How To See The Northern Lights In North America In Your RV

September 11, 2022 Abraham Smith

Seeing the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis is on many campers wish lists and it’s easier to tick off than you think! How to see the Northern Lights in North America…

Are the Northern Lights on your bucket list? If yes, you are not alone. If not, why not?! You are unbelievable!

They may seem so exotic, only visible in the far north. But they are actually visible in North America, including some parts of the United States. And I’m not just talking about Alaska.

With a bit of planning and luck, you can see the Northern Lights from your camper van. And with the forecasting apps available today, planning has never been easier.

I’ll tell you how to see the Northern Lights in North America and hopefully inspire your next camping trip!

Where can you see the Northern Lights in North America?

How to see the Northern Lights in North America in your RV

If you want to see the Northern Lights, you have to go north. The closer you get to the Arctic Circle, the more likely you are to see the Aurora Borealis.

As such, places like Fairbanks, Alaska, Churchill, Manitoba, and Yellowknife, Northwest Territories are top destinations for aurora chasers. (By the way, Aurora Chasers is actually the term for people who plan their trips around the Northern Lights.)

However, you don’t have to go as far north as you might think! Traveling to these cold, remote places is difficult for motorhome owners and can get quite expensive. Instead, you can better plan and time it to see the Northern Lights farther south (though still “north”).

How to see the Northern Lights in North America from your RV in the USA

According to the Space Tourism Guide, the top 10 best places to see the Northern Lights in the United States this winter are:

Fairbanks, Alaska
Panhandle National Forest, Idaho
Acadia National Park, Maine
Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Michigan
Cook County, Minnesota
Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Glacier National Park, Montana
Mount Washington Valley, New Hampshire
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Olympic National Park, Washington

You can click the link above to see why they particularly recommend these places. But as you can see there are some very accessible places in the United States including the Lower 48 where you can see the Northern Lights!

How to see the Northern Lights in North America from your motorhome in Canada

According to the Space Tourism Guide, the top 10 best places to see the Northern Lights in Canada this winter are:

Elk Island National Park, Alberta
Fort McMurray, Alberta
Jasper National Park, Alberta
Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta
McDonald Park Dark Sky Preserve, British Columbia
Muncho Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia
Churchill, Manitoba
Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick
Mount Carleton Provincial Park, New Brunswick
Battle Harbor, Newfoundland and Labrador

Again, you can click the link above to see why. They also list a total of 29 Canadian travel destinations. If you are planning to see the lights in Canada, you should read Crossing the Canadian Border in an RV (post-pandemic).

When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?

It depends a lot on the location! You can see the Northern Lights in Canada as early as September and into November. However, the best time to see the Northern Lights in Canada is December to February.

In the United States, it’s possible to see the Northern Lights in the fall, especially in parts of Alaska. But again, you’re much more likely to see them from December to February.

Of course, unless you’re in Alaska, your chances of seeing the lights in the Lower 48 are less than most of Canada. So you need to plan (and pray) more to see them, even in winter.

Speaking of planning…

The Best Aurora Borealis Forecast Apps

God bless our tiny little handheld computers! Yes, I mean our phones… or tablets. Because now anyone can be an Aurora Chaser.

You used to have to consult maps and the NOAA forecasts, starting with the 27 day forecast and going through the 30 to 90 minute forecast. And you need a good understanding of the planetary K-Index.

Now all you need is an app on your phone.

I have to tell you that I have not used any of these apps still. I haven’t had a chance since I only recently discovered them. But I’m really looking forward to trying them out this winter!

The two most promising aurora forecast apps I’ve found are My Aurora Forecast & Alerts and Aurora Forecast.

#1 My Aurora Forecast and Warnings

This highly rated forecasting app is available on both Apple and Android devices. It has a 4.7 rating with over 18,000 reviews on Apple and a 4.5 rating with almost 15,000 reviews on Android.

It outperforms the competition (including the runner-up) based on ratings and views alone. I think they deserve to call themselves the “best app for seeing the Northern Lights”, which they do.

The most appealing feature for me is the map showing the best locations at the moment. While some other features go into more scientific detail, it seems user-friendly for both newbies and Aurora trackers alike.

#2 Aurora Forecast

Aurora Forecast is My Aurora Forecast’s runner-up because it has far fewer reviews and mixed ratings.

Interestingly, it is rated higher on Apple than on Google Play. Apparently it works much better on Apple devices. So if you have an Android, you should probably stick with My Aurora Forecast.

However, Apple users give it a 4.6-star rating. That’s with only about 3,000 reviews compared to My Aurora’s 18,000 reviews.

Have you used these apps?

Having not had a chance to use these apps yet, I would really like to hear from my fellow travelers.

If you have used any of these northern lights forecast apps, please let us know your feedback in the comments below. Or let us know if you recommend another app or resource on how to see the Northern Lights.

Stargazing Kit

In this context, I would also like to remind you of our Stargazing for Campers Kit. It’s a list of must-have items that really come in handy when stargazing. Even if you can’t see the Northern Lights, you can still enjoy the night sky.