Okefenokee State Park International Dark Sky Park

Georgia renamed Stephen C. Foster State Park to Okefenokee State Park on September 1, 2026, so you will see both names. The park is small, about 80 acres, and sits inside the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, which protects most of the Okefenokee Swamp, the largest blackwater swamp in North America. It is the western entrance to the refuge, near the town of Fargo on Highway 177. In 2016 it became Georgia's first International Dark Sky Park, at the Gold tier. That year staff removed unneeded outdoor lights, including 13 street lights, and switched to directional LED fixtures. We estimate the sky at around Bortle 4.

Plan around the gate. Park hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and because the park is inside a national wildlife refuge the gates lock at 10 p.m., so stay in the park overnight if you want to shoot after that. A $5 refuge fee applies. There is no dedicated stargazing field, but the parking lot across from the trading post has open sky. Keep white lights off.

The park is far enough south that the Milky Way core climbs to about 30 degrees above the southern horizon, higher than at most US dark sky parks. Our data shows the most core hours in June, May and July, and the park itself says late summer is best for the Milky Way. Rangers run Dark Skies Stargazing programs through the year, and sunset or night boat tours of the swamp may be offered from the park.