Wide expanses of land crammed with majestic terrain leave practically infinite opportunities for observing the night sky at its most incredible. With many designated dark sky places and communities as well as state and nature parks that are set apart from the city lights, the United States is one of the best countries for stargazing. Here are 25 of the top spots.

San Diego's state park might be best known for its spring desert flowers and night-blooming lilies. However, Anza-Borrego has also been designated an International Dark Sky Park while its small town of Borrego Springs is a Dark Sky Community. In other words, it's a perfect venue for stargazing.

Another International Dark Sky Park in California, Joshua Tree National Park is not just an amazing place to witness the incredible nighttime spectacular that is the Milky Way. Thanks to its unique geologic formations and curious looking trees, it's also ideal for Milky Way and star trail photography.

Combine the Grand Canyon's epic topography with an incredibly vast sky, and you essentially have a stargazer's paradise. Another factor to work in your favor: it's another designated Dark Sky Park. Set up camp then find a lofty spot to enjoy that grand night sky view and even photograph it.

Mono Lake is very cool looking in the daytime. This Central California saline soda lake, a stone's throw away from Nevada, is peppered with tufa towers that make you feel like you're on another planet. But it's even cooler looking at night when the star-studded night sky serves as the backdrop for the tufas.

Yosemite doesn't need help looking good. It's decorated with some of the most amazing natural sites in the country, from verdant valleys to lofty granite peaks, and it can't help but be photogenic. It's also, as it turns out, among the best places for stargazing and viewing the Milky Way in the Golden State.

About two hours north of the California border, Crater Lake is one of Oregon's coolest sites. There's a small island in this caldera, which is deepest and one of the most pristine lakes in the country. Plus, thanks to the lack of light pollution, it boasts an unforgettable view of the Milky Way.

Southern Utah boasts many spectacular land formations. One of the best might be Arches National Park and its awesome, extremely photogenic red arches. It's beautiful in the daytime but photographing them with the stunning night sky as their backdrop is an experience that's in a league of its own.

Acadia's beautiful coast, with its craggy beaches, relaxing sea views and granite peaks, is famous not just in the East Coast. But did you know that it's also excellent for stargazing? The Milky Way is visible from its beaches, and its lakes make for stunning foregrounds for star trail photos.

If you think Hawaii's only good for sunning at the beach and swimming with sea turtles, you're sadly mistaken. The Big Island is also a great place for stargazing. Make a beeline for Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano that's home to a number of observatories. The sky here is pretty fantastic.

It's no big secret that Montana's Rocky Mountains host a myriad of stunning panoramas, from glacier-fringed lakes, famous roads and lush valleys. But the Glacier National Park is also home to ideal spots for stargazing and viewing the Milky Way. No wonder it's been designated a Dark Sky Park.

Another International Dark Sky Park, this state park in Pennsylvania is so famous on the East Coast for night sky viewing that it hosts two major stargazing parties for astronomers and hobbyists alike. Here, you'll enjoy a 360-degree view of the stars and Milky Way.

Texas' Enchanted Rock, not too far from Fredericksburg, may not be as famous as its big-name counterparts, but that just means you get to enjoy a spectacular view of the night sky without all the tourist traffic. Set up camp at one of the primitive campgrounds or join a star party.

Craters of the Moon looks exactly like its name suggests. Visiting this national monument feels like you've just traveled into outer space to the moon's surface, most especially at night when the vast night sky sets the mood. Stargazing on a clear night is simply out of this world.

This stunning oasis that's home to ancient pine groves, marble caves and bighorn sheep is another designated International Dark Sky Park. Campgrounds abound here and camping is just the ticket to witness some spectacular astronomy. Besides the Milky Way, you'll see the Andromeda Galaxy and some of the planets in our Solar System.

Though Florida isn't exactly the most obvious place for stargazing, it does have its share of vast, dark places to see the night sky. Case in point: the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve, which is just an hour south of busy Orlando. Just keep an eye out for alligators.

Neighboring Georgia also has its share of dark skies. An hour west of Augusta, for example, is a community dedicated to astronomical studies for amateur and professional astronomers alike. Set in one of the darkest spots in the Southeast, Deerlick is just the perfect setting for stargazing in the region.

Whether you're on a two-day wilderness trek through the canyons or sticking to the tourist zones, Zion is an incredible place with lots of amazing spots worth pulling over for. The famous park may not officially be a Dark Sky Park, but it does its best to preserve its night sky. A camping trip here is an absolute must.

The red-sand desert area of Monument Valley, best known for its majestic sandstone monoliths, is so vast and flat that it's almost otherworldly. Sunsets here are wildly beautiful, but the nighttime is almost unbelievable. A stargazing must-see here is the Milky Way arch over the butte-littered landscape.

The Johnston Ridge Observatory is descended upon by tourists for its excellent views of Mount St. Helens and its blast zone as well as the surrounding landscape. But stray off the beaten path, and come at night. The view of the Milky Way rising over the famous stratovolcano is the stuff made of legends.

Just because it's the hottest place on Earth doesn't mean that there's nothing to see in Death Valley. The national park is home to thunderous landscapes you'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. It's also a Dark Sky Park. Head over to Badwater Basin or the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes for constellation and Milky Way watching.

Tourists from all over the world flock to Yellowstone for its wildlife, its geysers and its hot springs. The national park is famous the world over for its epic sites. Few, however, have explored it at night when Milky Way in its full glory arches over its renowned attractions. Don't forget your camera and tripod.

Bear Lake is gorgeous year round. But it's even more absurdly beautiful when it's frozen over and the green and pink lights of the aurora borealis are dancing over it in full force. Stargazing here is synonymous with watching the Northern Lights, making it an even more memorable experience.