The northern lights: Now’s the time

“As I look up, my first reaction is just ‘wow,’” recalls Ivan, an amateur photographer who journeyed from New York to Fairbanks, Alaska, last year in search of the northern lights. “It’s so unreal, because the scale of it is just amazing as it stretches across the entire sky. It looked like a metallic, shimmering blanket of light.”

And in amazing news for travelers who want to see the breathtaking spectacle for themselves but haven’t been able to get to the far north of the continent, the next few years will provide a rare opportunity to marvel at it from several U.S. states where it usually can’t be seen—including southern California and Florida. In Ivan’s experience, it was the adventure of a lifetime. “It’s one of the few sights that is so out of this world, it’s certainly worth having on your bucket list.” 

Why are they becoming more common? 

Thanks to the sun’s 11-year cycle of activity, the next couple of years are the perfect time to view the northern lights’ extraordinary display. Since 2019, sunspots—which appear as dark patches on the sun’s surface—have been ramping up in frequency and boosting the odds of seeing the aurora. Sunspots result from twisting magnetic fields on our nearest star.

“Right now, we’re heading towards the solar maximum at the end of the solar cycle, which is forecast to occur in one to two years, perhaps in early 2025,” says Schmoll. “This means we’re getting more and more sunspots, which means more and more solar storms, and we are able to see more aurora.” After the solar maximum, “it’ll take a few years to really get back down to that minimum, where we’re not really seeing as much activity from the sun,” she says. 

Where can I see the northern lights?

Usually, the ethereal experience can be enjoyed from rural and open areas in Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Lapland, and Alaska. And they’re still your best bet for reliably delivering an incredible view of the lights. However, strengthening solar winds are exciting gas molecules further from the poles, which means the spectacle can increasingly be seen in U.S. states where the aurora are not usually visible, including Idaho, Minnesota, Michigan, and Montana. When the storms are unusually strong, “they can get pushed down even farther than that into Illinois,” says Schmoll.

When can I spot them?

The best time of year to seek out nature’s light show is from mid-September to mid-April when nights are darker. Especially long and dark evenings from January to March make this a particularly prime time to view them. On the other hand, warmer nights in autumn and spring can make the waiting game a little more comfortable. 

Travel tips for viewing the northern lights 

With the increased visibility of the northern lights, you hopefully don’t need to travel too far from home. You’ll want to pack warm clothes, as the suspenseful nights will likely be chilly. To get a more vivid view, make sure to set out on evenings with dark and clear skies. Spending at least a week in your chosen destination will give you a greater chance of spotting them, as the aurora won’t be visible every night.

Booking a tour such as those available on Expedia is a great way to hunt for the aurora with the help of a local guide. Lastly, if you want to capture the must-see experience, don’t rely on your phone as these can struggle with moving objects and longer exposure times: Bring a camera with manual focus and a tripod to take some incredible, once-in-a-lifetime photos. Read our expert guide here.