On the afternoon of April 8, 2024, a wide swath of the United States and eastern Canada will experience a total eclipse of the sun. It may seem early to plan your family travel to see it, but lodgings in the center of its path are already getting requests for reservations.
Tourism offices advise hotels and inns to prepare for full capacity and suggest restaurants stay open Monday evening, when they are often closed. It’s definitely not too soon to begin planning, especially if you intend to watch the eclipse from one of the more sparsely settled areas of northern New England or upstate New York, where hotels are fewer and more widely scattered.
These are the regions closest for much of the eastern seaboard, so especially if you need rooms for a family, now is the time to plan.
As the eclipse occurs in the afternoon, you don’t need to stay right in the total zone. In New Hampshire, for example, several towns just south of the region are easier to reach from Interstate highways and have more places to stay. A drive of less than 15 minutes will put your family into prime viewing positions.
The luxury Adair Country Inn in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, perfect for a couples’ getaway, is two minutes from I-93 (and already has reservations for the eclipse dates). The Sunset Hill House in Sugar Hill is only a few minutes farther from I-93 and a good choice for families. Close to I-91 in Vermont and within the 100 percent eclipse zone is the family-friendly Wildflower Inn.
Northern Maine is a longer trip for most viewers, but the town of Houlton, in the direct center of the eclipse path, is going all out with a four-day festival. Along with live music, entertainment and activities for the whole family, the best spots for watching the eclipse have been designated as Star Parks, with safe parking and facilities for visitors.
The northeast isn’t the only region in the path of the eclipse: The eclipse will cover a band from Texas to Canada’s Atlantic Provinces. To find the region nearest you to begin planning early, see the map produced by NASA.
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