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How to see the northern lights in the US
A step-by-step, source-cited guide to seeing the aurora from the United States: where to look, which forecasts to watch, what Kp you need, and when to go out.
1. Know your odds by location
Alaska is the only US state that sits under the auroral oval on ordinary nights. UAF's Geophysical Institute lists Fairbanks among the places with a good chance of overhead aurora at average activity levels. [1]
For the contiguous US, UAF puts places such as South Dakota and Michigan in the group that needs fairly strong activity, with aurora usually low on the northern horizon. [1] NOAA's guide suggests that Kp 6–7 may bring aurora into view from the northern edge of the country, and that Kp 8–9 can put it overhead in northern states. [2]
Very large storms are rare but do happen. During the 10 May 2024 superstorm, citizen-science reports documented aurora at unusually low latitudes, and UAF notes that aurora was seen as far south as Mexico. [3] [1]
2. Watch the right forecasts
Days ahead: NOAA's three-day forecast predicts Kp in three-hour blocks (UAF republishes it for Alaska), and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) aimed at Earth usually take from under a day to several days to arrive. [1] [5]
Tonight: NOAA's OVATION 30-minute forecast maps where the auroral oval is expected to be, updated every few minutes. [6]
Right now: UAF notes that real-time solar-wind monitors about 1.5 million km sunward of Earth give roughly one to two hours' warning of conditions that drive aurora. A strongly southward (negative) Bz in that data is a favourable sign, because NOAA notes that southward magnetic field favours stronger storms. [1] [5] Our live dashboard shows the latest NOAA values.
3. Go out at the right time
NOAA says the best aurora is usually within an hour or two of local midnight, roughly 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., with the window widening during strong activity. [2]
Around the spring and fall equinoxes, geomagnetic storms tend to be more frequent, which improves the odds. [2] [7]
4. Pick a dark spot with a northern view
Get away from city lights and find a place with a clear, low view to the north, ideally from a hill. A full moon reduces how bright the aurora looks. [2]
Phone and camera sensors often pick up more color than your eyes do, especially reds, so a long-exposure photo can show aurora that looks faint or grey to the eye. [1]
If you head out to a remote spot in winter, prepare for the cold. UAF warns visitors that extreme cold can turn small problems into serious ones. [1]
Book a guided aurora tour
A guide does the driving, the forecast-watching and the hunt for clear skies, which helps most if you are visiting and don't know the area. It does not change the physics: you still need dark, clear skies and some geomagnetic activity.
- No tour can guarantee aurora. Plan more than one night if you can. Treat any promise of a guaranteed sighting with caution.
- Prefer tours with a clear weather, cancellation or "no aurora" policy, and read it before you pay.
- Check the forecast first: our Kp index guide and NOAA SWPC's 3-day forecast and 30-minute aurora forecast.
- Arctic winter nights can be extremely cold. Check what clothing or gear the tour provides.
Affiliate links: some links below go to Viator and GetYourGuide. If you book through them, Solar Evidence may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We don't run or vet these tours; check reviews, cancellation terms and the forecast before booking. Commissions never affect our evidence ratings. Affiliate policy.
Fairbanks (under the auroral oval)
- Aurora chasing with photography Viator · Fairbanks, Alaska · about 4 hours. A shorter evening chase, with help taking aurora photos.
- SkyChase Northern Lights Experience Viator · Fairbanks, Alaska · about 5 hours. A mid-length night chase around the Fairbanks area.
- Northern Lights Lodge & Chase Tour Viator · From Fairbanks · about 9 hours. Combines waiting at a lodge with driving to clearer skies.
- Arctic Night Tours aurora tour with photos Viator · Fairbanks, Alaska · about 8–12 hours. A long overnight outing for people who want to stay out through the late-night peak. Same operator also listed on GetYourGuide.
- Fairbanks northern lights tours (search) Viator · Compare aurora trips from Fairbanks side by side.
- Fairbanks northern lights tours (search) GetYourGuide · A second marketplace to compare Fairbanks aurora trips.
- All Fairbanks tours Viator · Browse everything bookable in and around Fairbanks.
Anchorage
- Anchorage Northern Lights Tour Viator · Anchorage, Alaska · about 6–9 hours. A night drive out of the city lights to look for aurora.
- Anchorage northern lights tours (search) Viator · Compare aurora trips that start in Anchorage.
Tours are listed on Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and GetYourGuide. Latitudes are approximate. Durations, where shown, are approximate and come from the operators. Prices, availability and reviews change, so check them on the booking page.
Sources
- University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute: Aurora Forecast and FAQ https://www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast
- NOAA SWPC: Tips on Viewing the Aurora https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/tips-viewing-aurora
- Grandin, M. et al. (2024). The Gannon Storm: citizen science observations during the geomagnetic superstorm of 10 May 2024. Geoscience Communication. doi:10.5194/gc-7-297-2024
- NOAA SWPC: Planetary K-index (product description) https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/planetary-k-index
- NOAA SWPC: Coronal Mass Ejections https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/coronal-mass-ejections
- NOAA SWPC: Aurora – 30 Minute Forecast (OVATION model) https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast
- Russell, C. T. & McPherron, R. L. (1973). Semiannual variation of geomagnetic activity. Journal of Geophysical Research. doi:10.1029/JA078i001p00092
Sources were checked on 2026-10-21. Text on this page is original. Quoted figures are attributed and linked to the source. General education only, not for safety or operational decisions. Disclaimer.