A Total Eclipse of the Sun—and a Galaxy of Anticipated Travel Issues

The spotlight will be on the sun and moon in the much-anticipated upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, expected by many to be the biggest mass travel event ever in the U.S. 

States in the path of totality include Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The duration of totality will be up to four minutes and 27 seconds, almost double that of The Great American Eclipse of August 2017.

And because of the anticipated thousands upon thousands of visitors to states that sit in the path of totality, travel and government officials are taking extra precautions and heeding warnings for travelers and residents, even declaring local disaster declarations in advance of the celestial celebration.

Suggestions include stocking up on essentials like water and food in the days leading up to the eclipse, and filling up gas tanks because the infrastructure will struggle to deal with the travelers, and traveling will be extremely challenging. Some of the smaller towns will be affected more than others because of the strain on resources created by eclipse travel enthusiasts—those who planned out years ago, as well as spontaneous daytrippers. Here’s what travelers should know about this unprecedented travel event in some of the sought-after destinations located on the centerline of the path of totality.

Indianapolis
Indy is no stranger to large-scale events—after all, each year it hosts the Indy 500, the world’s largest single-day sporting event bringing in about 300,000 visitors. And in February, the city hosted 190,000 visitors for the NBA All-Star Game.

“We’re fortunate, as a city, to have the playbook for these large-scale events in our back pocket,” says Morgan Snyder, senior director of public relations for Visit Indy.

“And it is certainly being put to use for the total solar eclipse,” Snyder says the city will also be using the same playbook it used hosting three nights of Taylor Swift this past November.

“With each event, there are nuances including geographic locations around the city, demographics of visitors, and more,” says Snyder. “Our team, for the past 18 months, has gathered a local organizing committee of 50-plus city leaders, safety teams, event planners, city organizations, and more. Safety and security have been at the forefront of these conversations.”

Indy is known as the Crossroads of America, says Snyder, with more major interstates coming in and out of the city, which helps with the infrastructure to support large crowds. “Many of our attractions and restaurants not normally open on Monday have also adjusted their hours to accommodate an additional influx of people,” says Snyder. “We’ve also been working with parking lots, and parking providers to open up ‘eclipse viewing’ opportunities.”

On April 4, Downtown Indy and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department will host a press conference to reiterate safety and security. The city’s Local Organizing Committee has also worked with zones in the city to ensure that eclipse activation zones, or larger viewing zones, are spread throughout Indy to ease the flow of traffic. “We’ve asked every activation zone to hold their programming beyond total eclipse (3:06 pm) timing so that traffic can trickle out,” says Snyder.

“Our consistent messaging to visitors and residents is that it’s imperative to find one place to watch the eclipse, arrive early, stay late, and make a day out of it,” says Snyder.

New Hampshire
The small town of Colebrook in the Great North Woods region is also gearing up for challenging travel conditions and issues. The town is located on the path of totality and will experience two minutes and 59 seconds of darkness.

Tim Stevens, town manager of Colebrook, New Hampshire, and owner of the Northern Comfort Motel in Colebrook, says lodging is sold out within a two-hour radius and heavy traffic and congestion are expected. There are only two major highways that lead to Colebrook—Route 26 from Maine, and Route 3 from I-93 from southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

“I told the local businesses to be prepared for three waves,” says Stevens. “At the beginning of the week, say Monday to Wednesday, consider you’ll see the locals coming to stock up. From the middle to the end of the week, from Thursday to Saturday, is when the out-of-town visitors with hotel reservations show up. And by the end of the weekend, between Sunday and Monday (the day of the eclipse) is when we’ll see daytrippers arrive, with travelers expected to come from as far as six hours away.”

And there’s this: “Another measure was going to all the banks and telling them to stock up on cash; the majority of our shops, restaurants, and businesses are cash-only,” says Stevens. “Our gas stations have ordered a resupply for the end of the week as well.”

Also, Stevens advises visitors to be mindful of the local community. “I always tell visitors to remember that people live, and work, here,” he says. “In the past, we’ve had people who pull their cars off into a field or a farm and they get stuck. But people make a living on those fields, and there are plenty of public viewing areas to enjoy the eclipse from. With only four tow trucks in the area, the priority will not be someone who is trespassing.”

Hikers and adventurers should be especially mindful—conditions in early April are not optimal. “It’s mud season, so people should be extra cautious when enjoying the outdoors in our area,” says Stevens.

New York State
According to census and traffic data compiled by GreatAmericanEclipse.com, 3,732,000 people live inside the path of totality in the state of New York. And the many visitors chasing the eclipse will swell that number considerably especially to spots like Lake Placid, which sits on the path of totality, and will experience three minutes and 21 seconds of totality. Niagara Falls, Buffalo, and Rochester are also in the path.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), over the past 17 months, a collaborative task force involving nearly two dozen state agencies and authorities has been working together to ensure a safe and memorable experience for residents and visitors during the eclipse in New York State. Their focus includes raising awareness about New York as a prime location for viewing the eclipse, providing essential safety and preparedness information, supporting region-specific viewing activities, and maintaining close communication with local governments, especially those in the path of totality.

The task force advises travelers to stay in one place and allocate extra travel time due to the anticipated high traffic volume on the day of the eclipse. And, drivers who do hit the road, should pack extra water, fuel, medications, and food. The task force also notes that streets and bridges may be closed and extensive traffic jams are possible.

Also, the environment is of concern. The DEC urges visitors in the Adirondacks and Catskills to remember that they are visiting during mud season, and it’s advisable to hike on trails below 2,500 feet to minimize impact. Also notable: The New York State Burn Ban begins March 16 and runs through May 14, so it will be in effect during the eclipse. According to the DEC, this year it’s particularly significant because the land from last winter is exceptionally dry, and more susceptible to fires.

Maine
Governor Janet Mills and the Maine Office of Tourism are urging visitors and residents to, above all, plan ahead. Parts of northern and western Maine are expected to be in the path of totality for the eclipse, although more than 90 percent of the event will be visible in all parts of the state. Also, stressing that the large path of totality will cut across rural areas, it is suggested that visitors be aware that the spot they opt to view the eclipse may likely be far from services and lodging. And, with the thousands of visitors expected to travel to Maine, lodging in those areas is in short supply.

The Maine Office of Tourism (MOT) has issued these additional travel guidelines:

• Stay on paved roads to ensure safe travel to and from viewing locations.
• Be prepared for increased traffic and the possibility of backups on rural roads.
• Have an emergency kit in your vehicle.
• Do not rely on GPS in rural areas.
• If weather conditions allow for safe hiking, remain on clearly marked trails to avoid getting lost or injured.
• Obtain permission before accessing privately owned land for optimal viewing locations.
• Monitor the forecast and dress appropriately for the weather, as conditions may be winter-like.
• Research your destination and secure lodging reservations well in advance to avoid last-minute inconveniences.

Visitors traveling to communities in the path of totality can find MOT recommended stops along the way and ideas for extending stays on the Visit Maine website. 

Texas
They say everything is big in Texas and visitors should expect big events and big traffic deep in the heart of the Lone Star State. Texas has a star location in the path of totality and is a preferred viewing location for several reasons—the probability of clear skies in early April and large cities, like Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, and San Antonio, that can more easily accommodate tourists with road networks that can support the traffic and enable movement if cloudy skies are present. Still, challenges will be experienced in many parts of the state including Travis County, home to Austin, which has issued a local disaster declaration and travel advisory.

Dallas will experience three minutes and 48 seconds of totality and Virgin Hotels Dallas, like all the hotels in the city, is ready to step up. “Like all special events, our biggest challenge, or opportunity rather, is ensuring that we anticipate and plan for all possible outcomes so that the overall guest experience isn’t compromised,” says Michael Bridges, general manager, of Virgin Hotels Dallas.

“Dallas is a city that defines Southern hospitality and we are ready to welcome all to our destination for the total solar eclipse of 2024.”