These U.S. Spots Are the Most Overlooked Places to See the Northern Lights

"You don't need a passport to see the awe-inspiring northern lights. While destinations like Iceland, Norway, and Greenland attract travelers with unparalleled views of the aurora borealis, there are plenty of places where Americans can spot the natural wonder closer to home-including some that definitely haven't been featured on your For You page. Icelandair analyzed TikTok data and travel guides to determine which northern lights hot spots in the U.S. have stayed the most under the radar."

"Midwestern states made the most appearances of any U.S. region on the least-mentioned list, with Idaho, Minnesota, and Wisconsin collectively making up half of the top 10. Aurora borealis sightings in Pennsylvania, Maine, and New York proved to be well-kept secrets on the East Coast, while Oregon was the only Pacific Northwestern state to make the list. With only 32 mentions on TikTok as of August 2025, the Idaho Panhandle National Forests was the biggest hidden gem of them all. While Central Idaho is home to the country's first Dark Sky Reserve, designated by the International Dark Sky Association in 2017, the state's northern region also offers some spectacular displays."

A range of U.S. sites allow Americans to view the northern lights without international travel. Icelandair compared TikTok hashtag frequency and travel guides to identify U.S. aurora hot spots that receive few mentions. Midwestern locations, particularly Idaho, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, feature heavily among the least-mentioned viewing spots. Pennsylvania, Maine, and New York contain under-the-radar East Coast opportunities, while Oregon is the only Pacific Northwest state listed. Idaho Panhandle National Forests had just 32 TikTok mentions as of August 2025. Central Idaho's Dark Sky Reserve and Craters of the Moon provide exceptionally dark skies for aurora viewing, and Katahdin Woods and Waters offers secluded displays.

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