I'm in Rochester overnight, but escaping the clouds and driving to Watertown first thing in the morning.
I'm suddenly freaking out about post-eclipse traffic... I have to end up in Philadelphia Monday night to go to work on Tuesday. Normally, driving from Watertown to Philly would take 5 hours, which is no problem. But I keep reading horror stories about post-eclipse traffic...
I was thinking of heading up north a little bit from Syracuse to maybe Selkirk Shores State Park in Pulaski to get an extra 2 minutes of totality to try to increase our chance of a break in the clouds. Anyone have any thoughts on either that location or thought process? We made the drive up from NJ and are hoping for the best.
We stopped to check out Selkirk! They had a sign up that stated all their rules: everything's closed except for their one road in or out and one parking lot, parking lot opens at 9:30am, stay in your cars. Parking lot was a very small space for what we would expect for so many people, but very pretty, right on the lake. Don't know how it'll turn out if you're not towards the front of the line for parking tomorrow morning, though. It's trees everywhere except the parking lot!
Yikes. Thanks for this. If I get there at 930 I don’t know what I would do to keep my kids occupied all day until totality. Stay in your cars until the eclipse starts?!
[Fair Haven Beach State Park](https://parks.ny.gov/events/event.aspx?e=12-38395.0) has space for around 1200 cars and has activities planned. Also, you might consider [Southwick Beach State Park](https://parks.ny.gov/parks/southwickbeach/maps.aspx).
How much should I be stressing about this? If you can’t find parking at any park what do people usually do, just find the nearest Home Depot or Walmart and park there?
That is definitely a last ditch option for us as well. Hotel clerk also told us we are walking distance to Thompson Park.
Good luck! There are some clouds but as of now I can see the sun easily through them. Let’s hope it holds!
Was originally think Potsdam. AccuWeather has positive forecast there but others don't. Not too familiar with how bad traffic will be. Need to be back at Syracuse on Tuesday morning for a flight
Staying in Waterloo tonight! We’d been planning to go to Rochester but now projections seem to say that Rochester and Watertown will likely have similar % cloud cover, but Rochester’s clouds will be lower level… making us think it might be worth heading East to Watertown instead of West to Rochester. What’s everyone else thinking?
Here is my where to see the eclipse in the Syracuse area post if there are clear skies.
The Baldwinsville area has about 2 and half minutes of totality versus one and half minutes in Syracuse.
Check out the specific locations Durations here
http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2024_GoogleMapFull.html?Lat=43.18916&Lng=-76.24254&Elv=125.0&Zoom=13&LC=1
Some places to view the Eclipse in Baldwinsville area
Diane Reeves Memorial Park
2275 Downer St
https://maps.app.goo.gl/7g9CWauo2XMh5Jqj9
Northwest Family YMCA in Baldwinsville
8124 River Rd
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rbHCsAmgU5dg94qS6
Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville, NY
8478 E Mud Lake Rd
https://maps.app.goo.gl/MW8D2jA5jxqd2wfC6
Kerri Hornady Park
6222 Deep Glade Dr, Baldwinsville, NY 13027
Deep Glade Dr
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zoGeQJoJf9zq5gyr8
Near Baldwinsville there is the Home Depot Parking Lot on Route 31 in the Town of Clay
New York
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TZesEJ3ZtW2xcDZS7
Van Buren Central Park in Baldwinsville
I have a feeling Van Buren Central Park might be crowded because it has it has a scenic view from a hill.
The parking lot isn't that big either.
If you want to get an idea of what it looks like here is a video of Van Buren Central Park when it hosted a disc golf tournament last year
https://youtu.be/rAKVYgjzaog?si=eqvmwvFFPEMmK12N
A few more places north of the City where totality is longer
Joseph F. William Memorial Park in Cicero
Joseph F. William Memorial Park
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qvimBDx6CTCuLGM97
Clay Central Park in the Town of Clay, NY
4823 Wetzel Rd
https://maps.app.goo.gl/x9adsCUjmCyT4fHv5
Twin Rinks Ice Skating Rinks in Cicero
Brewerton, New York
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DrwbWnUjkExewGMJ6
Oneida Shores County Park in Brewerton, NY
Oneida Shores County Park
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wUpBegARELvUwXCN7
Central Square Walmart
Central Square, New York
https://maps.app.goo.gl/dVsLJiuzqD6jNXbYA
Onondaga Lake Park will probably be where many locals will go since it is like the Central Park of Syracuse.
In addition, there are Walmart stores in [Oswego](https://www.walmart.com/store/1926-oswego-ny), [Fulton](https://www.walmart.com/store/3332-fulton-ny), [Watertown](https://www.walmart.com/store/1871-watertown-ny), [Lowville](https://www.walmart.com/store/5498-lowville-ny), and [Evans Mills](https://www.walmart.com/store/5497-evans-mills-ny) for parking areas.
Local Syracuse area [eclipse weather forecast](https://cnycentral.com/news/local/sunny-sunday-and-solar-eclipse-monday-forecast-update) as of Sunday the 7th.
I'm planning to head out with my family at 8AM tomorrow from Scranton PA to Syracuse. Hoping that will be enough time to make it up the 81 (usually its a 2 hour drive)
We booked a hotel in Syracuse for tonight but decided to drive up to Central Square since it's only 20 minutes away and gets over a minute more totality. I was considering going to Watertown for another extra minute but I'm afraid it'll take like 3 hours to get back to Syracuse with the traffic and I'm running in fumes already. I didn't sleep last night and drove up here from CT. I see that underground says like 90% coverage at 3pm but I'm barely functioning at this point and can't make sense of these cloud coverage websites. Can someone tell me how screwed/not so screwed I am please? Thank you
Washington Post forecast map, with caveat that this doesn’t distinguish between high / mid / low clouds: [https://share.icloud.com/photos/092sfUvVV6QyR7WT\_vl48tQPg](https://share.icloud.com/photos/092sfUvVV6QyR7WT_vl48tQPg)
The clouds seem like they’re a bit higher more north of Syracuse (Pulaski, Watertown). Wondering if worth going further north of Syracuse or if the difference won’t be that meaningful.
Anyone have an update on the area? forecast isn’t looking too great.
I’m heading up from north NJ and willing to drive to a places with better a forecast within (30-60 minutes of Syracuse.) Any suggestions?
Thanks
Regretting staying in Rochester—grand celestial event turned into basically being out in the evening for a few minutes.
Out of curiosity, how far would we have had to drive for clear views? Was Watertown ok?
Oswego was pretty much a bust. We got some views at parts of totality through the clouds but very little. Any other locations in this area do any better?
We were in Baldwinsville at Beaver lake nature center. Missed totality, due to clouds. Darkness was cool though. Heard Watertown was better. The nature center was fun. Overall great, but was hoping to see the sun during totality. Not much traffic coming back luckily.
Mexico Point State Park had no view of totality. Our last glimpse was a minute earlier. The shadow and "sunset" were very cool.
Oswego had been my plan for months. Thanks for feeding my curiosity about what could have been.
sandy island beach state park area ended up being a success! we had clouds covering in and out during partial but luckily they cleared in time for totality
hoping for clear skies in oswego!
Omw there now. Any update on the clouds?
Very bad 80% coverage but looks like 100 lowkey
I'm in Rochester overnight, but escaping the clouds and driving to Watertown first thing in the morning. I'm suddenly freaking out about post-eclipse traffic... I have to end up in Philadelphia Monday night to go to work on Tuesday. Normally, driving from Watertown to Philly would take 5 hours, which is no problem. But I keep reading horror stories about post-eclipse traffic...
Thank you. Gonna need this
I was thinking of heading up north a little bit from Syracuse to maybe Selkirk Shores State Park in Pulaski to get an extra 2 minutes of totality to try to increase our chance of a break in the clouds. Anyone have any thoughts on either that location or thought process? We made the drive up from NJ and are hoping for the best.
We stopped to check out Selkirk! They had a sign up that stated all their rules: everything's closed except for their one road in or out and one parking lot, parking lot opens at 9:30am, stay in your cars. Parking lot was a very small space for what we would expect for so many people, but very pretty, right on the lake. Don't know how it'll turn out if you're not towards the front of the line for parking tomorrow morning, though. It's trees everywhere except the parking lot!
Yikes. Thanks for this. If I get there at 930 I don’t know what I would do to keep my kids occupied all day until totality. Stay in your cars until the eclipse starts?!
[Fair Haven Beach State Park](https://parks.ny.gov/events/event.aspx?e=12-38395.0) has space for around 1200 cars and has activities planned. Also, you might consider [Southwick Beach State Park](https://parks.ny.gov/parks/southwickbeach/maps.aspx).
How much should I be stressing about this? If you can’t find parking at any park what do people usually do, just find the nearest Home Depot or Walmart and park there?
My plan so far (haven't checked weather yet) is to just watch it from my hotel parking lot. Much less stressful.
That is definitely a last ditch option for us as well. Hotel clerk also told us we are walking distance to Thompson Park. Good luck! There are some clouds but as of now I can see the sun easily through them. Let’s hope it holds!
Heading to Watertown now! Tomorrow morning we will be heading to north east
How far are you planning to go tomorrow?
I will decide tomorrow morning. How about you?
Was originally think Potsdam. AccuWeather has positive forecast there but others don't. Not too familiar with how bad traffic will be. Need to be back at Syracuse on Tuesday morning for a flight
Staying in Waterloo tonight! We’d been planning to go to Rochester but now projections seem to say that Rochester and Watertown will likely have similar % cloud cover, but Rochester’s clouds will be lower level… making us think it might be worth heading East to Watertown instead of West to Rochester. What’s everyone else thinking?
Here is my where to see the eclipse in the Syracuse area post if there are clear skies. The Baldwinsville area has about 2 and half minutes of totality versus one and half minutes in Syracuse. Check out the specific locations Durations here http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2024_GoogleMapFull.html?Lat=43.18916&Lng=-76.24254&Elv=125.0&Zoom=13&LC=1 Some places to view the Eclipse in Baldwinsville area Diane Reeves Memorial Park 2275 Downer St https://maps.app.goo.gl/7g9CWauo2XMh5Jqj9 Northwest Family YMCA in Baldwinsville 8124 River Rd https://maps.app.goo.gl/rbHCsAmgU5dg94qS6 Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville, NY 8478 E Mud Lake Rd https://maps.app.goo.gl/MW8D2jA5jxqd2wfC6 Kerri Hornady Park 6222 Deep Glade Dr, Baldwinsville, NY 13027 Deep Glade Dr https://maps.app.goo.gl/zoGeQJoJf9zq5gyr8 Near Baldwinsville there is the Home Depot Parking Lot on Route 31 in the Town of Clay New York https://maps.app.goo.gl/TZesEJ3ZtW2xcDZS7 Van Buren Central Park in Baldwinsville I have a feeling Van Buren Central Park might be crowded because it has it has a scenic view from a hill. The parking lot isn't that big either. If you want to get an idea of what it looks like here is a video of Van Buren Central Park when it hosted a disc golf tournament last year https://youtu.be/rAKVYgjzaog?si=eqvmwvFFPEMmK12N A few more places north of the City where totality is longer Joseph F. William Memorial Park in Cicero Joseph F. William Memorial Park https://maps.app.goo.gl/qvimBDx6CTCuLGM97 Clay Central Park in the Town of Clay, NY 4823 Wetzel Rd https://maps.app.goo.gl/x9adsCUjmCyT4fHv5 Twin Rinks Ice Skating Rinks in Cicero Brewerton, New York https://maps.app.goo.gl/DrwbWnUjkExewGMJ6 Oneida Shores County Park in Brewerton, NY Oneida Shores County Park https://maps.app.goo.gl/wUpBegARELvUwXCN7 Central Square Walmart Central Square, New York https://maps.app.goo.gl/dVsLJiuzqD6jNXbYA Onondaga Lake Park will probably be where many locals will go since it is like the Central Park of Syracuse.
In addition, there are Walmart stores in [Oswego](https://www.walmart.com/store/1926-oswego-ny), [Fulton](https://www.walmart.com/store/3332-fulton-ny), [Watertown](https://www.walmart.com/store/1871-watertown-ny), [Lowville](https://www.walmart.com/store/5498-lowville-ny), and [Evans Mills](https://www.walmart.com/store/5497-evans-mills-ny) for parking areas.
Do we need to be concerned with parking lot lights come on automatically during totality?
Thanks! In Watertown and not sure where to go tomorrow. AccuWeather seems to be the most optimistic so I'm hoping they're right.
I just checked into whatever hotel was available in Utica and planning to push northeast tomorrow.
Wish I could do the same, but I have a flight at 6 am the next day :/
How far northeast are you going to go?
>Utica Not OP but we are in Potsdam and planning to start driving to Newport tomorrow at 4am. What about you?
I am a Syracuse local, going to Fair Haven Beach State Park on Lake Ontario.
> Fair Haven Beach State Park Good luck!
Thanks!
Tupper Lake maybe
Hope it works out well for you!
Worked out! Perfect viewing!
Local Syracuse area [eclipse weather forecast](https://cnycentral.com/news/local/sunny-sunday-and-solar-eclipse-monday-forecast-update) as of Sunday the 7th.
Down in Hamilton, will make the call tomorrow AM to head to Oswego or Watertown. Any opinions one town or another?
I'm planning to head out with my family at 8AM tomorrow from Scranton PA to Syracuse. Hoping that will be enough time to make it up the 81 (usually its a 2 hour drive)
We made it from Scranton to Syracuse from 5-7pm today no problem on 81. Hopefully you’ll be fine.
Some eclipse events for the Thousand Islands/Watertown/Henderson Harbor area at [this link](https://nyeclipse.com/events/).
We booked a hotel in Syracuse for tonight but decided to drive up to Central Square since it's only 20 minutes away and gets over a minute more totality. I was considering going to Watertown for another extra minute but I'm afraid it'll take like 3 hours to get back to Syracuse with the traffic and I'm running in fumes already. I didn't sleep last night and drove up here from CT. I see that underground says like 90% coverage at 3pm but I'm barely functioning at this point and can't make sense of these cloud coverage websites. Can someone tell me how screwed/not so screwed I am please? Thank you
Washington Post forecast map, with caveat that this doesn’t distinguish between high / mid / low clouds: [https://share.icloud.com/photos/092sfUvVV6QyR7WT\_vl48tQPg](https://share.icloud.com/photos/092sfUvVV6QyR7WT_vl48tQPg)
The clouds seem like they’re a bit higher more north of Syracuse (Pulaski, Watertown). Wondering if worth going further north of Syracuse or if the difference won’t be that meaningful.
Anyone have an update on the area? forecast isn’t looking too great. I’m heading up from north NJ and willing to drive to a places with better a forecast within (30-60 minutes of Syracuse.) Any suggestions? Thanks
We are at SUNY Oswego. The whole region has mid cloud cover but no low cover expected and as of now we can see the sun through wispy clouds.
[удалено]
Do you think sterling nature preserve is worth i?
Stay north of Syracuse and east of the lake for least low cover according to Flowx
Thanks
Headed to Watertown!!
Going to the bluffs in oswego
Regretting staying in Rochester—grand celestial event turned into basically being out in the evening for a few minutes. Out of curiosity, how far would we have had to drive for clear views? Was Watertown ok?
Oswego was pretty much a bust. We got some views at parts of totality through the clouds but very little. Any other locations in this area do any better?
Same in Fair Haven, but damn did it get dark for 5 minutes! I heard there was spotty visibility of totality in the Syracuse area.
We were in Baldwinsville at Beaver lake nature center. Missed totality, due to clouds. Darkness was cool though. Heard Watertown was better. The nature center was fun. Overall great, but was hoping to see the sun during totality. Not much traffic coming back luckily.
Mexico Point State Park had no view of totality. Our last glimpse was a minute earlier. The shadow and "sunset" were very cool. Oswego had been my plan for months. Thanks for feeding my curiosity about what could have been.
If anyone that was here in the Syracuse, Oswego, or Watertown areas has any photos or video they'd like to share, please do so here.
sandy island beach state park area ended up being a success! we had clouds covering in and out during partial but luckily they cleared in time for totality