Let the countdown begin: Less than six months from now, parts of the United States will briefly experience night during the middle of the day as the moon passes between the sun and the Earth.
On April 8, 2024, the sun, Earth, and moon will come into complete alignment and a total solar eclipse will sweep over a swath of the United States. That will plunge such cities as Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas in Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Cleveland, Ohio; and Buffalo and Rochester in New York into darkness for up to four minutes and 27 seconds.
Astro tourists are expected to travel from across the country—and the world—to see the skyward spectacle. And while six months may sound distant, if you’re keen on catching the celestial show, it’s a good idea to start planning and booking now. If 2017, when the last total solar eclipse passed over the USA, was any indication, demand for flights to and hotels in the destinations in the path of totality (where people can see the moon completely obscure the sun) will skyrocket in the coming months.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning on traveling to see the 2024 solar eclipse.
When is the 2024 total solar eclipse?
The next solar eclipse viewable from the United States will happen on April 8, 2024. Depending on your location and time zone, the eclipse will happen somewhere between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. local time.
The most recent eclipse, which happened on October 14, 2023, was an annular partial solar eclipse. Both total solar eclipses and annular partial solar eclipse occur when the moon moves between the Earth and the sun. However, in the case of an annular partial eclipse, the moon is further away from the Earth and doesn’t completely obscure the sun. The 2024 solar eclipse, however, is the one generating the most excitement because the entire sun will be obscured.
If you don’t get to see this one, the next total solar eclipse won’t happen in the United States for more than 20 years, on August 23, 2044, when the path of totality will cross over parts of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Where will be the 2024 solar eclipse be visible?
According to NASA, the trail of the eclipse will enter the United States in Texas, near San Antonio, and will then follow a northeastern path across the state before continuing into parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Communities closer to the path’s center, such as Cleveland and Buffalo, will see the longest eclipse (roughly four minutes long). In contrast, cities on the edge, like Austin and Burlington, will see a shorter eclipse (under two minutes).
A map showing the annular and solar eclipses.
Courtesy of NASA
Outside the United States, the eclipse can also be seen in Mexico, starting on the Pacific Coast near Mazatlan, before crossing the central desert areas of Durango and Coahuila and then reaching the Texas border. Beyond Maine, the path of totality will extend into Canada, passing through parts of Ontario and Newfoundland.
There are no bad places within the path of totality to see the solar eclipse, though you’ll want to make sure you’re somewhere with an unobstructed view of the sky. For an even more memorable experience, travelers might consider cities like Austin and Little Rock, which are hosting events, often in stadiums or open fields.
Those who really want to nerd out on the science behind the otherworldly event might consider traveling to one of the three cities that NASA is currently partnering with: Kerrville, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Cleveland, Ohio. There, NASA has planned group viewing areas, and have NASA experts on-site to “engage with the public and share the ways NASA studies the sun and uses that information to understand its impact on Earth, throughout our solar system, and beyond,” according to a statement.
People travel long distances for the chance to glimpse a total solar eclipse.
Photo by Shutterstock
Alternatively, for those looking for a quieter experience, the top of a hill or mountain provides an interesting 360-degree spectacle. Word of warning, though: Wild animals can react to the eclipse in surprising ways (those that are nocturnal, in particular, can get confused) so bear that in mind before choosing a spot in the wilderness.
The real wild card for seeing the 2024 solar eclipse will be the weather. If it’s cloudy (which is not totally unlikely in April), the eclipse won’t be visible. Typically in April, per NOAA records, areas in the South and Southwest are the driest, whereas the Northeast is the wettest, so it may be worth factoring that in if you plan to travel to see the eclipse.
Hotels for the 2024 total solar eclipse are already booking up
Accommodations in larger cities in the path of totality are already being scooped up for the 2024 solar eclipse.
According to Visit San Antonio president and CEO Marc Anderson, hotels in San Antonio are “starting to see strong demand, with half of the hotels surveyed close to completely sold out.”
Similarly, representatives from Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Austin told AFAR that hotel reservations are rapidly filling up. If the hotels in your desired city fill up before you get around to booking, look for options in cities within driving distance, as well as Airbnb listings and campsites in the area.
How will the 2024 total solar eclipse compare to the 2017 total solar eclipse?
The 2024 total solar eclipse will be longer and visible to more people than the 2017 eclipse, the last time the United States experienced a total solar eclipse. In 2017, the moon’s direct shadow (or umbra), from under which you can see the eclipse, was 70 miles wide. In 2024, it will be 120 miles wide.
And because the shadow is so much wider (a symptom of the moon being closer to the Earth this time), it also means that the duration will be longer at four minutes and 27 seconds at its peak, as opposed to just two minutes and 41 seconds in 2017.
Because the path of totality is wider, more people live in its path: 32 million people, compared to 12 million in 2017. It could also make finding a spot to witness the celestial show a little easier.
This article originally appeared online in April 2023; it was most recently updated on October 26, 2023, to include current information.
