The Milky Way is visible most nights (except when cloudy) on St. George Island, Florida, about 60 minutes from Tallahassee or 6.5 hours drive from Atlanta. It's stunning. Most nights I saw meteors as well. However, the northern sky is a little obstructed by trees.

White Sands National Monument in New Mexico has incredible views of the stars.

I saw beautiful stars canoeing on a lake in the Adirondack mountains.

I once saw comet Hyakutake by accident when I was riding in the back of a van on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I think it was around the Fort Littleton exit.

I suppose it depends on your starting point how expensive it is to see the stars. However, I agree that there is just too much artificial light. I get that we feel much safer and less bored, but there's something lost by not having the easy access to the night sky.