Amazingly, when you are in a place that is truly "dark", the milky way is so bright, it casts a shadow. Most people in the USA have never seen truly dark skies. Many nights at sea, I've seen the milky way from horizon to horizon, but atop Mauna Kea on a new moon was the brightest I've seen it. Even when I camp in the high sierra or northern Idaho, it's not even close to that experience. Until relatively recently, our ancestors saw the milky way in all its glory on every moonless night.
I live in Montana and am amazed still at how bright our night skies are compared to more populated areas. The Milky Way on a clear moonless night is spectacular.
When I travel I’m always a little taken aback at the lack of darkness in nighttime. there is so much ambient light bouncing around.
My backpack trip this year is to the Bob Marshall Wilderness. I went there for the first time last year and the night skies were magical.