Even though many eclipse enthusiasts have had April 8, 2024 marked on their calendars for years, there are some travelers who are just now deciding they want to experience this natural phenomenon in person and it’s not too late.
“Wherever your eclipse adventure may take you, working with a travel advisor can give you more access to available deals and options,” says Bevi Powell, senior vice president, AAA East Central. “There is still time to plan a trip to enjoy this unique event that won’t happen again for 20 years.”
Decide which city to visit. According to AAA booking data, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio are the most popular cities along the path of totality. Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Buffalo are also top eclipse-viewing destinations. AAA car rental partner Hertz says Dallas is currently seeing six times more reservations than last year at this same time.
Figure out how to get there and where to stay. Driving may be the best option if flights are too expensive or sold out. AAA members get a discount with Hertz, which has increased staffing ahead of the eclipse and repositioned cars to high-demand areas. To save money, stay with family and friends who live nearby. AAA booking data show hotels in the most popular cities along the path of totality are 48% more expensive during the eclipse weekend than they were that same time last year. Reach out to a AAA travel agent or visit Trip Canvas to plan a larger vacation around an eclipse trip.
Determine timing. The eclipse falls on a Monday, so decide which day to depart. Many travelers will make a long weekend out of the event. Saturday, April 6 is expected to be a busy travel day. Hertz reports a 3,000% increase over last year in advance bookings for eclipse path cities for that Saturday. Remember, this is also Spring Break for many families, so there will be extra travelers moving about that weekend.
Safety first. Expect heavier than normal traffic before and after the eclipse. AAA recommends:
- Keep vehicle headlights on.
- Put the sun visor down to block the sun.
- Don’t wear eclipse glasses while driving.
- Don’t try to photograph or video the eclipse while driving.
- Don’t pull over to the side of the road, highway, or interstate to view the eclipse.
- Exit the roadway and park in a safe area away from traffic to view the eclipse.
- Be mindful of pedestrians who may be walking around with their eyes on the sky.
AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 70 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members. News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
