Leonids Meteor Shower · 2026
Leonids Meteor Shower
The Leonids are famous for the rare, spectacular meteor storms they produce roughly every 33 years, but 2026 is an ordinary year - peaking the night of Nov 16-17. NASA notes that in a normal year you should expect fewer than 3 meteors per hour under dark skies, from Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. No storm is expected in 2026. For RV travelers who still want to chase the fast Leonids, Big Bend offers full-hookup sites under some of the darkest skies in the lower 48.
Peak & active window
Peak night of Nov 16-17, 2026; active Nov 6 - Nov 30, 2026 (per NASA)
Rate & parent body
Fewer than 3/hr in a normal year per NASA · Parent comet: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle · Famous for rare ~33-year storms (not 2026) · ~45% Moon at peak in 2026
Where to watch
Any dark, low-light-pollution site with an open sky works; the radiant near Leo rises after midnight, so predawn hours are best.
Nearest RV base
Big Bend National Park, TX - the Rio Grande Village RV Park has full-hookup sites, and the park has the least light pollution of any National Park unit in the lower 48 states, helping these sparse meteors stand out.
Watch it honestly
Set expectations low: a normal-year Leonid rate is just a handful per hour, and a roughly 45%-full Moon plus any clouds or light pollution will thin that further. The famous storms of hundreds to thousands per hour are not expected this year. Watch after midnight, use no telescope, and dark-adapt your eyes for 20-30 minutes. Real counts vary and are never guaranteed.
Confirm the peak timing and conditions with the source: NASA - Leonids .