The Ultimate Road Trip – 99 Years in the Making

AAA Mapping Out Unique Plans for Hundreds of Travelers

 

August vacations in New England typically involve a trip to the mountains or the Cape but this year, thousands of travelers are mapping out a different route altogether. They are driving towards the sun – building a road trip around the so-called ‘Eclipse across America’.

 

On Monday, August 21, all of North America will experience at least a partial eclipse of the sun but those within the so-called path of totality – from Oregon to South Carolina - will see get to see a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely covers the sun, leaving only a halo or corona in view.

 

Dubbed the “Eclipse Across America,” this once-in-a-lifetime event (the last total solar eclipse to cross the U.S. from coast-to-coast happened in 1918) will prove to be a tourist and vacationer’s dream, as it occurs during the final few weeks of summer. 

 

“This is really a unique ‘destination’ and a unique opportunity for those with a little sense of adventure to experience something special,” says Suzanne Aresco, AAA Director of Travel. “The excitement has been growing for weeks now in all our AAA offices and, along with it, the number of people stopping by for help mapping out their trips has been growing as well”.

 

 

The path of the total eclipse will stretch from Lincoln Beach, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina.

 

More than 250 million Americans live within 600 miles of the total eclipse path and, because the eclipse will take place on a Monday, the trek to see it could start as early as the Friday before.

 

“Everyone in North America, including Alaska and Hawaii, will experience the eclipse in some form,” Aresco says. “If you’re planning to travel to the path of totality, we recommend you plan out every detail – select a destination, map out a route, allow plenty of travel time and be flexible. Many hotels and camp grounds are already booked.”

 

The path of totality will pass over 14 states, starting on the coast of Oregon, at 10:15 a.m. Pacific daylight time, and leaving American soil via McClellanville, S.C., at 2:49 p.m., Eastern daylight time. It will cross cities in Oregon, Idaho, a sliver of Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, a sliver of Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Darkness will last anywhere from a few seconds to two minutes 41 seconds, depending on the location.

 

Thinking about heading to a viewing location?

 

AAA reports that some of the travel agency’s top TripTik drive destinations this summer are also good places to view the eclipse: Nashville, TN, Great Smoky Mountain National Park (top visited National Park); Columbia, SC and Charleston, SC.

 

In addition, the best cities/places for viewing the “path of totality,” as noted by science experts will likely be:

• Madras OR
• Snake River Valley ID
• Casper WY
• Sandhill's of Western Nebraska
• St Joseph MO
• Carbondale IL
• Hopkinsville KY
• Nashville TN
• Great Smoky Mountains NP
• Columbia SC

• Try to get to your viewing location one to two days ahead of the eclipse (Aug. 21).
• Pack your patience and plan for congestion on the road, especially as you get closer to locations within the path of totality.
• Keep up to date on weather conditions – if you find your original location may be cloudy/rainy, you may consider moving to another location.