April 8 is shaping up to be a busy day for US airlines, as travelers chase the total solar eclipse sweeping across the nation from Texas to Maine—a rare event that won’t be visible from the contiguous US again until 2044.
07.03.2024 - 02:07 / forbes.com
Over 14 million Americans will witness North America's total solar eclipse on April 8 while staying in a recreational vehicle, according to the RV Industry Association, after a surge in bookings and rentals.
Bookings around the date of the eclipse have spiked by nearly 660 percent compared to Memorial Day weekend on May 25-27, which is traditionally the beginning of the RV and camping season in North America.
However, according to RV owners and renters community RVshare it’s not too late to book an RV for the eclipse.
U.S. states along the 115 miles wide path of totality—including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Pennsylvania—are experiencing a “remarkable” spike in popularity, with some states seeing a 700+ percent increase in bookings compared to April 8, 2023, reports RVshare. In Ohio, it's over 1,000 percent.
Being flexible is everything, warns RVshare. “Travelers who are still planning a trip to watch the eclipse have time, but they could have to be scrappy with their planning,” said Maddi Bourgerie, a travel expert at RVshare. “Consider renting RVs from cities outside the path, like Houston or Louisville.”
Spot2Nite and RVshare have also collaborated to launch all-in-one bookable packages, while the latter has set up a special eclipse portal for those trying to book for the eclipse, with details of the path of totality, the cities with the best viewing experiences, and nearby RV rentals, campgrounds, state parks and eclipse-themed events.
Campgrounds can also be found on sites like:
Many RV parks and campgrounds with in Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania do still have availability. Spot2Nite reports that from 200 campground locations along the path of totality, 24 campgrounds have availability during the eclipse and 41 campgrounds have spaces on the night of the eclipse—April 8-9—with no minimum night stay.
The latter makes driving into the path of totality on the day of the eclipse an option, then staying to beat the predicted-to-be-terrible traffic after the eclipse on April 8.
For the latest on the total solar eclipse—including travel and lodging options—check my main feed for new articles daily.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
April 8 is shaping up to be a busy day for US airlines, as travelers chase the total solar eclipse sweeping across the nation from Texas to Maine—a rare event that won’t be visible from the contiguous US again until 2044.
As Americans prepare to witness the total solar eclipse on April 8, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a warning that the event could impact air travel at airports located in the path of totality.
With accommodation inside the 115-mile-long path of totality surging in price and cloud scientists suggesting that Texas has the highest chance of a clear view for April 8’s total solar eclipse, planning an eclipse trip is getting tricky. The answer has been there since the start—go to an eclipse festival. If you’re OK with staying in an RV or camping, then it’s a no-brainer.
The solar eclipse on April 8, will be a celestial event. It will be visible from 15 states across the U.S., parts of Mexico and Canada.
A million Americans remember where they were on August 21, 2017. For most of the enlightened who made a trip into the path of totality that day—the first to go coast to coast in the U.S. For 99 years—it was their first glimpse of totality, the eclipsed sun’s glistening corona on display for a couple of minutes of darkness during the middle of the day.
One of the largest living history museums in the U.S. will transport eclipse chasers back to the 19th century on April 8 in a once-in-a-century event.
Next month’s total solar eclipse, which will pass directly over a wide swath of North America, is drawing an awful lot of interest from folks who are willing to travel to see it in all its glory. In order to do so, they need to place themselves somewhere along its path of totality—geographic locations from which the sun will appear to be entirely obstructed by the moon’s shadow passing between the Earth and its nearest star.
A total solar eclipse is not just for science geeks. Memories of April 8’s brief moments of totality—reserved only for those inside the 115-mile-wide path across North America—will live forever in the mind of anyone who experiences it, whatever the level of their scientific knowledge.
The total solar eclipse on April 8 is the event of spring, but with the chances of a clear sky about 50/50 it pays to make a plan to do something that goes on for longer than the few hours of celestial splendor.
“All hotels for the eclipse sold out months ago—you’re too late.” It’s a common refrain from people who booked their rooms months ago and want to feel good about that, but it’s inaccurate.
If there's one honeypot location for many U.S. eclipse-chasers on Monday, April 8, it's Niagara Falls—and you don't even need a ticket. Destined to be in darkness for 3 minutes and 29 seconds at 3:18 p.m. EDT, many thousands of people are expected to be at the UNESCO World Heritage Site on the U.S.-Canada border to witness its first total solar eclipse since January 24, 1925—and its last until October 26, 2144.
Ohio will be one of the busiest U.S. states for eclipse chasers on Monday, April 8, for its first total solar eclipse since 1806.