Fauna Journal / January 10, 2023
The Best Destinations and Hotels for the 2024 Solar Eclipse
We are usually focused on exploring the most scenic corners of planet Earth, but on April 8, 2024, our attention will be directed skyward when North America will be treated to a magnificent solar eclipse. The areas that will see the full solar eclipse are known as the path of totality. This occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun. The path of this eclipse (seen in the map below) will stretch from Mazatlan, Mexico to Newfoundland, Canada.
In the United States, both Texas and the Northeast will have significant exposure. Our favorite picks for viewing are the Texas Hill Country, the Adirondacks in New York, and Moosehead Lake, Maine, because of their beauty. Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Niagara Falls, New York will also be good places to watch the eclipse, but we don’t love the hotel choices as much. In Canada, Newfoundland is our riskiest favorite, but the payoff would be worth it if the weather cooperates. We’re already planning our 2024 trip for this rare event, so we’ve included details about these picks, along with our favorite hotels located inside the path of totality below.
Contact us if you’d like to start planning a trip for 2024 that includes the solar eclipse.
Texas will have the best chance of sunshine in April, and the wildflowers will be in full bloom.
We’re a little biased as Texans, but the beautiful Texas Hill Country is likely the best place to watch the eclipse. Texas will have the best chance of sunshine in April, and the wildflowers will be in full bloom. Fredericksburg, two hours west of Austin, will be in the most direct line. It will see the eclipse from 12:15 to 2:56 pm CT on April 8, and the total eclipse will be visible from 1:32 pm to 1:37 pm. Unfortunately, there are no 4-5 star properties in town, but Contigo Ranch or Camp Comfort are cool boutique hotels located nearby. New Waterloo, the team behind the South Congress Hotel, is also opening the Albert Hotel on Main Street Fredericksburg sometime in 2023, so we will keep an eye out for that.
If you are looking for a luxury resort-style hotel, we suggest Lake Austin Spa or Miraval Austin. They have beautiful outdoor spaces near the lake, and Austin can still see the total eclipse for almost 2 minutes at 1:36 pm.
A Texas Hill Country eclipse itinerary combines well with a few nights in the vibrant cities of Austin or San Antonio. If you’ve traveled far and have the time, we think it’s worth the drive all the way to Marfa and Big Bend in West Texas while you’re here!
Elsewhere in the United States, Upstate New York’s scenic Adirondack region is a prime location for viewing the total eclipse. In Lake Placid, New York, the partial eclipse starts at 2:13 pm, and the total eclipse runs for 3.5 minutes at 3:25 pm ET. There are some fabulous lake lodges in the area, including The Point and Lake Placid Lodge. We would start a New York itinerary in New York City and then travel north through the Hudson Valley and the Catskill Mountains before finishing the trip with the eclipse in Lake Placid.
Nearby Burlington, Vermont, will also get over 3 minutes of total eclipse viewing and will have more lodging options available.
Newfoundland is a risky choice for the would-be eclipse watcher. The ice has begun to thaw in early April, but the weather can still be temperamental. Clear skies are not guaranteed. However, if luck is on your side, the results will be spectacular because the island’s rocky Atlantic Coast will make for a dramatic setting. One of the world’s most iconic hotels, Fogo Island Inn, is a must-stay while you’re here, but it’s just outside the path of totality. To work it into an eclipse itinerary, we would arrive in St. John’s on the 5th and check in to a charming small hotel in Bonavista. This is in the direct line of the eclipse, and the totality starts at 4:13 pm and runs for around 3 minutes. Travel to Fogo Island the next day for a few nights of watching icebergs drift past your picture windows.
The eclipse also passes over Moosehead Lake in Maine. The Blair Hill Inn is a charming luxury inn along its shores that is a designated Relais & Châteaux hotel and restaurant. The partial eclipse will start here around 2:19 pm, with the total eclipse arriving at 3:30 pm and lasting a little over 3 minutes. The picture above is deceptive because this part of Maine will still be covered in snow in April. However, you can watch the eclipse on skis or a snowmobile!
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