Where to See the Aurora (Northern Lights) in USA

USA has 24 aurora-viewing locations in our guide. The aurora borealis is most accessible here at Barrow (Utqiaġvik), where it can appear from a Kp index of 1. A higher Kp pushes the auroral oval toward the equator, so during stronger geomagnetic storms the aurora becomes visible from more of USA. Check the live Kp forecast and the real-time aurora dashboard before heading out, and read what causes the aurora to understand the conditions.

Aurora viewing locations in USA

• Barrow (Utqiaġvik)from Kp 1 · 71.3°
  Alaska

  Northernmost city in USA

• Fairbanksfrom Kp 1 · 64.8°
  Alaska

  One of the best aurora cities globally

• Anchoragefrom Kp 3 · 61.2°
  Alaska
• Juneaufrom Kp 4 · 58.3°
  Alaska
• Seattlefrom Kp 6 · 47.6°
  Washington
• Portlandfrom Kp 6 · 45.5°
  Oregon
• Minneapolisfrom Kp 6 · 44.9°
  Minnesota
• Boisefrom Kp 7 · 43.6°
  Idaho
• Bostonfrom Kp 7 · 42.3°
  Massachusetts
• Chicagofrom Kp 7 · 41.8°
  Illinois
• New Yorkfrom Kp 7 · 40.7°
  New York
• Salt Lake Cityfrom Kp 7 · 40.7°
  Utah
• Denverfrom Kp 7 · 39.7°
  Colorado
• San Franciscofrom Kp 8 · 37.7°
  California
• Las Vegasfrom Kp 8 · 36.1°
  Nevada
• Memphisfrom Kp 8 · 35.1°
  Tennessee
• Los Angelesfrom Kp 8 · 34.0°
  California
• Atlantafrom Kp 8 · 33.7°
  Georgia
• Phoenixfrom Kp 8 · 33.4°
  Arizona
• Dallasfrom Kp 8 · 32.7°
  Texas
• New Orleansfrom Kp 9 · 29.9°
  Louisiana

  Extremely rare

• Houstonfrom Kp 9 · 29.7°
  Texas

  Extremely rare

• San Antoniofrom Kp 9 · 29.4°
  Texas

  Extremely rare

• Miamifrom Kp 9 · 25.7°
  Florida

  Extremely rare, only during extreme solar storms

Looking elsewhere? Browse all aurora viewing locations by country.