Does seeing the Aurora Borealis from your Lost Campers campervan sound too good to be true? It’s not!
by Chelise Simmons
We’ve checked out some of the best places in the Contiguous USA to see these spellbinding lights and we’re sharing our tips on where to see the Aurora Borealis from your Lost Campers Campervan with you.
The Facts: Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, occur when solar winds carry electrons from the sun that result from a solar flare. These electrons are attracted to the magnetic poles. When these electrons mix with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere the gasses glow various colours.
The Places: Check out our top 3 states for seeing the Aurora Borealis, in a Lost Campers Budget Campervan, below.
by Mike Lewinski
Washington State
The Olympic Peninsula KOA in Port Angeles has tent sites with hookups for about $33 a night.
Lake Chelan at Mill Bay Casino in Manson. 1st day is free. Register at the Security office. For additional days they ask that you spend $20 each day in their casino. Sites have electrical hookups. No camping is available when it’s snowing.
Idaho
Priest Lake State Park in Coolin. Sites with electric are about $30.
Silver Creek North & South BLM land off highway 26 (93), 7.5 miles from Carey and down the cutoff road. Multiple free sites with picnic tables and vault toilets. This is not too far from Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve.
by Bjørn Are With Andreassen
Montana
Fish Creek in Glacier National Park has non-electric sites for $23.
Red Cliff Campground has electric sites for $28 and it’s only 15 minutes from Big Sky where the Aurora Borealis has been viewed in past years.
The Websites
It’s difficult to predict when the Aurora Borealis will be visible, but there are some helpful websites out there.
Some great sites to source are:
Soft Serve News
Tips on Viewing the Aurora
The Colors of the Aurora
Aurora 3 Day Forecast
Aurora Borealis by Julentto Photography
More Stuff
The further north you are, the better your chances of seeing them.
Best months to see them is from March-April and September-October.
You need clear skies and low light pollution.
They are visible starting an hour after sunset and an hour before sunrise.
Auroras come in various shapes and can change shape throughout the night.
Even if the Aurora isn’t right over you, you may still be able to see it.
Satellites can be damaged during Auroras and that can cause black-outs.
The aurora isn’t unique to Earth.
The aurora typically forms 80 to 500 km above Earth’s surface.
The Earth’s magnetic fields guide the electrons to form two ovals over the magnetic poles.
The Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, occur in the southern hemisphere.