Eclipse fever is high as the United States prepares for a total solar eclipse that will cross a vast swath of the country on April 8. Looking for last-minute tips for traveling during an eclipse? The demand is extraordinary for flights, hotels and rental cars on the way to the whole. But it's not too late to book a trip for the solar eclipse, if you know where to look.
First of all, no matter where you go, you'll want to pick up a pair of eclipse glasses so that you can observe this phenomenon safely. Next, you'll want to make sure you're in the path of totality, which will cross 13 states. And you'll want to allow enough travel time for the traffic snarls expected as spectators descend into the path of totality.
So, where to stay to enjoy it on vacation? A few companies offer practical tips for traveling in the event of a last-minute eclipse.
A group of friends prepare to watch a solar eclipse.
Booking.com: 13 accommodations
To celebrate this monumental event that will take place in 13 states, Booking.com has put together a list of 13 properties still available in or right near locations in the path of totality of the eclipse. The list of best last minute Eclipse hotels to book includes:
- The house with the ultimate view in Dallas, Texas
- Crystal Moon in Broken Bow, Oklahoma (the path of totality will pass through nearby Idabel, Oklahoma)
- The Empress of Little Rock in Arkansas
- Wildwood Hotel in Wildwood, Missouri (near the eclipse hotspot of Poplar Bluff, Missouri)
- Hotel 1895 Washington in Paducah, Kentucky
- Outdoor oasis in wildlife reserve in Carbondale, IL
- New Harmony Inn Resort and Conference Center in New Harmony, Indiana (the eclipse will be over Evansville, Indiana)
- Riverside Gables Bed and Breakfast in Berea, Ohio (the eclipse will be over Cleveland)
- Lake view in northeastern Pennsylvania (the eclipse will be over Erie, Pennsylvania)
- The lake house on Canandaigua in Canandaigua, New York
- Broadlake at Thayer Beach, Vermont (the eclipse will be over Burlington, Vermont)
- Cozy country cottage in Whitefield, New Hampshire (the eclipse will take place over Lancaster, New Hampshire)
- The Whitetail Inn and Suites in Lincoln, Maine (the eclipse will be over Caribou, Maine)
Airbnb has released the best locations for the upcoming eclipse.
Airbnb rentals
According to Airbnb, there have been 1000% increase in demand for cities on the path to totality. But there are cities and towns across the United States that still have Airbnb inventory available to book for Sunday, April 7.
• Richardson and Pflugerville, Texas
• Hot Springs, Arkansas
•Bloomington, Indiana
• Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio
• Rochester and Syracuse, New York
Camping is a great way to view a solar eclipse. (Photo credit: ROB KERR/AFP via Getty Images)
Camping
Want to get away from the city lights? “Camping offers an exceptional experience during a total eclipse. It takes you away from the city lights, immerses you in nature and offers breathtaking views of this cosmic phenomenon,” Erin Stender, Campspot’s chief marketing officer, said in a statement.
Additionally, campgrounds tend to have more availability than hotels during popular events like solar eclipses. Campspot published a modern campsite site guides which shows real-time availability at campgrounds in states located in the path of totality. And according to Campspot, all states show campgrounds with at least one site available per night for the four nights surrounding April 8.
RV trips are a popular way to view the total solar eclipse.
Motorhome trips
According to a recent investigation, 25% of Americans planning to travel to view the total solar eclipse plan to take an RV trip to witness this impressive event. The advantage of traveling by motorhome? This not only gives you shelter, but also freedom, since you can easily change your position depending on the weather. Plus, you can save money. “The fact that it is much more affordable to have this experience with family and friends in an RV makes it an irresistible option,” said Craig Kirby, president and CEO of the RV Industry Association, in a statement.
Outdoorsy, a peer-to-peer RV rental site, has made it easy for people to find a last-minute RV rental on the way to totality with its list of rental options near the path of totality.
For last-minute RV travelers looking for places to view the eclipse, RV Trader has compiled several lists of the best places to park your RV in the path of totality, including harvest hosts (where you can stay on a farm) and alternative RV parks with availability.
