The Bortle ladder, practically
Class 9 (city center): the Moon, planets, brightest stars. Class 6–7 (suburbs): constellations half-visible, M31 a challenge. Class 4 (rural): Milky Way visible, all Messier objects reachable. Class 2 (true dark): the Milky Way casts shadows. Your observing goals decide how far you drive — galaxies need Class 4 or better, the Moon and planets forgive cities.
Finding dark
Light pollution maps (darksitefinder-style) locate blue-and-black zones within driving distance. State parks, national forests, and dedicated dark-sky reserves are the reliable bets. The one-hour drive rule: most people can reach Class 4 skies within 60–90 minutes — enough for the full catalog.
Adaptation is the free upgrade
Thirty minutes of darkness doubles what you see — the eye's rhodopsin rebuilds slowly, and every white flash resets it. Red flashlights preserve it. The discipline (no phones, red light only, patience) is the difference between "I see some stars" and the full Milky Way — and it costs nothing but patience.