AAA shares travel advice
ahead of April 8 event

(March 21, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC — Even though many eclipse enthusiasts have had April 8, 2024, marked on their calendars for years, there are some people who are just now deciding they want to experience this natural phenomenon in person. If this is you, it’s not too late.

Decide which city you want to visit. According to AAA booking data, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio are the most popular cities along the path of totality (check it out here). 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 you will get there and where you will stay. Driving may be your best option, if flights are too expensive or sold out. 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.

Determine timing. The eclipse falls on a Monday, so decide which day you want 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.