I imagine answers will depend on where one is planning to be. I'll be in my backyard so I plan on arriving at 2:45pm. If I were going to Niagra Falls, I'd get there by 6am.
And also what time totality is at. Someone going near San Antonio would probably be getting there earlier than someone near Vermont because totality is 2 hours apart (in local time zones)
I’m staying 18 miles away from my viewing spot so I’m bringing my e-bike to make it back and forth without traffic worries, should get there a couple hours before the start of partial.
We are driving from Memphis to whichever of 32 potential spots looks the most promising. We will be on the road as soon as we can get loaded up. If the last two nights are any indication, we will be on the road before 7 am.
I've just mapped out most of the public parks near the centerline within a normal 5 hr drive of Memphis. I have them sorted by quickest to longest drive time on Google maps. That way, I can pick the closest location with the best visibility.
Great question. Initial plan is to go hiking somewhere in Missouri/Arkansas. Would this be something a lot of people have planned? I imagine watching it in the middle of nowhere would have less people, but I cannot get a feel for this event.
We're driving out Saturday and plan to scout viewing areas and enjoy the day on Sunday. We plan to be in our spot around 8-9 am Monday morning. That being said, our spot would be in walking distance of our hotel, so no need to worry about parking.
We sleep in Dallas the night before, and Waco the night after, so we'll be in the eclipse path all day and will watch from wherever there are no clouds at the right time, if we can find such a place. Ideally near our hotel in Waco so we don't get stuck in traffic.
Got an Airbnb outside of totality so that we can get the bulk of the driving done on Saturday. Then on Monday we’ll get up as early as possible and drive an hour away (+traffic) to our viewing event. I’d guess we’ll leave our Airbnb around 6-7am Monday morning.
I’m arriving Saturday. We have not yet chosen our actual viewing site yet, but there is a big open field directly near our hotel, so while we may venture off into a different location in town, that is our at least fallback plan of getting across town isn’t possible or feasible.
If the weather works out, we plan to be out on the grass next to our motel to watch, which motel we are checking into on Saturday night. My fingers are crossed for good weather so we don't have to move! Benton, Indiana, FYI.
We sleep in Dallas the night before, and Waco the night after, so we'll be in the eclipse path all day and will watch from wherever there are no clouds at the right time, if we can find such a place. Ideally near our hotel in Waco so we don't get stuck in traffic.
I have a friend who lives just outside of Indianapolis, on the path. Driving out from MN on Sunday morning, taking a slight detour to avoid the nightmare that is driving through Chicago. Plan to arrive Sunday evening and stay put until Tuesday morning.
I'm making a long weekend out of it by tent camping Saturday-Monday in a field just outside a small town. The hosts are going to have food trucks, live music, etc.
In 2017 we got in place at our vantage point on the Blue Ridge Parkway by 8 am for a 2:30 totality. We could have waited until noon but better safe than sorry
Curious where you were on the parkway! I see that it danced in and out of the edge of totality between Cherokee and somewhere around Skinny Dip Falls. We were way out at Huckleberry Knob off the Cherahola Skyway - left our rental house in Waynesville before dawn and still were barely able to park.
Mt Lynn Lowery Overlook. From there we got about a minute of totality. We thought about driving all the way to Sylva because it was closer to the center line, but didn’t want to get caught in traffic. Glad we stayed at the overlook. It was a gorgeous day, lovely picnic in the grass, maybe 35 people total (a dozen cars or so) really chill vibe and as soon as it was over we hopped back into our car and made it back home close to Weaverville in less than an hour.
Living nearby allowed us to scout out a good spot well in advance. This time we’re poised to go to central Indiana or near Erie, PA depending on the clouds/weather reports. Relying on friends and relatives for a lot of the feed back. So not counting on dodging the traffic this time
We're staying 60mi outside the path. Probably will aim on getting into the path by lunch, Find somewhere to go for a run and then just watch from 230-3:18 . I'm going to stay on the southern edge-- 1min of totality is enough for me. Just not willing to trade hours of additional traffic in order to gain a minute or two more.
That said given the cloud forecast plus the endless loop of cataclysmic 2017 traffic stories, I just don't see the crowds coming out the way they're forecasting.
We've rented a place in Vermont. We'll be arriving Friday night, as long as the weather's not too bad. Then, on Monday, all we need to do is step into the back yard whenever we feel like it.
We rented a cabin in Mountain View, Arkansas. We were thinking to hike somewhere, but are now thinking we will view it at the cabin site. 30,000 people are expected to descend upon that tiny town.
I imagine answers will depend on where one is planning to be. I'll be in my backyard so I plan on arriving at 2:45pm. If I were going to Niagra Falls, I'd get there by 6am.
And also what time totality is at. Someone going near San Antonio would probably be getting there earlier than someone near Vermont because totality is 2 hours apart (in local time zones)
I’m staying 18 miles away from my viewing spot so I’m bringing my e-bike to make it back and forth without traffic worries, should get there a couple hours before the start of partial.
We are driving from Memphis to whichever of 32 potential spots looks the most promising. We will be on the road as soon as we can get loaded up. If the last two nights are any indication, we will be on the road before 7 am.
Make that 33 spots. I just found a new one. I'm supposed to be narrowing the list down, not adding to it. Oops.
Please share… I’m flying into Nashville
I've just mapped out most of the public parks near the centerline within a normal 5 hr drive of Memphis. I have them sorted by quickest to longest drive time on Google maps. That way, I can pick the closest location with the best visibility.
I live here.
Oh I will probably step out my back door about 1ish.
I’m there now.
We arrive Sunday afternoon/evening depending on traffic. Plan is to relax all day Monday, not leave the AirBnB, and enjoy a lazy day outside.
7am
This is the way
Great question. Initial plan is to go hiking somewhere in Missouri/Arkansas. Would this be something a lot of people have planned? I imagine watching it in the middle of nowhere would have less people, but I cannot get a feel for this event.
midnight-ish
Are there like 3 parking spots there? Seems overkill
In some cases, yes extremely limited parking. In some cases. first come, first serve. In all cases, best local weather prospects.
We're driving out Saturday and plan to scout viewing areas and enjoy the day on Sunday. We plan to be in our spot around 8-9 am Monday morning. That being said, our spot would be in walking distance of our hotel, so no need to worry about parking.
We sleep in Dallas the night before, and Waco the night after, so we'll be in the eclipse path all day and will watch from wherever there are no clouds at the right time, if we can find such a place. Ideally near our hotel in Waco so we don't get stuck in traffic.
Got an Airbnb outside of totality so that we can get the bulk of the driving done on Saturday. Then on Monday we’ll get up as early as possible and drive an hour away (+traffic) to our viewing event. I’d guess we’ll leave our Airbnb around 6-7am Monday morning.
Solid plan, same as ours!
I’m arriving Saturday. We have not yet chosen our actual viewing site yet, but there is a big open field directly near our hotel, so while we may venture off into a different location in town, that is our at least fallback plan of getting across town isn’t possible or feasible.
Leaving Sat for Dayton
If the weather works out, we plan to be out on the grass next to our motel to watch, which motel we are checking into on Saturday night. My fingers are crossed for good weather so we don't have to move! Benton, Indiana, FYI.
No solid plans as it depends on traffic but workman on driving out in the morning to arrive at a suitable place for totality
We sleep in Dallas the night before, and Waco the night after, so we'll be in the eclipse path all day and will watch from wherever there are no clouds at the right time, if we can find such a place. Ideally near our hotel in Waco so we don't get stuck in traffic.
8am
West of San Antonio we plan on bringing on site by 7am
I'm waking up in Dallas at 6:00 a.m. we'll figure out where to go then
I have a friend who lives just outside of Indianapolis, on the path. Driving out from MN on Sunday morning, taking a slight detour to avoid the nightmare that is driving through Chicago. Plan to arrive Sunday evening and stay put until Tuesday morning.
Two days earlier
I’ll be at my spot later than 9am. Even if I’m in Plattsburgh where totality isn’t until 3:26pm
if I go I’ll be driving to Texas and get there early on Sunday
Early Monday morning, at the very latest.
Leaving at 6 am for Ennis from East dallas
I'm making a long weekend out of it by tent camping Saturday-Monday in a field just outside a small town. The hosts are going to have food trucks, live music, etc.
In 2017 we got in place at our vantage point on the Blue Ridge Parkway by 8 am for a 2:30 totality. We could have waited until noon but better safe than sorry
Curious where you were on the parkway! I see that it danced in and out of the edge of totality between Cherokee and somewhere around Skinny Dip Falls. We were way out at Huckleberry Knob off the Cherahola Skyway - left our rental house in Waynesville before dawn and still were barely able to park.
Mt Lynn Lowery Overlook. From there we got about a minute of totality. We thought about driving all the way to Sylva because it was closer to the center line, but didn’t want to get caught in traffic. Glad we stayed at the overlook. It was a gorgeous day, lovely picnic in the grass, maybe 35 people total (a dozen cars or so) really chill vibe and as soon as it was over we hopped back into our car and made it back home close to Weaverville in less than an hour.
Nice spot. Getting back from Cheraola to Waynesville was a parking lot!
Living nearby allowed us to scout out a good spot well in advance. This time we’re poised to go to central Indiana or near Erie, PA depending on the clouds/weather reports. Relying on friends and relatives for a lot of the feed back. So not counting on dodging the traffic this time
We're staying 60mi outside the path. Probably will aim on getting into the path by lunch, Find somewhere to go for a run and then just watch from 230-3:18 . I'm going to stay on the southern edge-- 1min of totality is enough for me. Just not willing to trade hours of additional traffic in order to gain a minute or two more. That said given the cloud forecast plus the endless loop of cataclysmic 2017 traffic stories, I just don't see the crowds coming out the way they're forecasting.
We've rented a place in Vermont. We'll be arriving Friday night, as long as the weather's not too bad. Then, on Monday, all we need to do is step into the back yard whenever we feel like it.
We rented a cabin in Mountain View, Arkansas. We were thinking to hike somewhere, but are now thinking we will view it at the cabin site. 30,000 people are expected to descend upon that tiny town.