Stargaze Atlas

New Jersey dark-sky map — light pollution by town

208 towns rated · darkest: Ringwood · measured from VIIRS 2024 satellite night-lights

New Jersey has 208 towns rated for light pollution here, from its darkest — Ringwood (Bortle 4) — to its brightest city cores, with 1 rating as genuinely dark or rural sky (Bortle 4 or better). Every town is listed with the nearest measurably darker town to drive to. No site in the state holds an International Dark Sky Place certification, so its darkest skies are the rural towns at the top of the table. Ratings are a VIIRS satellite proxy, not survey-grade sky-brightness readings.

Statewide New Jersey · VIIRS 2024
Towns rated
208

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

Darkest town
Ringwood
Genuinely dark towns
1
Certified dark-sky places
0

Nearest certified dark-sky places to New Jersey

No site in New Jersey holds an International Dark Sky Place certification. Measured from Ringwood, the state's darkest rated town, these are the nearest certified destinations — all 92 are on the map.

Nearest certified International Dark Sky Places to Ringwood, New Jersey.
Place Designation State From Ringwood
Cherry Springs State Park Dark Sky Park Pennsylvania 190 mi
James River State Park Dark Sky Park Virginia 345 mi
Staunton River State Park Dark Sky Park North Carolina 385 mi

All New Jersey towns by darkness

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

New Jersey towns, darkest sky first.
Sky Nearest darker sky
Ringwood 4 Rural / suburban transition 2.7 already the darkest nearby
Hopatcong Hills 5 Suburban sky 3.1 Ringwood — B4, 25 mi
Hillsborough 5 Suburban sky 3.8 Ringwood — B4, 48 mi
Vincentown 5 Suburban sky 3.8 Landenberg, PA — B4, 55 mi
Randolph 5 Suburban sky 3.9 Ringwood — B4, 25 mi
Jackson 5 Suburban sky 4.4 Landenberg, PA — B4, 48 mi
Warren Township 5 Suburban sky 4.4 Ringwood — B4, 38 mi
Hopatcong 5 Suburban sky 6.4 Ringwood — B4, 25 mi
Bradley Gardens 5 Suburban sky 6.6 Ringwood — B4, 44 mi
Martinsville 5 Suburban sky 6.9 Ringwood — B4, 39 mi
Holiday City-Berkeley 5 Suburban sky 7.0 Ringwood — B4, 79 mi
Oakland 5 Suburban sky 7.6 Ringwood — B4, 7 mi
Basking Ridge 5 Suburban sky 7.7 Ringwood — B4, 32 mi
Sewell 6 Bright suburban sky 8.0 Jackson — B5, 15 mi
Lumberton 6 Bright suburban sky 8.4 Vincentown — B5, 4 mi
Bridgewater 6 Bright suburban sky 10 Bradley Gardens — B5, 3 mi
Robertsville 6 Bright suburban sky 10 Hillsborough — B5, 20 mi
Ocean Acres 6 Bright suburban sky 10 Holiday City-Berkeley — B5, 15 mi
Sparta 6 Bright suburban sky 10 Hopatcong Hills — B5, 6 mi
Kinnelon 6 Bright suburban sky 11 Oakland — B5, 5 mi
Wanaque 6 Bright suburban sky 11 Oakland — B5, 2 mi
West Milford 6 Bright suburban sky 11 Ringwood — B4, 7 mi
Mount Laurel 6 Bright suburban sky 11 Vincentown — B5, 8 mi
Middletown 6 Bright suburban sky 12 Warren Township — B5, 26 mi
Short Hills 6 Bright suburban sky 12 Basking Ridge — B5, 12 mi
East Brunswick 6 Bright suburban sky 12 Hillsborough — B5, 12 mi
Tinton Falls 6 Bright suburban sky 12 Holiday City-Berkeley — B5, 25 mi
South Vineland 6 Bright suburban sky 12 Jackson — B5, 25 mi
Pine Hill 6 Bright suburban sky 13 Jackson — B5, 7 mi
Somerset 6 Bright suburban sky 13 Hillsborough — B5, 7 mi
Wyckoff 6 Bright suburban sky 13 Oakland — B5, 5 mi
Colts Neck 6 Bright suburban sky 13 Holiday City-Berkeley — B5, 23 mi
Atco 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Jackson — B5, 1 mi
Bayville 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Holiday City-Berkeley — B5, 8 mi
Franklin Lakes 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Oakland — B5, 3 mi
Princeton Meadows 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Hillsborough — B5, 11 mi
Marlboro 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Hillsborough — B5, 23 mi
Willingboro 6 Bright suburban sky 14 Vincentown — B5, 9 mi
Beachwood 6 Bright suburban sky 15 Holiday City-Berkeley — B5, 5 mi
Greentree 6 Bright suburban sky 15 Jackson — B5, 10 mi
South Old Bridge 6 Bright suburban sky 15 Hillsborough — B5, 15 mi
Sayreville 6 Bright suburban sky 16 Warren Township — B5, 13 mi
Springdale 6 Bright suburban sky 16 Jackson — B5, 9 mi
Sicklerville 6 Bright suburban sky 16 Jackson — B5, 7 mi
New Providence 6 Bright suburban sky 16 Basking Ridge — B5, 8 mi
Pennsville 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Landenberg, PA — B4, 16 mi
Point Pleasant 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Holiday City-Berkeley — B5, 14 mi
River Edge 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Greenburgh, NY — B5, 13 mi
Hamilton Square 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Hillsborough — B5, 17 mi
Ramsey 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Ringwood — B4, 7 mi
Little Falls 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Oakland — B5, 10 mi
Wayne 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Oakland — B5, 6 mi
Franklin Park 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Hillsborough — B5, 6 mi
Moorestown-Lenola 6 Bright suburban sky 17 Vincentown — B5, 12 mi
Springfield 6 Bright suburban sky 18 Basking Ridge — B5, 12 mi
Lindenwold 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Jackson — B5, 8 mi
East Hanover 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Randolph — B5, 12 mi
Glen Rock 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Oakland — B5, 8 mi
Lincoln Park 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Oakland — B5, 7 mi
Upper Montclair 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Oakland — B5, 12 mi
Dover 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Randolph — B5, 3 mi
Florham Park 6 Bright suburban sky 19 Basking Ridge — B5, 10 mi
Haddonfield 6 Bright suburban sky 20 Jackson — B5, 12 mi
Summit 6 Bright suburban sky 20 Basking Ridge — B5, 10 mi
Berkeley Heights 6 Bright suburban sky 20 Basking Ridge — B5, 6 mi
Old Bridge 7 Suburban / urban transition 20 South Old Bridge — B6, 1 mi
Scotch Plains 7 Suburban / urban transition 20 New Providence — B6, 3 mi
Waldwick 7 Suburban / urban transition 20 Wyckoff — B6, 3 mi
Hillsdale 7 Suburban / urban transition 20 Pearl River, NY — B6, 4 mi
Manville 7 Suburban / urban transition 20 Bradley Gardens — B5, 4 mi
Maplewood 7 Suburban / urban transition 21 Springfield — B6, 3 mi
Sayreville Junction 7 Suburban / urban transition 21 Sayreville — B6, 2 mi
Middlesex 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 Warren Township — B5, 3 mi
Bound Brook 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 Martinsville — B5, 3 mi
Paramus 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 River Edge — B6, 2 mi
West Orange 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 Upper Montclair — B6, 4 mi
Hammonton 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 Jackson — B5, 10 mi
Hanover 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 East Hanover — B6, 1 mi
Cinnaminson 7 Suburban / urban transition 22 Moorestown-Lenola — B6, 3 mi
Pompton Lakes 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 Oakland — B5, 2 mi
Browns Mills 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 Vincentown — B5, 9 mi
Piscataway 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 Sayreville — B6, 3 mi
Westwood 7 Suburban / urban transition 23 River Edge — B6, 4 mi
Ewing 7 Suburban / urban transition 24 Levittown, PA — B6, 8 mi
Tenafly 7 Suburban / urban transition 24 River Edge — B6, 4 mi
New Milford 7 Suburban / urban transition 24 River Edge — B6, 1 mi
Collingswood 7 Suburban / urban transition 24 Haddonfield — B6, 3 mi
Parsippany 7 Suburban / urban transition 24 East Hanover — B6, 4 mi
Williamstown 7 Suburban / urban transition 24 Sicklerville — B6, 3 mi
Denville 7 Suburban / urban transition 25 Dover — B6, 5 mi
Verona 7 Suburban / urban transition 25 Upper Montclair — B6, 2 mi
Phillipsburg 7 Suburban / urban transition 25 Whitehall Township, PA — B6, 16 mi
South River 7 Suburban / urban transition 25 Sayreville — B6, 2 mi
North Brunswick 7 Suburban / urban transition 25 Franklin Park — B6, 3 mi
Mercerville-Hamilton Square 7 Suburban / urban transition 25 Hamilton Square — B6, 1 mi
Highland Park 7 Suburban / urban transition 25 Somerset — B6, 3 mi
Teaneck 7 Suburban / urban transition 25 River Edge — B6, 3 mi
Madison 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 Florham Park — B6, 3 mi
West Freehold 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 Marlboro — B6, 6 mi
Mercerville 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 Hamilton Square — B6, 2 mi
Ventnor City 7 Suburban / urban transition 26 Ocean Acres — B6, 30 mi
Woodland Park 7 Suburban / urban transition 27 Little Falls — B6, 2 mi
Somers Point 7 Suburban / urban transition 27 South Vineland — B6, 25 mi
Totowa 7 Suburban / urban transition 27 Little Falls — B6, 3 mi
Montclair 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 Upper Montclair — B6, 2 mi
Livingston 7 Suburban / urban transition 28 East Hanover — B6, 3 mi
Bridgeton 7 Suburban / urban transition 29 South Vineland — B6, 11 mi
Ridgewood 7 Suburban / urban transition 29 Glen Rock — B6, 1 mi
Colonia 7 Suburban / urban transition 29 Sayreville — B6, 9 mi
South Plainfield 7 Suburban / urban transition 29 Warren Township — B5, 6 mi
Red Bank 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Tinton Falls — B6, 4 mi
Cherry Hill Mall 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Moorestown-Lenola — B6, 3 mi
Maple Shade 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Moorestown-Lenola — B6, 2 mi
Clifton 7 Suburban / urban transition 30 Upper Montclair — B6, 2 mi
Princeton 7 Suburban / urban transition 31 Princeton Meadows — B6, 5 mi
Cedar Grove 7 Suburban / urban transition 31 Upper Montclair — B6, 2 mi
South Orange 7 Suburban / urban transition 31 Short Hills — B6, 3 mi
Millburn 7 Suburban / urban transition 31 Springfield — B6, 2 mi
Gloucester City 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Haddonfield — B6, 4 mi
Metuchen 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 Sayreville — B6, 6 mi
Bergenfield 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 River Edge — B6, 2 mi
Dumont 7 Suburban / urban transition 32 River Edge — B6, 2 mi
Bloomfield 7 Suburban / urban transition 33 Upper Montclair — B6, 3 mi
Nutley 7 Suburban / urban transition 34 Upper Montclair — B6, 3 mi
Toms River 7 Suburban / urban transition 34 Beachwood — B6, 1 mi
Hawthorne 7 Suburban / urban transition 34 Glen Rock — B6, 1 mi
Echelon 7 Suburban / urban transition 34 Lindenwold — B6, 2 mi
Mahwah 7 Suburban / urban transition 35 Ramsey — B6, 2 mi
Plainfield 7 Suburban / urban transition 35 Berkeley Heights — B6, 4 mi
Morristown 7 Suburban / urban transition 35 Florham Park — B6, 5 mi
Cherry Hill 7 Suburban / urban transition 35 Haddonfield — B6, 3 mi
Cranford 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Springfield — B6, 3 mi
Ridgefield Park 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 River Edge — B6, 5 mi
Westfield 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Springfield — B6, 4 mi
Somerville 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Bradley Gardens — B5, 3 mi
Long Branch 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Tinton Falls — B6, 6 mi
Lyndhurst 7 Suburban / urban transition 36 Upper Montclair — B6, 5 mi
Fair Lawn 7 Suburban / urban transition 37 Glen Rock — B6, 2 mi
Hasbrouck Heights 7 Suburban / urban transition 37 River Edge — B6, 5 mi
Eatontown 7 Suburban / urban transition 37 Tinton Falls — B6, 3 mi
Glassboro 7 Suburban / urban transition 37 Sewell — B6, 5 mi
Bellmawr 7 Suburban / urban transition 38 Haddonfield — B6, 3 mi
Pleasantville 7 Suburban / urban transition 38 South Vineland — B6, 27 mi
Edison 7 Suburban / urban transition 38 Somerset — B6, 4 mi
Ocean City 7 Suburban / urban transition 38 South Vineland — B6, 27 mi
Rutherford 7 Suburban / urban transition 39 Upper Montclair — B6, 5 mi
Mount Holly 7 Suburban / urban transition 39 Lumberton — B6, 2 mi
Pennsauken 7 Suburban / urban transition 39 Haddonfield — B6, 5 mi
Iselin 7 Suburban / urban transition 39 Sayreville — B6, 8 mi
Roselle 7 Suburban / urban transition 39 Springfield — B6, 5 mi
North Plainfield 7 Suburban / urban transition 40 Berkeley Heights — B6, 4 mi
Brick 8 City sky 40 Point Pleasant — B6, 4 mi
Avenel 8 City sky 40 Colonia — B7, 1 mi
Union 8 City sky 41 Maplewood — B7, 2 mi
North Arlington 8 City sky 41 Lyndhurst — B7, 2 mi
Woodbridge 8 City sky 42 Colonia — B7, 2 mi
Edgewater 8 City sky 42 Manhattan, NY — B7, 3 mi
Garfield 8 City sky 42 Hasbrouck Heights — B7, 2 mi
Marlton 8 City sky 42 Greentree — B6, 2 mi
Freehold 8 City sky 43 West Freehold — B7, 2 mi
Clark 8 City sky 44 Cranford — B7, 2 mi
Rahway 8 City sky 44 Colonia — B7, 3 mi
Millville 8 City sky 44 South Vineland — B6, 3 mi
Palisades Park 8 City sky 44 Ridgefield Park — B7, 1 mi
Ridgefield 8 City sky 46 Ridgefield Park — B7, 2 mi
Belleville 8 City sky 47 Lyndhurst — B7, 2 mi
Fords 8 City sky 47 Metuchen — B7, 3 mi
Woodbury 8 City sky 47 Bellmawr — B7, 4 mi
Elmwood Park 8 City sky 48 Fair Lawn — B7, 3 mi
Englewood 8 City sky 48 Teaneck — B7, 2 mi
Carteret 8 City sky 48 Colonia — B7, 4 mi
Wallington 8 City sky 49 Hasbrouck Heights — B7, 2 mi
Kearny 8 City sky 49 Lyndhurst — B7, 3 mi
Little Ferry 8 City sky 49 Ridgefield Park — B7, 1 mi
Vineland 8 City sky 50 South Vineland — B6, 3 mi
Saddle Brook 8 City sky 50 Hasbrouck Heights — B7, 3 mi
Fort Lee 8 City sky 51 Ridgefield Park — B7, 3 mi
Hillside 8 City sky 53 Maplewood — B7, 3 mi
Roselle Park 8 City sky 54 Roselle — B7, 1 mi
Trenton 8 City sky 55 Mercerville — B7, 3 mi
Asbury Park 8 City sky 55 Eatontown — B7, 6 mi
New Brunswick 8 City sky 55 Highland Park — B7, 2 mi
Perth Amboy 8 City sky 57 Sayreville Junction — B7, 5 mi
Cliffside Park 8 City sky 57 Manhattan, NY — B7, 3 mi
Lodi 8 City sky 58 Hasbrouck Heights — B7, 2 mi
Fairview 8 City sky 62 Manhattan, NY — B7, 3 mi
Lakewood 8 City sky 63 Point Pleasant — B6, 8 mi
Irvington 8 City sky 64 South Orange — B7, 2 mi
Passaic 8 City sky 66 Clifton — B7, 2 mi
East Orange 8 City sky 66 West Orange — B7, 3 mi
Orange 8 City sky 70 West Orange — B7, 2 mi
Bayonne 8 City sky 71 Staten Island, NY — B7, 8 mi
Camden 8 City sky 71 Gloucester City — B7, 2 mi
Guttenberg 8 City sky 73 Manhattan, NY — B7, 2 mi
Secaucus 8 City sky 74 Rutherford — B7, 4 mi
Linden 8 City sky 74 Roselle — B7, 2 mi
Jersey City 8 City sky 77 Lyndhurst — B7, 6 mi
North Bergen 8 City sky 78 Manhattan, NY — B7, 3 mi
Hoboken 8 City sky 96 Manhattan, NY — B7, 4 mi
Hackensack 9 Inner-city sky 104 Teaneck — B7, 2 mi
West New York 9 Inner-city sky 104 Guttenberg — B8, 1 mi
Elizabeth 9 Inner-city sky 109 Roselle — B7, 3 mi
Paterson 9 Inner-city sky 118 Totowa — B7, 2 mi
Weehawken 9 Inner-city sky 129 Guttenberg — B8, 2 mi
Harrison 9 Inner-city sky 155 Kearny — B8, 2 mi
Union City 9 Inner-city sky 169 Guttenberg — B8, 1 mi
Newark 9 Inner-city sky 243 Kearny — B8, 3 mi
Atlantic City 9 Inner-city sky 267 Ventnor City — B7, 3 mi

Frequently asked questions

Where are the darkest skies in New Jersey?
The darkest town tracked here is Ringwood. Sort the table on this page by darkness to see the full ranking, from the most rural, star-filled skies down to the brightest city cores.
How many dark-sky towns does New Jersey have?
Of 208 towns rated here, 1 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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