Destinations To Visit If You Want The Best Views Of 2024's Solar Eclipse
A celestial event is taking center stage in 2024 on what is anticipated to be one of the biggest travel days of the year. Millions of people are expected to travel to witness the moon pass in front of the sun, casting a shadow of complete darkness. The rare total solar eclipse will take place Monday, April 8, 2024.
Beginning at 11:07 a.m. PDT, the eclipse will reach the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It will then pass through several U.S. States, including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Finally, it will pass through Canada. In total, the eclipse will travel 10,000 miles, and the shadow of the moon, known as the path of totality, falls within a width of 115 miles. Locations closest to the center line of totality will experience more than four minutes of total darkness.
The next total solar eclipse won't happen within the continental United States until 2044, so many astronomy enthusiasts have had their eclipse plans in place for months. Hotels and vacation rentals are starting to book up all across the eclipse's path.
To help you plan your perfect 2024 eclipse trip, we've selected some of the best destinations to take in the majesty of the event using factors like distance from the path of totality and duration of the total eclipse. We chose exciting locations with plenty of fun activities, events, and eclipse viewing parties to help you create a once-in-a-lifetime vacation out of this unforgettable astronomical occurrence.
Mazatlán, Mexico
Mazatlán, Mexico, is the perfect place for travelers who want to enjoy the solar eclipse and a beautiful beach vacation all in one trip. Located on the Pacific Ocean in the north-central Mexican state of Sinaloa, Mazatlán will be one of the best places to view the eclipse. It sits directly on the path of totality and will have more than four minutes of visibility. It's also one of the first places where the eclipse will be visible as it moves onto mainland Mexico.
Mazatlán is a popular tourist destination known for its gorgeous beaches and has one of the longest boardwalks in the world. The malecón stretches over four miles and offers plenty of space for tourists and locals to spread out and enjoy the eclipse. There are several beautiful resorts and hotels throughout the city for travelers. Many have already booked up for the eclipse dates, so it's best to make your reservations as soon as possible.
In a statement with Space.com, the president of the Mazatlán Astronomical Society, David Esquivel, shared that several stations will be set up with telescopes and eclipse glasses for tourists. Events will be held throughout the region, including the Portal Conscious Eclipse Festival, which will be held at an eco-village in Mazatlán from April 5-9, offering attendees workshops, yoga classes, and musical sets. Four-day general admission tickets cost $295 and include camping.
Texas Eclipse Festival
If you're looking for an unforgettable way to experience the 2024 eclipse, head to Burnet, Texas, for the Texas Eclipse Festival. The music and arts event is the result of a collaboration between 13 independent festival producers from around the world working together to create a once-in-a-lifetime event for attendees. During the four-day event, you'll be able to enjoy hundreds of musical performances from world-famous artists, immersive art installations, and speakers who will touch on subjects of science, technology, and space.
The Texas Eclipse Festival will take place at Reville Peak Ranch in Burnet, which is right next to the center line on the path of totality as it passes through Texas. From the festival, you'll be able to witness at least four minutes and twenty seconds of totality, making this one of the longest eclipse durations on our list.
Festival attendees will camp on-site, and there are a variety of camping options available. Tickets to the festival include camping, but you can also pay an additional fee to camp with your car or bring your RV. For the ultimate experience, reserve one of the glamping Bell Tents, which feature comfortable beds, coolers, and electrical outlets. A general admission ticket to the event costs $344 for the full four-day festival. Two and three-day passes are also available.
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas, is the ideal location if you're searching for a beautiful natural setting to enjoy the eclipse. Hot Springs National Park is one of only two national parks positioned within the path of totality, and the town located within the park has plenty of great places to stay. It's also one of the oldest national parks in the United States.
In Hot Springs, you'll enjoy the eclipse in totality for over three and a half minutes. Officials in Hot Springs have been preparing for the tourism boom that the eclipse is sure to bring for over a year, and plenty of local businesses are planning to host special events around town. Families with kids will love the eclipse weekend events and activities at the Mid-America Science Museum and Majestic Park. Several music festivals are being held around the area, including Atlas Obscura's Ecliptic Music Festival and the Ron Coleman Mining Eclipse Festival. For a complete list of events, check out Hot Springs' official website.
The National Park Service is anticipating massive crowds and recommends planning ahead if you plan to watch the eclipse from the park, as parking is limited. Camping within the Gulpha Gorge Campground is already booked up, and hotel rooms in Hot Springs are booking fast, so make reservations as soon as possible.
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana, is gearing up for the biggest influx of tourists the city has ever seen ahead of the eclipse on April 8. The trendy college-town-meets-big-city atmosphere of Bloomington makes it a dream come true for hipsters, and its prime location within the path of totality means it's a hot destination for eclipse viewing. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit for the event. From Bloomington, you'll be able to witness the eclipse in totality for about four minutes.
Local businesses and parks are hosting several events and festivities on the days surrounding the eclipse. Head to Switchyard Park for a free eclipse party on April 6, starting at 6 p.m. You can enjoy karaoke, food trucks, and a feature film. Indiana University is hosting a science fest open to the public and has activities for all ages. Another option is to attend the three-day Shadowfest Camping and Music Festival in celebration of the eclipse, which will be held at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. Tickets with access to every event are $120, and prices for single or multi-day passes are even lower.
A few great places to view the eclipse in Bloomington include Lake Lemon, Monroe Lake, and Switchyard Park. Hotel rooms and Airbnbs are still available in Bloomington for the eclipse dates, but they're booking quickly.
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont, offers the perfect blend of beautiful natural scenery and a thriving arts and culture scene. Located on the shores of Lake Champlain and nestled within the Green Mountains, Burlington is just under 44 miles from the Canadian Border, and it's an excellent budget friendly destination in New England. The city of Burlington sits almost directly on the center line of totality for the eclipse as it passes through its final stretch within the United States.
You'll be able to catch totality for over three minutes. The entire city is planning special events and activities in preparation for the arrival of eclipse tourists. In addition to eclipse viewing parties, you can attend plenty of unique local artisan markets like the Made in Vermont Marketplace and the Vermont Spring Market, where you can shop for local artisan goods. OBSCURA BTV, presented by BCA Burlington City Arts, promises a series of events around the city, with the full schedule expected to be released soon. Keep an eye on the event's website for more information as the eclipse grows near.
Burlington has a few great hotels, including boutique hotels, luxurious spas, and relaxed chains. Airbnb is another excellent option for finding the perfect place to stay. After the eclipse festivities, get outside and enjoy some of Burlington's amazing outdoor recreation opportunities, like hiking to one of the region's beautiful waterfalls.
Methodology
When choosing the best destinations to view the 2024 solar eclipse, we looked at a variety of factors, including proximity to the eclipse's line of totality, based on data from the Great American Eclipse and the interactive eclipse Google map. We only selected areas where the eclipse will be visible for at least three minutes. While there are countless cities and small towns across the United States with excellent eclipse viewing conditions, we looked for destinations with plenty of activities, eclipse-specific events, and tourist attractions so that you can make the most out of your 2024 eclipse experience.