Out of all the U.S. states, Alaska tops the list as the most probable place to catch sight of the Northern Lights as it’s encircled by the Aurora oval, which is the zone that gets the most frequent sightings. Fairbanks is a popular Alaskan spot to see the Northern Lights, as is Denali National Park and Preserve, north of Anchorage.

Alaska

There are a couple of places in Minnesota that are considered the best spots for hunting the Northern Lights. Voyageurs National Park is a remote backcountry destination with almost zero light pollution and ideal viewpoints, and Cook County, located in the northeastern tip of the state along the Canadian border, is also great.

Minnesota

Nicknamed Big Sky Country, Montana is an obvious choice to see the Northern Lights, especially in Glacier National Park. Some of the state’s remote places that would also give you a chance to see the lights include Cascade County, Seeley-Swan Valley, Whitefish Lake State Park, and Makoshika State Park, among others.

Montana

Your best chance at seeing the Northern Lights in Michigan is to head for one of the undeveloped northern lake shores of the Great Lakes, away from the big city lights of Detroit. If you find yourself in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, head to Headlands International Dark Sky Park near Mackinaw City, which is an ideal lookout.

Michigan

It can be hard to spot the Northern Lights in Maine due to light pollution, but your best bet is Acadia National Park or Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge, the latter of which is a remote wilderness spanning almost 5,200 acres of wetlands, forest, and grassland. There are other locations where you might catch a glimpse, such as the state’s highest peak, Mount Katahdin.

Maine