Total eclipse 2024: Indiana state parks to open camp reservations Saturday

Jill Bond, The Herald-Times
·1 min read
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Next week's partial eclipse is just the teaser for the total eclipse on April 8, 2024. The Bloomington area is in the path of totality so hotel rooms, AirBnBs and all other accommodations are being claimed. And pretty soon, so will all the camping spots in area state parks.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources recently announced properties that take reservations will begin doing so at noon on Saturday, Oct. 7. Area state parks are requiring two-night stays for both April 7 and 8, or those who plan to stay the entire weekend (Friday, April 5 through Monday, April 8) could snag bookings starting at noon on Thursday, Oct. 5.

The moon blocks the sun during a total solar eclipse Aug. 21, 2017, over Hayes Canyon Campground in Eddyville, Illinois. People in Chile, Argentina and parts of the Pacific Ocean will see a total solar eclipses on July 2. For Bloomington residents, a total solar eclipse will be visible on April 8, 2024. (Robert Franklin / South Bend Tribune)
The moon blocks the sun during a total solar eclipse Aug. 21, 2017, over Hayes Canyon Campground in Eddyville, Illinois. People in Chile, Argentina and parts of the Pacific Ocean will see a total solar eclipses on July 2. For Bloomington residents, a total solar eclipse will be visible on April 8, 2024. (Robert Franklin / South Bend Tribune)

Camping reservations can be made online at camp.IN.gov or via the phone at 1-866-622-6746. To see which properties are in the path of totality, go to on.IN.gov/eclipse.

The following properties operate on a first-come, first-serve basis:

  • Glendale, J.E. Roush Lake, and Willow Slough fish and wildlife areas

  • Clark, Ferdinand, Greene-Sullivan, Jackson-Washington, Martin, Morgan-Monroe, Owen-Putnam, Pike, Salamonie River, and Yellowwood state forests.

According to Ginger Murphy, deputy director of state parks, there's no room at the inns. Murphy said all of the rooms and cabins in the path of totality are booked. As of this week, rooms were still available at Clifty Inn at Clifty Falls State Park, which is outside the zone of totality, but not far from it. The inn at Spring Mill State Park will still be closed for renovation when the special event occurs.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Indiana state parks open eclipse weekend camp reservations Saturday