The beginning of a solar eclipse as seen through very light cloud cover.
Space

25 of the best places to see the solar eclipse across the US

Written by:
Sheeka Sanahori
Data work by:
Emma Rubin
March 28, 2024
Canva

25 of the best places to see the solar eclipse across the US

The total solar eclipse on April 8 won't just be a wondrous astronomical event—it's projected to be one of the biggest drivers of travel in the United States this year.

The Great American Eclipse expects between 1 and 4 million people to travel to see the eclipse; that doesn't include the 31 million Americans who live in the path of totality, the 115-mile-wide stretch where you'll be able to see the eclipse in full, spanning from Mexico to Maine. "It will likely be the most-viewed astronomical event in American history," Michael Zeiler, eclipse cartographer and co-founder of Great American Eclipse, said in a statement.

Part of what's driving the popularity of eclipse travel this year is its timing—the busiest week for spring break travel happens to be the week the eclipse will occur. Others who aren't on school schedules may be watching the eclipse due to scarcity; according to NASA, the next total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous United States won't occur until August 2044.

Many people plan a trip to visit family and friends who live in the path of totality. Travelers who aren't seeing loved ones are expected to visit an area in the path of totality that's closest to their home, according to the Great American Eclipse. Texas alone expects a million additional visitors to witness the rare event.

If you plan to travel for the total eclipse, prepare to fly into and out of busy airports. Once you've reached your destination, look for nearby eclipse events. Many cities are planning eclipse block parties, astronomy lectures, and more. Airlines like Delta and Southwest are even planning special eclipse flights. Finally, make sure you have eye protection to view the eclipse safely. It's unsafe to do so through lenses like cameras, so finding proper eyewear ahead of time is a must.

Stacker used data from the North Carolina Institute for Climate Science to identify 25 places across the U.S. in the path of totality during the 2024 total solar eclipse.

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Map showing the path of totality across the U.S., passing through 13 states.
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Emma Rubin // Stacker

Mapping the path of totality across the US

This article predominantly highlights cities with available weather data, but the path of totality expands beyond that scope.

Smaller towns near areas on this list or elsewhere on the path of totality can also be an ideal place to view this rare event. Because this article relies on available weather station data, it does not include all the states that the eclipse's path dots: Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. According to NASA, portions of Tennessee and Michigan will also be able to see the total solar eclipse.

Read on to find out where—and when—you should be able to see the total eclipse on April 8.

A crowd of people sitting on the grass in large field looking up into the sky wearing cardboard sunglasses.
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Getty Images // PATRICK T. FALLON

Waco, Texas

- Time of peak totality: 1:40 p.m. CDT
- Length of totality: 4 minutes, 19 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 63.9%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 49.8% of the time
--- Few clouds 7.7%
--- Partly cloudy 6.2%
--- Mostly cloudy 10.6%
--- Overcast 25.8%

A skyline of the city with tall buildings with highways in the foreground.
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Canva

Cleveland

- Time of peak totality: 3:15 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 3 minutes, 49 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 38.9%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 12.1% of the time
--- Few clouds 11.6%
--- Partly cloudy 13%
--- Mostly cloudy 20.3%
--- Overcast 43%

A city skyline across a blue, calm river. The most prominent feature is a long concrete bridge spanning the river.
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Canva

Indianapolis

- Time of peak totality: 3:07 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 3 minutes, 48 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 37.2%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 9.1% of the time
--- Few clouds 13.3%
--- Partly cloudy 11.2%
--- Mostly cloudy 23%
--- Overcast 43.4%

A man and two children are wearing paper glasses looking up into the sky.
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Getty Images // Alex Trautwig / Stringer

Findlay, Ohio

- Time of peak totality: 3:12 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 3 minutes, 45 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 54.2%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 36.9% of the time
--- Few clouds 10.2%
--- Partly cloudy 5%
--- Mostly cloudy 13.6%
--- Overcast 34.3%

A city skyline dominated by buildings of various heights and architectural styles with modern skyscrapers made of glass and steel, as well as older brick buildings.
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Buffalo, New York

- Time of peak totality: 3:20 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 3 minutes, 44 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 35.9%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 7% of the time
--- Few clouds 13.9%
--- Partly cloudy 11.7%
--- Mostly cloudy 22.4%
--- Overcast 45%

A harbor with boats docked in front of a city skyline of modern and older buildings with brick facades.
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Canva

Erie, Pennsylvania

- Time of peak totality: 3:18 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 3 minutes, 42 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 56.2%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 43.5% of the time
--- Few clouds 6.7%
--- Partly cloudy 4.5%
--- Mostly cloudy 9.1%
--- Overcast 36.1%

A city skyline with a river in the foreground reflecting vibrant orange hues of sunset sky.
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Canva

Rochester, New York

- Time of peak totality: 3:21 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 3 minutes, 38 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 34.3%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 5.7% of the time
--- Few clouds 13.7%
--- Partly cloudy 11.7%
--- Mostly cloudy 20.9%
--- Overcast 47.9%

A close up of a woman looking at orange sky through sunglasses.
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Shutterstock // Stocker plus

Hondo, Texas

- Time of peak totality: 1:33 p.m. CDT
- Length of totality: 3 minutes, 32 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 70.3%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 53.3% of the time
--- Few clouds 9.8%
--- Partly cloudy 9%
--- Mostly cloudy 10.4%
--- Overcast 17.6%

A steel arch bridge with suspension cables with river beneath and shoreline with trees and buildings.
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Canva

Niagara Falls, New York

- Time of peak totality: 3:20 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 3 minutes, 32 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 39.2%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 8.5% of the time
--- Few clouds 16.5%
--- Partly cloudy 9.6%
--- Mostly cloudy 26.4%
--- Overcast 38.8%

A skyline with a river in the foreground and bridge in the background.
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Canva

Dayton, Ohio

- Time of peak totality: 3:10 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 3 minutes, 17 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 42.2%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 15.9% of the time
--- Few clouds 11.5%
--- Partly cloudy 11.9%
--- Mostly cloudy 22.4%
--- Overcast 38.4%

An aerial view of a small town surrounded by trees.
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Canva

Del Rio, Texas

- Time of peak totality: 1:30 p.m. CDT
- Length of totality: 3 minutes, 13 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 74.1%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 64.4% of the time
--- Few clouds 6.1%
--- Partly cloudy 4.6%
--- Mostly cloudy 6.8%
--- Overcast 18.2%

A crowd of people gathered in the field standing and looking up at the dark sky with a few fire pits burning in the background.
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Getty Images // Patrick T. Fallon

Evansville, Indiana

- Time of peak totality: 2:04 p.m. CDT
- Length of totality: 3 minutes, 13 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 63.9%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 48.3% of the time
--- Few clouds 9.1%
--- Partly cloudy 6.4%
--- Mostly cloudy 11.4%
--- Overcast 24.9%

A harbor at sunset; in the foreground, there are several docked boats varying in size and style.
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Burlington, Vermont

- Time of peak totality: 3:27 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 3 minutes, 12 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 47.5%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 20.5% of the time
--- Few clouds 15.5%
--- Partly cloudy 10.6%
--- Mostly cloudy 17%
--- Overcast 36.4%

A city skyline at sunset.
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Canva

Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas

- Time of peak totality: 1:42 p.m. CDT
- Length of totality: 2 minutes, 58 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 48.1%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 19% of the time
--- Few clouds 14.3%
--- Partly cloudy 13.1%
--- Mostly cloudy 22.9%
--- Overcast 30.8%

A city skyline from across a river at night.
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Canva

Little Rock, Arkansas

- Time of peak totality: 1:53 p.m. CDT
- Length of totality: 2 minutes, 51 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 58%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 29.5% of the time
--- Few clouds 17.8%
--- Partly cloudy 9.8%
--- Mostly cloudy 20.8%
--- Overcast 22.1%

People gathered in a parking lot sitting in foldable chairs, wearing glasses and looking up into the sky.
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Getty Images // MediaNews Group/Orange County Register

Texarkana, Arkansas

- Time of peak totality: 1:48 p.m. CDT
- Length of totality: 2 minutes, 27 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 64.7%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 50.5% of the time
--- Few clouds 8.9%
--- Partly cloudy 3.9%
--- Mostly cloudy 12.3%
--- Overcast 24.5%

A sun blocked by black circle in bright orange sky surrounded by trees silhouettes.
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Massena, New York

- Time of peak totality: 3:26 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 2 minutes, 27 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 51.9%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 34.3% of the time
--- Few clouds 8.4%
--- Partly cloudy 6.9%
--- Mostly cloudy 14.8%
--- Overcast 35.5%

A long wooden pier over a calm body of water with docked boats.
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Canva

Paducah, Kentucky

- Time of peak totality: 2:01 p.m. CDT
- Length of totality: 2 minutes, 18 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 64.5%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 49.5% of the time
--- Few clouds 8.7%
--- Partly cloudy 5.9%
--- Mostly cloudy 11.6%
--- Overcast 24.4%

A woman watching a solar eclipse through a film sheet.
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Canva

Caribou, Maine

- Time of peak totality: 3:33 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 2 minutes, 5 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 47.2%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 33.3% of the time
--- Few clouds 6.6%
--- Partly cloudy 4.2%
--- Mostly cloudy 11.5%
--- Overcast 44.4%

A city skyline with a church in the foreground. The skyline is made up of a variety of buildings, including skyscrapers, office buildings, and residential buildings.
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Syracuse, New York

- Time of peak totality: 3:23 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 1 minute, 51 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 32%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 7% of the time
--- Few clouds 8%
--- Partly cloudy 13.7%
--- Mostly cloudy 20.9%
--- Overcast 50.6%

A city skyline at sunset behind the trees.
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Canva

Akron/Canton, Ohio

- Time of peak totality: 3:15 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 1 minute, 41 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 34.3%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 6% of the time
--- Few clouds 10.5%
--- Partly cloudy 14.8%
--- Mostly cloudy 23.1%
--- Overcast 45.6%

A city skyline of buildings of various shapes and sizes at sunset.
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Canva

Youngstown, Ohio

- Time of peak totality: 3:16 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 1 minute, 39 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 31.6%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 5.2% of the time
--- Few clouds 10.6%
--- Partly cloudy 11.7%
--- Mostly cloudy 22.2%
--- Overcast 50.3%

Four young women wearing white sunglasses looking at the sky.
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GettyImages // Erika Goldring

San Antonio

- Time of peak totality: 1:34 p.m. CDT
- Length of totality: 1 minute, 14 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 45.8%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 17.1% of the time
--- Few clouds 15.3%
--- Partly cloudy 10.6%
--- Mostly cloudy 23.2%
--- Overcast 33.7%

A body of water at night with skyline in the background.
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Canva

Toledo, Ohio

- Time of peak totality: 3:13 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 1 minute, 10 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 54.2%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 39.1% of the time
--- Few clouds 7.8%
--- Partly cloudy 5.4%
--- Mostly cloudy 11.7%
--- Overcast 36%

An aerial view of a small town with few church towers surrounded by trees in fall.
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Canva

Barre/Montpelier, Vermont

- Time of peak totality: 3:28 p.m. EDT
- Length of totality: 1 minute, 5 seconds
- Chance of viewability: 52.2%
- Historic cloud conditions:
--- Clear 38% of the time
--- Few clouds 8.9%
--- Partly cloudy 3.1%
--- Mostly cloudy 9.6%
--- Overcast 40.3%

Story editing by Jaimie Etkin. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Ania Antecka.

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