2024 total solar eclipse: Should I stay in Tampa Bay or go to path of totality?
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — With the total solar eclipse in April fast approaching, you may be considering traveling to the path of totality. As I highly recommended in this break down of what to expect with this eclipse, I continue to highly recommend traveling to the path of totality using a sports analogy.
These states will be in the ‘path of totality’ during the 2024 eclipse
A partial eclipse is like tailgating at a football game: it’s fun, you are outside the stadium and you enjoy yourself. A total solar eclipse is like catching Tom Brady’s game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl. Mind-blowing, life-changing (for me at least)—an incredible experience that most people don’t get the chance to have. Plus, we will not get the chance to see another total solar eclipse stateside until 2044.
Should I stay?
If you stay here in Tampa for the partial eclipse, the moon begins to move in between you and the sun at 11:50 a.m. on April 8. Using eclipse glasses, you will be able to see the moon slowly moving over more and more of the sun. The sun will be most covered by the moon at 1:25 p.m., covering about 67% of the sun. Without the eclipse glasses, the sun will not appear any different at all. Even areas with 95% maximum eclipse, it never looks any different to the naked eye, only if you travel to the path of totality.
The moon then begins to slowly move away, revealing more and more of the sun, until 3:02 p.m. when the sun is fully 100% visible again.
There will be area events going on for you to enjoy the partial eclipse locally, but all viewing of a partial eclipse can only be done with the proper eclipse glasses. There are also filters you can use for cameras, or even for your smartphone to capture the partial eclipse without damaging your eyes or the equipment.
Staying locally to enjoy the partial eclipse will be FAR more economical and less crowded. We may even get a break on hotel prices then since so much of the travel industry will be driven path the path of totality- you might score a great deal on a staycation room.
Should I Go?
Yes. If you can, yes. If you do travel to the path of totality, you will watch (with eclipse glasses) the moon start to encroach on the sun, but eventually, for over 4 minutes, the sun will completely block out the moon, except for white flame-like tongues of the corona of the sun, creating a halo around the moon. The skies will be dark, you will be able to see the brightest stars and planets. All around the horizon, for 360° there will be tinges of dusk.
If you go, you need to start making reservations—it will be crowded! Hotels will be booked, and expensive. This is not a natural disaster, so price gouging rules do not apply. Consider it to be like super bowl hotel room pricing—demand is high and so are the prices.
These important discoveries were made during eclipses
If you are using a AirBNB or VRBO, consider also booking a hotel room that is refundable when you cancel as a backup. If the owner of the property realizes that they could command a much higher price when they learn of the eclipse, they may cancel your reservation.
If you are flying, consider larger cities with multiple flights between your home and that city—if the airlines start to run behind or cancel flights, you have a better chance of still making it to the eclipse.
If you are driving, consider the routes to and from, more robust interstate systems with multiple points of exit will fare much better than areas with only a single direction of exit or smaller roadways that will get clogged. Traffic will be MUCH worse after the eclipse than before. People will make their way to the path of totality over a staggered timeline, some will go Friday or Saturday and make a weekend of it, some will go Sunday, etc. But the eclipse ends and everyone will be making their way home at the exact same time.
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