mi
South San Jose Hills 8 City sky 51 Walnut — B7, 2 mi
Rialto 8 City sky 51 Muscoy — B6, 4 mi
Hawthorne 8 City sky 51 Manhattan Beach — B6, 4 mi
Signal Hill 8 City sky 51 Rossmoor — B6, 5 mi
Brawley 8 City sky 51 Imperial — B7, 9 mi
Corona 8 City sky 52 Home Gardens — B7, 3 mi
Whittier 8 City sky 52 South Whittier — B7, 2 mi
Monrovia 8 City sky 52 Sierra Madre — B6, 3 mi
Concord 8 City sky 52 Bay Point — B7, 5 mi
East Los Angeles 8 City sky 53 Monterey Park — B7, 4 mi
Gardena 8 City sky 54 Hermosa Beach — B7, 6 mi
National City 8 City sky 54 Bonita — B6, 4 mi
South El Monte 8 City sky 54 Avocado Heights — B7, 3 mi
El Cajon 8 City sky 54 Casa de Oro-Mount Helix — B5, 2 mi
Oakdale 8 City sky 55 Riverbank — B7, 5 mi
Tulare 8 City sky 55 Farmersville — B6, 10 mi
Artesia 8 City sky 55 Cerritos — B7, 1 mi
Salinas 8 City sky 55 Prunedale — B4, 7 mi
Covina 8 City sky 55 Citrus — B7, 2 mi
Hanford 8 City sky 56 Lemoore — B6, 8 mi
West Covina 8 City sky 56 Valinda — B7, 2 mi
Escondido 8 City sky 57 San Marcos — B7, 5 mi
Fullerton 8 City sky 58 La Habra — B7, 4 mi
Chino 8 City sky 58 Chino Hills — B6, 4 mi
Walnut Park 8 City sky 58 Monterey Park — B7, 9 mi
Azusa 8 City sky 58 Citrus — B7, 2 mi
Downey 8 City sky 58 Norwalk — B7, 4 mi
Ontario 8 City sky 59 Claremont — B7, 5 mi
Bloomington 8 City sky 59 Rubidoux — B7, 5 mi
Lennox 8 City sky 59 Manhattan Beach — B6, 5 mi
Lynwood 8 City sky 59 Norwalk — B7, 8 mi
El Centro 8 City sky 60 Imperial — B7, 4 mi
South Gate 8 City sky 60 Norwalk — B7, 8 mi
Palmdale 8 City sky 61 Vincent — B5, 6 mi
Alhambra 8 City sky 61 San Gabriel — B7, 1 mi
Oxnard 8 City sky 61 Port Hueneme — B7, 4 mi
Palm Desert 8 City sky 62 La Quinta — B6, 6 mi
Coachella 8 City sky 62 La Quinta — B6, 8 mi
Redding 8 City sky 62 Shasta Lake — B6, 7 mi
Walnut Creek 8 City sky 63 Lafayette — B5, 3 mi
Inglewood 8 City sky 63 Manhattan Beach — B6, 6 mi
Paramount 8 City sky 63 Norwalk — B7, 5 mi
Maywood 8 City sky 63 Monterey Park — B7, 6 mi
Turlock 8 City sky 63 Delhi — B7, 6 mi
Bell 8 City sky 64 Monterey Park — B7, 7 mi
Merced 8 City sky 64 Atwater — B7, 8 mi
La Puente 8 City sky 64 Valinda — B7, 2 mi
Riverside 8 City sky 66 Rubidoux — B7, 3 mi
Redlands 8 City sky 67 Loma Linda — B7, 5 mi
Emeryville 8 City sky 68 Piedmont — B6, 3 mi
Buena Park 8 City sky 71 La Palma — B7, 3 mi
Anaheim 8 City sky 72 Yorba Linda — B7, 7 mi
Santa Ana 8 City sky 75 North Tustin — B6, 4 mi
Huntington Park 8 City sky 75 Monterey Park — B7, 8 mi
Stockton 8 City sky 75 Garden Acres — B6, 3 mi
Duarte 8 City sky 77 Vincent — B7, 4 mi
El Monte 8 City sky 78 Avocado Heights — B7, 3 mi
Lancaster 8 City sky 79 Quartz Hill — B7, 6 mi
Palm Springs 8 City sky 80 Cathedral City — B7, 6 mi
Cudahy 8 City sky 80 Norwalk — B7, 7 mi
Long Beach 8 City sky 81 Seal Beach — B6, 5 mi
San Francisco 8 City sky 81 Bayview-Hunters Point — B7, 4 mi
South San Francisco 8 City sky 82 Daly City — B7, 5 mi
Milpitas 8 City sky 82 Santa Clara — B7, 6 mi
Modesto 8 City sky 83 Ceres — B7, 4 mi
Calexico 8 City sky 86 Imperial — B7, 12 mi
Glendale 8 City sky 89 La Cañada Flintridge — B6, 6 mi
San Bernardino 8 City sky 89 Muscoy — B6, 4 mi
Indio 8 City sky 90 La Quinta — B6, 7 mi
Bakersfield 8 City sky 90 Oildale — B7, 3 mi
Santa Monica 8 City sky 91 Manhattan Beach — B6, 10 mi
Oakland 8 City sky 92 Alameda — B6, 2 mi
San Jose 8 City sky 97 Santa Clara — B7, 4 mi
Commerce 8 City sky 98 Monterey Park — B7, 5 mi
San Diego 8 City sky 99 Coronado — B6, 2 mi
Pasadena 9 Inner-city sky 101 South Pasadena — B7, 2 mi
Burbank 9 Inner-city sky 112 Glendale — B8, 4 mi
Sacramento 9 Inner-city sky 121 West Sacramento — B8, 2 mi
Los Angeles 9 Inner-city sky 149 East Los Angeles — B8, 5 mi

Frequently asked questions

Where are the darkest skies in California?
The darkest town tracked here is Bayside, but the genuinely dark skies in California are its 3 certified International Dark Sky Places — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, Joshua Tree National Park — listed further down with the nearest rated town to each.
How many dark-sky towns does California have?
Of 485 towns rated here, 5 rate as genuinely dark or rural sky (about Bortle 4 or better) — good for seeing the Milky Way on a clear, moonless night.
How are these light-pollution ratings measured?
From VIIRS 2024 annual-average satellite night-lights, sampled at each town's center and mapped to a darkness class and an estimated Bortle band. It is a satellite upward-radiance proxy for planning, not a survey-grade sky-brightness reading. See the methodology page for details.

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Bortle scale · Meteor showers · Dark-sky map · Search all towns