This roundup of the best sunset spots is brought to you by Wenzel, makers of high-quality tents and camping gear since 1887. The whole family will love sleepovers in Wenzel’s 9-person tent, complete with mesh roof vents for sunset watching and stargazing.
A great sunset is a powerful thing. At its best it can soothe stress, bring you squarely into the present moment, and stir up feelings of gratitude and tranquility. And in this country we are spoiled for choice; America’s diverse landscape provides a huge variety of backdrops for sunset watching. Deserts, glaciers, sandy beaches, prairies, and mountain peaks are just some of the places where you’ll find America’s best sunset watching views.
10+ Best Sunset Spots Across The Country
1. Mount Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii
Believe it or not, there’s a spot in the United States where you can watch the sunset from an island, 10,000-feet above sea level, and bask in the sun’s rays as they spill across the ocean and white sand beaches below you. The only place where you can experience this incredible combination is from Mount Haleakala in Maui, Hawaii. This massive volcano makes up 75% of Maui’s landmass, and is absolutely, one of the most picturesque destinations in the country to watch a sunset.
The peak of Mount Haleakala is a spectacular site, which tourists can summit by driving, cycling, hiking, or horseback riding. It’s an unforgettable viewpoint that every Maui visitor should see.
Best camping nearby:
2. Hopi Point, Grand Canyon, Arizona
Image from The Dyrt camper Sapphire J.
There’s a good chance you saw this one coming. And even though it may feel a bit predictable, the Grand Canyon is world-famous for good reason. Views from the canyon rim are astonishing and overwhelming on their own. But as the sun sets and the canyon walls are draped in dramatic reds and oranges, it takes the entire experience to a truly awe-inspiring level. Head to Hopi Point on the south side of the canyon for unobstructed views of the canyon, as it stretches off into the distance. This is a bucket list experience that lives up to its lofty reputation.
Best camping nearby:
3. Clearwater Beach, Florida
Clearwater Beach has been dubbed the #1 beach in the country by TripAdvisor two years in a row and three out of the last four years. Sitting just off the west coast of Florida on a “barrier” island, Clearwater is renowned for its wide, soft sandy beach as well as its landmark pier.
Sunsets are a major draw to this area—there’s even a nightly festival hosted on Clearwater Beach’s Pier 60. The 1,000-foot stretch of pier is filled with sightseers, vendors, and street performers every night as the sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico. The unspoiled views, great weather, and fun-filled environment make this one of the best sunset spots in the country.
Best camping nearby:
4. Albuquerque, New Mexico (The Ojito Wilderness)
How’s this for a special sunset watching experience: taking a ride on the world’s longest aerial tram to the 10,378 ft apex of Sandia Peak, where you can watch the sun drop out of sight behind sandstone cliffs, steep mesa formations, and extinct volcanoes? In this desert landscape, light pollution is minimal and the sunset skies often turn a majestic shade of purple. The views across The Ojito Wilderness, outside of Albuquerque, are beautifully tranquil and an ideal spot for sunset chasers.
Best camping nearby:
5. Denali National Park (Reflection Pond), Alaska
Half of this list could be made up of sunset spots in Alaska. The state’s unique landscapes and massive mountain ranges create an unparalleled setting. But it’s not only the geography that makes Alaskan sunsets so impressive, it’s also the absence of light pollution. The lack of ambient light ensures the unfiltered sunset gets center stage.
The aptly named Reflection Pond in Denali National Park has to be one of the most idyllic sunset spots in the country. From the north side of the pond you’ll have a direct view across the water of the 20,000-foot Denali peak (previously known as Mount McKinley) and 17,000-foot Mount Foraker.
Best camping nearby:
6. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Wyoming is the least populated state in the country, with less than 580,000 people calling it home. The state’s low population is in large part due to its geography; with about two-thirds of the state covered by the Rocky Mountains and the remaining one-third mostly made up of high elevation prairie land. But that challenging Wyoming landscape also makes for some amazing sunset watching. Grand Teton National Park is a mixture of mountain peaks, prairies, and deep valleys. The dramatic, panoramic views throughout the park are amplified as the sun begins to sink below the horizon. Reds, oranges, golds, and deep blues fill the sky in this secluded haven of natural beauty.
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7. Sedona, Arizona
Sedona is well-known for the incredible red rock formations that surround the city. And in large part, it is thanks to those rock formations that Sedona regularly lands on lists like this one. Because, in Sedona, unlike nearly everywhere else, you can have your back toward the setting sun and still be treated to a wildly impressive sunset. The vivid colors of a Sedona sunset not only fill the cloudless skies with reds, oranges, and indigos—they also wash over the landscape, exaggerating the warm hues of the already stunning red rock desert. Find a spot that offers a panoramic view to fully appreciate the majesty of a Sedona sunset.
Best camping nearby:
8. Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica and its famous Santa Monica Pier is certainly one of the best sunset spots you’ll find in any big city. “California dreaming” is a term that’s been used countless times in song lyrics, across multiple decades. There may be no better visual representation of that whimsical idea than the Santa Monica Pier and its surrounding beach. The iconic pier colors the entire scene with that classic California aesthetic. The area is always buzzing with energy, especially around sunset, thanks to a myriad of street performers, vendors, tourists, and beach-front restaurants. Whether you’re amongst the crowd on the Pier, ordering a drink at a boardwalk bar, or sitting peacefully on the beach, there’s no wrong way to watch as the sun sinks down into the Pacific Ocean.
Best camping nearby:
9. Key West, Florida
Image from The Dyrt camper Lindsay B.
Key West is a small island city, which is one part of the larger Key West archipelago. It holds the title for being the southernmost point in the contiguous United States. There are very few places in the country that offer this combination of sunset watching perfection: unobstructed views over the ocean, beautiful sandy beaches to watch from, minimal light pollution, and phenomenal year-round weather that rarely drops below 75 degrees. Mallory Square is a waterfront plaza in Key West that hosts nightly festivals to watch and celebrate their incredible sunsets.
Best camping nearby:
10. Ensign Peak, Salt Lake City, Utah
Ensign Peak is a monument at the peak of the foothills just outside of downtown Salt Lake City. The one-hour hike up to Ensign Peak is a fun way to get to the area’s best viewpoint. Here you’ll be greeted with unobstructed views of the city and the 500-mile Salt Lake Valley in which it resides. Watching from Ensign Peak, as the sun disappears behind the hills, is a unique experience. Salt Lake City is enveloped in warm sunset colors, then gradually the city goes dark as the sun’s dying light scatters across the valley walls.
Bonus spots:
- Death Valley National Park, California
- Everglades National Park, Florida
- Half Dome, Yellowstone National Park, California
- Old Fort Marcy Park, Santa Fe, New Mexico
This article was brought to you by our friends at Wenzel. 
Check out their tents to shelter you at dusk after watching the sunset!
Related Campground:
- Doran Beach Camping, Santa Rosa, CA
- Hidden Valley Campground, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
- Crystal Cove Camping, Laguna Beach, CA
- Mt Lemmon Camping, Mount Lemmon, AZ
- Peace River Campground, Arcadia, FL
- Stovepipe Wells Campground, Death Valley National Park, CA
- Ocean Cove Campground, Jenner, CA
- Angel Fire RV Resort, Angel Fire, NM
- Pine Grove Campground, Flagstaff, AZ
- Black Bart’s RV Park, Flagstaff, AZ
- Joshua Tree RV Park, Joshua Tree, CA
