In August 2017, my wife and I and two close friends drove from Minnesota to east-central Nebraska for a shocker.
We settled in as a total solar eclipse approached, in the middle of a prairie trail at a campground just over a ridge from the Platte River and a few miles from the railroad city of Grand Island.
Mabel Loomis Todd’s description of a 19th century solar eclipse experience comes almost as close to describing something that felt too powerful for us in typical terms: “A vast, palpable presence overwhelmed the world. It seems like it is.”
I, too, was in awe of the unusual dusk that filled the space around us in the fields of Nebraska. Day turned into night and became something completely different. The stillness was visible as the moon moved directly between the Earth and the sun. We fell to the ground in amazement and stared at the glowing “corona,” the outer atmosphere of the eclipsed sun. It can never be seen with the naked eye, except as a general view for a few minutes.
I plan to pursue that experience again on April 8, when the same group of four travels nearly 600 miles to southern Missouri. We turn into a total road near Eminence, a hill town that is part of the Ozark National Scenic River Route. The total solar eclipse will begin in Missouri at 12:38 p.m. and last for 2 minutes and 41 seconds until just before 2 p.m.
While a partial solar eclipse will be visible (weather permitting) across all 48 states, a total solar eclipse will occur in a thousands-mile-long band called the total path, including 13 states from Texas to Maine. You can see. This road, which includes several major cities, is home to more than 30 million people. The closer you get to the center of the band, the longer the eclipse will be. From the Twin Cities, nearly three-quarters of the Sun is obscured by the Moon.
The pursuit of wholeness enriches the lives of one Minnesota woman and her family. Patti Isaacs of Stillwater vividly describes a 2017 trip she took with her and her husband Gauss during his battle with pancreatic cancer, and her two adult sons and grandson. I wrote this. What began the night before in Lincoln, Nebraska, ended 400 miles to the west in a field at Scottsbluff near the Colorado line. It turns out I also needed to chase clear skies.
On April 8, Isaacs attempts to witness her fifth solar eclipse, but Gauss is definitely on her mind. He passed away nine months after his 2017 trip. This time, she plans to travel to Austin, Texas, where several of her friends “finally got interested enough to see it and contacted me for advice.”
“The first three are [Gauss and I] “Only eclipse geeks went, but now everyone is obsessed with solar eclipses,” she added.
Here are some final tips for joining the corona mass exodus.
Find accommodation
My group settled on another camping trip, this time to Missouri, staying for two nights at a tent site on a family’s private property through the Hipcamp app. My initial search a few months ago included the Missouri State Park System, which has about 20 parks and historic sites along the way. By that time, many sites were already booked.
“Basically everything is reserved,” said Vicki Costner, director of the state parks department.
She said Sam A. Baker State Park and Lake Wappapelo State Park in southeast Missouri are two hugely popular parks that sold out quickly. Kozner and others learned a lot from the frenzy of interest in 2017, she said. This time, better plans are in place, including parking, astronomical programs at specific locations, and even the availability of eclipse viewing glasses.
Costner’s suggestions for potential late-night campers (advice that also applies to those looking for a hotel): Objectives just outside the total solar path, close to the total solar eclipse, where dramatic viewing may still be possible. Please consider the ground. For example, Bubbler State Park west of St. Louis had sites available starting at $15 a night as of mid-February. “I highly recommend observing the location of the partial solar eclipse,” Kosner said.
Hipcamp has seen astronomical bookings. Occupancy rates in states like Ohio and Missouri are approaching 80%, spokeswoman Lauren Vande said, adding that Arkansas currently has more vacancies. Overall, the camping platform says reservations are faster in warm-weather states like Texas. Properties with cabins, yurts, and RV sites are becoming more popular than tent sites.
Everyone is already approaching or everyone is already
Indianapolis claims to be the eclipse capital of the Midwest. Up to 100,000 people are expected to visit the city for the event, according to tourism agency Visitindy. The event was being held at the famous motor speedway and there was still space for campers for the three-day block from April 6th to 8th. His RV camp with electricity costs $450. A three-day tent pass is $125.
Indianapolis is no stranger to drawing crowds, and just drew 190,000 for NBA All-Star Game weekend. VisitIndy communications manager Claire Clark said she expects many people to arrive by car, but the organization has partnered with Sun Country Airlines to offer direct day trips from Minneapolis. . A second flight was added to respond to interest, and as of February 29, round-trip tickets are available for purchase for $303.
As of February 29, nonstop round-trip tickets to other major cities along the route had already reached $543 to Dallas, $892 to Cleveland, and $1,612 to Austin. To save money, you might consider moving closer to the next city. For example, fly to Houston, St. Louis, Chicago, or Pittsburgh, then drive closer.
Several airlines, including Delta Airlines, are also offering special flights for viewing the eclipse. Flights from Austin to Detroit sold out in 24 hours, and an Eclipse flight from Dallas to Detroit was added on Monday.
think about the weather
Heading to your destination based on the weather forecast? If possible, it’s best to drive or rent a car once you arrive. Isaacs recalled 2017, when her group made a late dash to reach the clear skies of western Nebraska. When it comes to rental cars, consider that hotels and campgrounds may not be the only items in short supply around April 8th.
Texas has historically been one of the states with the least amount of cloud cover in early April. Unlike the 2017 solar eclipse, this phenomenon occurs during a weather transition for much of the country. According to charts from NASA and the National Weather Service, the percentage of cloud cover in April generally increases along the track from south to north, so it’s important to pay close attention to the weather forecast.
Continues to move even after solar eclipse
Rather than rushing home afterwards, travelers should consider hanging out all day or even overnight, or at least consider a different route. 2017 saw some infamous traffic jams, including one on the way from Nebraska back to Minnesota. Isaacs recalled his son being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstate 35.
Kosner said she and her colleagues at Missouri Parks will be part of a large wave of Americans traveling to support other parks on and near the trail. Anyway, there is enthusiasm for April 8th.
“It’s going to be a great show,” she said.
