ROAD TRIPS
There are many opportunities to drive along the path of totality next April. Try to build in ample time to travel a few days before the eclipse and plan to spend a few post-eclipse days in the destination. Traffic delays are anticipated to be epic, especially immediately following the eclipse, when many travelers will hit the road at the same time to travel home.
Texas Hill Country
A road trip to Lake Austin in Texas Hill Country will reward travelers with 1 minute, 46 seconds of total darkness at 1:36 p.m. CST. Lake Austin Spa Resort will celebrate with dining under the stars, ISO solar-viewing safety glasses, group viewing of the eclipse in the resort’s garden area with a former interpretive guide for the National Park Service, and a float picnic on the lake.
www.lakeaustin.com
Smithsonian Journeys is offering three incredible Hill Country eclipse trips: Solar Eclipse 2024: Astronomy and Nature in the Texas Hill Country; Solar Eclipse 2024: A Journey from Austin to the Texas Hill Country; and Solar Eclipse 2024: Historic San Antonio to the Texas Hill Country.
www.smithsonianjourneys.org
Lake Placid, New York
For a really cool road journey, pack the skis and snowboard to visit this charming village way up north in New York — within a day’s drive for 25 percent of the North American population. The Olympics-hosting town (twice) is within the path of eclipse totality, including Whiteface Mountain, one of the highest peaks in the Adirondack Mountains.
Whiteface will experience the longest totality time of any accessible mountain in the East and an optimal south-facing view; maximum totality up there will last for 3 minutes and 21 seconds. Take the enclosed eightpassenger gondola (telescopes and camera equipment can easily fit) to the viewing deck on the summit of Little Whiteface Mountain. Or, on skis or a snowboard via a quad lift, go even higher, 4,386 feet up the mountain. “While no one could guarantee there will still be snow, Whiteface Mountain has among the most advanced snowmaking systems on the planet, and as a result, our skiers and riders have enjoyed outstanding conditions throughout the year and more recently, well into April,” says Jaime Collins, member of the Olympic Authority communications team. “We are typically still open the first couple
weekends of April, even despite warm conditions later in the season, so I’d say it’s very likely we will still be whisking skiers and snowboarders up the summit quad lift next April 8.” Plans include a Lake Placid solar eclipse viewing party.
www.lakeplacid.com/ 2024-total-solar-eclipse
Erie, Pennsylvania, and Niagara Falls, New York
The eclipse’s path of totality will travel from Erie, Pennsylvania to the Niagara Falls region, and so can eclipse chasers — it’s about an hour-and-a-half drive up I-90 from Erie to Niagara Falls. The sky will get eerie in Erie — the only city in Pennsylvania to lie the path of totality — for almost four minutes. And lots of celebratory activities are planned; for details, visit
www.ErieEclipse2024.com.
And Niagara Falls is gushing about its lights-out location. (Buffalo, about a half-hour drive, will also pull out all the stops on the big day.) Niagara Falls State Park will host educational solar-eclipse programming, and local campgrounds at Four Mile Creek State Park and Golden Hill State Park will open earlier than normal to accommodate travelers who wish to camp. The parks are both located along the shores of Lake Ontario, which is ideal for eclipse viewing.
www.niagarafallsusa.com
Beyond these highlights, there will be plenty more going on for the April 8, 2024 eclipse across North America. For updated info including maps, safety tips, and viewing opportunities, visit
www.greatamericaneclipse.com..