The Perseids Are Here: Where to Watch the 2025 Meteor Shower Across the USA and France
- Jenna Chaffy
- Aug 12
- 10 min read
The Perseids are one of the oldest meteor showers recorded in writing. The earliest reports date back to year 36 in China and year 811 in Europe. Observed by the public for millennia, the Perseids—whose name comes from the Greek word for Perseus, son of Zeus and Danaë—span this year from July 17 to August 23, 2025, offering a most sumptuous spectacle for young and old alike.
The Perseids are luminous streaks commonly called shooting stars, created by fragments from the Swift-Tuttle comet entering Earth's atmosphere at high speed.
The passage of the Swift-Tuttle comet was observed in 1862 and 1992, and this phenomenon will only happen again in a century and one year, that is in 2126. The Perseids bring to us through their passage a bit of the magic of this colossal object in the universe whose arrival is not expected for many generations.
The Perseid peak takes place on the night of August 12 starting at midnight until dawn on August 13 at 6 a.m. Under normal conditions, one can expect to see between 60 to 100 meteors per hour under a perfect sky, but 2025 will be quite special because the nearly full gibbous moon, illuminated at 87%, will strongly reduce visibility. The International Meteor Organization indeed forecasts, under the best conditions, a low appearance of only 10 to 20 meteors per hour, and even fewer in a brightly lit environment—conditions that will nevertheless not prevent the spectacle.
This peak closely coincides with the feast of Saint Lawrence, a Christian martyr executed on August 10, 258 AD. Lawrence was roasted alive on a gridiron. Represented in art holding a grill or shown in flames, the legend tells that during his execution, he displayed remarkable courage and admirable strength, going so far as to tell his executioners to turn him over because he was cooked on one side. To this day, in some Catholic traditions, the Perseid meteors are known as the “tears of Saint Lawrence.” This name testifies to the anchoring of our precious cultural traditions with astronomy.
How to Best Enjoy the Perseids
Whether you live in the United States or in France, the Perseids cannot fully offer you this emotional providence because of light pollution which can hamper the contemplation of the sky. But out of love for you, we have selected the best places to admire the sky and capture forever in your memories this moment of a thousand splendors.
Before anything else, here is the equipment to get to admire the firmament and its glowing components:
A flashlight with a red light filter, elements of crucial importance as it allows you to find your way in the dark without disturbing your optical vision.
A deckchair, a lounge chair, or even a mat to enjoy the spectacle in total peace.
A blanket for more comfort.
Clothes that protect against the cold due to strong temperature variations at night.
A thermos with a hot drink, a bottle of water, and snacks.
An astronomy app (Star Walk 2, Sky Tonight, or Stellarium) installed on your phone, ideal to locate the Perseus constellation and nearby landmarks.
Best Places by State to Observe the Perseids in the United States
East Coast Highlights:
Alabama: Dauphin Island, a small 14-mile-long island and former French colony from 1699 with explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville, named in honor of the Dauphin, heir to the French throne, offers beaches open to the Gulf, perfect for seeing stars reflected on the ocean.
Connecticut: The Litchfield Hills are wooded hills with low light pollution, offering a deep, calm sky ideal for observing the Perseids.
Delaware: Cape Henlopen State Park, known in Delaware for star observation and astronomical activities, offers a vast coastal horizon with a dark sky at night over the Atlantic.
Florida: Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, designated “Dark Sky Park,” is a true paradise to see the sparkling sky in August.
Georgia: Popcorn Overlook, besides being a place with a panoramic mountain view, is recognized in Georgia for star observation and other astronomical activities.
Maine: The sublime Schoodic Peninsula, part of Acadia National Park, will give you chills at night with its transcendent beauty, allowing you to capture magical moments.
Maryland: Kent Island is a peaceful island, the largest in Chesapeake Bay, isolated from artificial lights, making it a place undoubtedly worth visiting for star observation.
Massachusetts: Head to Cape Cod National Seashore, where the sound of waves mingles with the celestial murmur.
New Hampshire: Crawford Notch State Park takes you to a clear summit to admire the celestial vault. The horizon opens, and the sky becomes a moving fresco.
New Jersey: The coastal area near Cape May Lighthouse, at the southern tip of New Jersey, offers one of the darkest skies in the state over the Atlantic, where stars almost fall into the water.
New York: The Thousand Islands, located in the Saint Lawrence River near New York City but protected from the city’s countless lights, are renowned for star observation.
North Carolina: Cape Lookout National Seashore is the first Dark Sky Place on the Atlantic coast designated by the National Park Service, allowing access to a sublime stellar spectacle.
Pennsylvania: Cherry Springs State Park is internationally recognized as one of the darkest skies in the eastern US, with the intensity of the celestial heights capturing your senses.
Rhode Island: At Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge lies the darkest sky in Rhode Island; the site also houses the Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center, attracting star and celestial body enthusiasts.
South Carolina: Hunting Island Beach, an isolated beach where you can watch the Perseids’ dance with the fresh and delicate ocean breeze upon you.
Tennessee: Big South Fork is one of the best places to observe the Perseids in 2025, known for its exceptional night skies offering optimal visibility and home to astronomy programs—it’s definitely not to be missed.
Vermont: Maidstone State Park, the most isolated in Vermont, is known for star observation thanks to its particularly dark night sky and location far from lights.
Virginia: Natural Bridge State Park has been designated an international dark sky park thanks to the extraordinary quality of its starry nights and preservation of its nocturnal environment.
West Virginia: Our choice falls on Black Water Falls State Park where the Nature Center plans for the August 12-13 peak night a “Catch a Shooting Star” evening with coffee and cookies with naturalist Paulita Cousin at 9 p.m. If she is present until midnight, it will be possible to acquire a permit to stay longer if you wish.
Midwest Gems:
Illinois: Shawnee National Forest takes you to one of the darkest places in Illinois, connecting you with an extraordinary night sky. Its elevated viewpoints allow for stellar horizons that will leave you speechless.
Indiana: Among several places, Beverly Shores in Indiana has captured attention; this charming “dark sky town” is renowned for the clarity of its night sky and remarkable celestial views.
Iowa: Nine Eagles State Park, also called “The Hidden Secret of Decatur County,” is the only dark sky park in Iowa rated Level 2 on the Bortle scale, a nine-level numeric scale measuring night sky brightness at a location.
Kansas: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve offers a breathtaking view seeming to extend infinitely like the meteor shower itself.
Michigan: Headlands International Dark Sky Park, certified by the International Dark-Sky Association, is a prime location to witness the poetic Perseid display.
Minnesota: Voyageurs National Park, also labeled by the IDA, provides several locations for fantastic views thanks to its distance from city lights.
Missouri: Big Lake State Park will delight you with the double magic of star reflections on the water.
Nebraska: A site designated by the International Dark Sky Association in the Sandhills and home for decades to the Nebraska Star Party, Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area offers a beautiful escape with its stellar sky quality.
North Dakota: There is no better place to enjoy an unobstructed night sky view than Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which will marvel you with its shower of light.
Ohio: Keep magical memories at Geauga Observatory Park, the first international dark sky park in Geauga County.
South Dakota: Badlands National Park offers breathtaking landscapes and some of the clearest celestial horizons of the Great Plains.
Wisconsin: Newport State Park, designated one of 49 international dark sky parks in 2017, offers exceptional panoramic views.
Southern Favorites:
Arkansas: Queen Wilhelmina State Park is recognized in Arkansas for star observation and astronomical studies thanks to its particularly dark nights.
Louisiana: Considered the best place to observe stars in Louisiana, Kisatchie National Forest has some of the darkest skies in the state, giving you the chance to see the Milky Way stretch across the celestial vault—a must-see this month.
Mississippi: Take the legendary Natchez Trace Parkway, with several campgrounds to pitch your tent and enjoy the beautiful nighttime Perseid show.
Oklahoma: Immerse yourself in the Glass Mountains, a mineral landscape with enchanting rocky buttes.
Texas: Enchanted Rock, a granite dome, features a unique elevated observation platform perfect for watching the Perseids meteor shower.
Western Wonders:
Alaska: Anchorage is a key point to observe the magnificent shooting stars blazing through the intense night, with its majestic environment offering a clear sky.
Arizona: Internationally famous, Grand Canyon National Park is also a privileged place to be moved in ecstasy before the nighttime imminence, boasting a Bortle scale rating of 1—the purest and darkest sky on earth.
Sedona also delights travelers who can, on some Saturday nights, book a sunset ride aboard the vintage Verde Canyon Railroad Starlight train through Arizona’s wild desert to observe the starry night from an open wagon. Nearby, Enchantment Resort gives guests the advantage of stargazing with expert astronomers.
California: Death Valley National Park is a must-see, famous for its rock formations, and designated the largest Dark Sky Park in the US by the International Dark Sky Association. It also holds a “Gold Tier” Dark Sky Park rating—the highest level awarded.
Colorado: Garden of the Gods Road in Colorado Springs attracted our attention by its wonderful name and equally stunning landscapes, with an unmatched nocturnal scenography captivating your senses.
Idaho: Certified an IDA Dark Sky Reserve and holding the “Gold Tier” status, this is the first international dark sky reserve in the US and the 12th worldwide, ranking third in size, the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve is undeniably the place to be if you live in Idaho to enjoy the Perseids.
Montana: Glacier National Park lets you admire, among majestic mountains and opaline lakes, a resplendent moving canvas where dark night contrasts with star jets.
Nevada: Great Basin National Park, officially designated an International Dark Sky Park, has several points of interest for observing the astral vault and is a true cult spot for this year’s event.
New Mexico: A land of exception, you will be swept away by the celestial alchemy enveloping the Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary (CCIDSS), located in the Gila National Forest and recognized by the IDA as the first international dark sky sanctuary in the Northern Hemisphere.
Utah: Rainbow Bridge National Monument, culturally important for Native Americans and home to Utah’s darkest skies, was designated a “Starry Sky Sanctuary” by the IDA, the first National Park Service site and fourth worldwide to receive this distinction—a not-to-be-missed place for an escapade with eyes riveted on stellar splendor.
Wyoming: Visit Teton County, recently certified an “International Dark Sky Community,” becoming the first county worldwide with this designation for a truly immersive experience.
Pacific Northwest:
Hawaii: Mauna Kea, a dormant shield volcano on the island of Hawaii, nearly a million years old, offers from its great heights pure air and crystal-clear views where, at sunset, the celestial intensity and nocturnal splendor appear.
Oregon: Don’t miss Antelope, considered the best place to watch the Perseids and designated an International Dark Sky Community due to its exceptionally dark celestial vault.
Washington: Mount Rainier National Park guarantees, amidst its charming landscape, a spectacular stellar view where the immaculate and the elusive converge.
Though not mentioned in the above list, many of these places offer camping areas, spots for tents, and fire pits to spend a night awakening your spirits with family or friends.
Magical Places to Watch the Perseids in France
Crossing the Atlantic to Europe, we’ve made a fine selection of places in France near you, allowing you to have, this time in the literal sense, stars in your eyes.
France offers a treasure trove of starry-night havens:
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: Cévennes National Park, awarded the “International Dark Sky Reserve” label, with renowned exceptional starry sky quality, will offer in this period a blue dream of luminous fires.
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté: Morvan Regional Natural Park, France’s seventh starry sky, covers an extraordinary fifty municipalities at its heart labeled “International Dark Sky Reserve” by Dark Sky International.
Brittany: Monts d’Arrée, one of Brittany’s oldest mountain ranges, offers a view that moves you for an unforgettable Perseid observation.
Corsica: Plateau du Coscione, a high plateau free of any unwanted light halos, lets you marvel with your eyes raised.
Grand Est: Head to Grand Ballon, the highest point in the European Collectivity of Alsace and the Vosges massif, considered an exceptional site for star enthusiasts and other ethereal jewels.
Hauts-de-France: Mont Saint-Eloi is recommended for quiet Perseid viewing, thanks to its remote location away from city lights and striking charm.
Île-de-France: Succumb to star showers within the Vexin Regional Natural Park, northwest of Paris, which hosts many astronomy associations every year; labeled a “starry village,” truly preserved from horizon alteration by lights thanks to the commitments of certain communes to reduce public lighting.
If you thought you couldn’t admire the Perseids’ eminence from Paris, think again—head to Montparnasse’s panoramic terrace and let yourself be swept by the magic of the skies.
Normandy: Choose Mont-Saint-Michel to watch the Perseids. Its isolation in the bay, distance from intense light sources, and open panorama allow marveling at the firmament and its sparks.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Head for an enchanting moment at Millevaches Regional Natural Park in Limousin, at the borders of Corrèze, Creuse, and Haute-Vienne, which holds the coveted “International Dark Sky Reserve” label awarded by the International Dark-Sky Association—the first in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Occitanie: Pic du Bigorre, famous for sky quality, is a must-see site for stargazing. The site, with its own observatory, is certified “International Dark Sky Reserve” by the International Dark Sky Association.
Pays de la Loire: Head to Pointe de Saint-Gildas in Loire-Atlantique for a magical night with an exceptional view in a place rich with history, coveted in pirate and privateer times, and part of the “Atlantic Wall” for its strategic role in deterring invasions during WWII.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur: A favored place to see the summer star dance, Mercantour National Park in the Alps, which received the “International Dark Sky Reserve” distinction, is a must.
Whether in the United States or France, the places around you are abundant so you can enjoy the beauty of the natural events surrounding you and access magic and wonder for a night—the fleeting moment already slipping away.
The Timeless Tradition of Making a Wish
The tradition of making a wish when a shooting star appears goes back to Antiquity, when Greek astronomer Ptolemy believed the gods, curious about mankind, slightly opened the heavens and sometimes let a star fall—it was then the perfect moment to be heard by the gods. This belief has passed through time and eras so that every luminous streak is conceived as the messenger of our dearest hopes.
Don’t forget to make a wish on every shooting star that will twinkle above you during this dear 2025 Perseids edition.
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