Seeing a total solar eclipse, when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, completely blocking the sun’s face — known as totality — is a spine-tingling experience. Everything is suddenly bathed in darkness. The air cools, and nocturnal animals might wake up thinking it’s nighttime.
Millions of Americans are expected to travel to the path of totality to see the rare celestial occurrence sweep across the country during the afternoon of April 8. It cuts across North America, passing through Texas, the Midwest and some eastern states. While eclipses happen somewhere in the world around every 18 months, the next total solar eclipse from the contiguous United States won’t take place until 2044.
Hotel rooms in these destinations, and everywhere in between, are booking up quickly, but there are still some great options with availability, from boutique inns to city hotels with loyalty programs. Many are offering specials to entice eclipsegoers, like special package rates, eclipse viewing glasses and celestial-themed cocktails.
Related: Best solar eclipse cruises for 2024
Where is the best place to see the 2024 solar eclipse?
Some of the best places to see the 2024 eclipse include Dallas, where many hotels with rooftop restaurants and pools will host viewing parties; NASA partner Indianapolis; Cleveland, where the location on Lake Erie might result in cloud-free skies; and Niagara Falls State Park, with its natural beauty.
Marble Falls, Texas
The over-the-top, family-friendly experience
On the Colorado River, Marble Falls is considered the gateway to Hill Country and a popular Texas vacation destination for families. There’s a lake for kayaking, wineries to explore and a historic downtown district. Marble Falls’ family-friendly Canyon of the Eagles Nature Park and Resort is in the path of totality and already known for stargazing; it has a sliding-roof observatory with five high-tech telescopes and regularly hosts astrophotography workshops. The resort is going all-out for the eclipse with parties, curated experiences and accommodation packages.
The Deluxe Double Eclipse Experience includes a four-night stay from April 5-9 in a deluxe double room. Access to the Celestial Celebration on Thursday night, a kayak or mountain bike excursion, meals, and kids eclipse explorer kits are all included. The deluxe package also includes a VIP observatory session with a local astronomer and a prime viewing location as the total solar eclipse unfolds shortly after 1:30 p.m. on April 8. Canyon of the Eagles is also offering eclipse camping experiences.
No matter when you stay at the resort, you can go on guided nature hikes, do morning yoga, grab a craft cocktail at the Eagles Nest bar and roast marshmallows beneath the star-studded Texas sky at the fire pits.
Rates for this package begin at $900 per night, with a four-night minimum for two adults. Two kids under 13 years old stay for free in double rooms.
San Antonio
The Hill Country splurge
While San Antonio is the largest city in the eclipse path, the thin band known as the path of totality will just miss the city’s popular River Walk area, where many hotels are located.
However, [circuit type=hyperlink circuit_id=”20420170748″] in the northwest part of the city has a prime location in the path. The 550-acre ranch-inspired retreat with an 18-hole championship golf course sits atop one of San Antonio’s highest vantage points, offering views of downtown and the surrounding hill country. The resort is partnering with the nearby University of Texas at San Antonio’s Department of Physics and Astronomy for the ultimate eclipse adventure.
The Moon Shadow three-night package includes a welcome reception, educational presentations under the stars with telescopes for viewing, a program for children introducing them to the magic of the night sky and space-themed outdoor movies. On Monday, the main event, a Total Eclipse viewing party open only to resort guests, will unfold just off the patio and lawn behind the sports bar Grille 254. La Cantera also has a Tex-Mex restaurant and cocktail bar and an open-air restaurant serving homestyle Texas cuisine.
A portion of the package and event proceeds will benefit students at the UTSA Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Rates for this package begin at $3,500 for two adults for a three-night stay.
Austin
The hipster stay
Known as the hotel that started a hip hotel revolution in Austin, [circuit type=hyperlink circuit_id=”20420170750″] still has availability for the total solar eclipse. Austin is expected to get just under two minutes of totality. On Congress Street, Austin’s live music mecca, Hotel San Jose, has a large open courtyard at the center of the property where refreshing cocktails are served daily, like frosé and the Courtyard Martini with Japanese vodka and housemade olive juice.
While eclipse viewing and package details are still being worked out, guests will be treated to a special surprise in-room eclipse amenity, and they can join in the festivities at Hotel San Jose’s sister property, Carpenter Hotel, a few miles away. The Carpenter has some eclipse availability and will host a viewing party for locals, guests and visitors with viewing glasses, themed snacks and drinks at Carpenters Hall. The restaurant is decorated with reimagined union banners, a nod to the building’s original purpose as a union hall, and has a terrace with a retractable roof.
Rates for this package begin at $678 per night.
Related: The 9 best things to do in Austin
Dallas
The pool party
With about four minutes of totality, one of the longest periods of darkness for the total solar eclipse, Dallas will be an undeniable eclipse hot spot. Adding to the allure, many hotels in Dallas have rooftop restaurants, bars and pools, including [circuit type=hyperlink circuit_id=”20420170751″], which is celebrating the blackout with a Total Eclipse Watch Party at its rooftop Pool Club.
The Design District hotel is also offering a Total Eclipse Room Package with an overnight stay in a chambers guest room (Virgin’s signature smart rooms have partitions that allow guests to turn their space into two separate areas, a sleeping nook and dressing area), a special eclipse-themed welcome amenity and tickets to the party. Guests need only venture to the stylish lounge with 360-degree views of the city to take a dip in the pool and watch the awe-inspiring spectacle unfold.
Rates for this package begin at $909 per night.
The transformational wellness experience
The 22-story Hotel Swexan in Dallas’ Harwood District is offering a sky-high vantage point for viewing the total solar eclipse and a chance to renew mind and body. Following the eclipse on the evening of April 8, as part of its package, meditation and sound guide Jacquelyn Maitland will lead guests through a New Moon ritual, meditation and restorative sound bath accompanied by hands-on reiki. The holistic practice is believed to reduce stress hormones and promote wellness. Guests will view the total solar eclipse on Hotel Swexan’s 20th-floor rooftop, where a telescope will be available.
The fun begins well before the eclipse, though. Stillwell’s, the hotel’s signature restaurant, will serve special cocktails and mocktails throughout the weekend, and guests will also have access to a curated collection of films. Complimentary branded eclipse glasses will ensure guests’ eyes stay safe and stylish during the eclipse.
Hotel Swexan, owned by Swiss developer Gabriel Barbier-Mueller and his wife Ann, is the third building in the Harwood District designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. Don’t miss the chance to meander through public spaces inspired by exploration and adventure. Interiors are decorated with pieces from Barbier-Mueller’s private collection, like ornate Japanese armor and custom Hermes scarves paying homage to medieval Japanese samurai.
Rates for this package begin at $698 per night.
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
The practical pick
Cape Girardeau in southern Missouri is expecting to welcome many visitors for the total solar eclipse with four minutes and six seconds of total eclipse time. Still, hotel rooms are available, including at the stylish new Fairfield Inn & Suites Cape Girardeau, which has a saltwater pool, a fitness center and hot breakfast included in the nightly rate. Guests must book two nights at the special event rate to stay for the total solar eclipse. The hotel is just minutes away from the town’s watch parties at the Benton Speedway, Old Town and Southeast Missouri State University. Guest rooms are stylish and functional with midcentury-inspired furniture and work areas with ergonomic chairs, sofas and minifridges.
There are 20 state parks and historic sites near Cape Girardeau where visitors can see the 2024 total eclipse, such as Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site, a stately mansion with manicured grounds. Closer to town, the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center in North County Park has 2 miles of nature trails through rolling river hills, wildlife-viewing areas, a children’s play area and freshwater aquariums.
Rates at Fairfield Inn & Suites Cape Girardeau begin at $401 per night for a minimum two-night stay for the total solar eclipse.
Indianapolis
The prime location
While the towering [circuit type=hyperlink circuit_id=”20420168229″] isn’t offering an eclipse package per se, the 622-room hotel does still have availability and is next to many of the city’s best eclipse viewing areas. Located in central downtown, visitors can walk to the Indianapolis Zoo and Indy’s urban greenspace White River State Park across the street, where dozens of food trucks will line the Old Washington Street Bridge during the eclipse.
Modern guest rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the Indianapolis skyline. Spring for a room with Executive Lounge access to receive a decadent included breakfast. After seeing the once-in-a-generation event, guests can dine on filet mignon with truffle smashed potatoes at OP Italian or something more casual at High Velocity. The JW Marriott also has an on-site Starbucks.
Rates for this hotel begin at $558 per night.
Cleveland
The artsy eclipse stay
Hotel rooms in Cleveland, the only location in the path of totality where NASA has a research center, are almost completely sold out for the total solar eclipse, but The Westin Cleveland Downtown still has eclipse availability. The hotel features over 1,000 works by local artists, like the wood-and-mosaic installation in the lobby, and is within walking distance of local sports stadiums and lakefront parks.
The hotel’s pet-friendly rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows for uninterrupted views of Lake Erie and the downtown skyline. Celestial seekers can take advantage of the hotel’s 24-hour fitness center and drift soundly to sleep after an unforgettable day in the brand’s cloudlike Westin Heavenly Beds.
With miles of lakeshore and acres of greenspace providing unobstructed, accessible viewing locations, visitors will likely be quite pleased they chose Cleveland; NASA scientists predict the lake location will help keep clouds at bay, providing optimal eclipse viewing. Dark Sky-designated Observatory Park, 30 miles east of the city, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 30 miles south of downtown Cleveland, are other prime places to watch the eclipse.
Rates for this hotel begin at $399 or 31,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Little Rock, Arkansas
A stately hotel
Arkansas has reportedly only experienced two total eclipses in its history, but dozens of towns and cities are in the path of totality this time around, including the capital, Little Rock, where totality is expected to last more than two minutes. Located within two buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, [circuit type=hyperlink circuit_id=”20420170753″] is just minutes from Riverfront Park on the Arkansas River, one of the state’s marquee eclipse viewing locations. The hotel near the Clinton Presidential Library has an ornate facade but thoroughly modern-inspired interiors with midcentury European furnishings in tones of brown, gray and black.
While viewing event and package details are still being worked out, before viewing the eclipse, guests will be treated to a hearty breakfast of freshly baked croissants, sliced prosciutto, cheese, yogurt, fresh fruit and breakfast tarts.
Rates for this package begin at $510 or 23,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Related: I grew up next to a national park — and I took it for granted
Rochester, New York
The boutique stay
The lakeside city of Rochester is expecting three minutes and 38 seconds of totality on April 8. On East Avenue, the [circuit type=hyperlink circuit_id=”20420170754″], where every stay begins with a warm DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookie, is offering an Eclipse 2024 package with breakfast included. Among the contemporary hotel’s other perks are a full-service spa, rooftop bar and a steakhouse with tiered chandeliers.
Many special events and activities are taking place a few minutes’ walk from the hotel throughout the weekend leading up to the eclipse, like the Rochester Museum & Science Center’s four-day-long “Roc the Eclipse Festival,” including hands-on activities and speakers. Other smart eclipse viewing areas include High Falls, a 96-foot waterfall in downtown Rochester, Ontario Beach Park along the Lake Ontario shoreline and Genesee Country Village and Museum.
Rates for this package begin at $391 a night with a three-night minimum or 50,000 Hilton Honors points.
The spa stay
Just outside of Rochester in Fairport, the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa is offering a two-night package for the 2024 total solar eclipse that includes eclipse viewing glasses, a commemorative blanket, eclipse-themed treats (like moon pies) and eclipse-themed cocktails.
The Woodcliff recently expanded and renovated its spa. Eclipse guests get a 10% discount on treatments like invigorating body wraps and revitalizing kombucha facials with expert therapists during their stay. You’ll look and feel your best as you join fellow guests for the viewing party with Champagne and charcuterie in the hotel’s spa lounge with slanted floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Rates for this package start at $865 for two guests for two nights.
Finger Lakes, New York
Luxury on the lake
As the name might suggest, life at The Lake House on Canandaigua, a history luxury hotel in New York with a heated lakefront pool and handcrafted wood furniture, revolves around the lake. The location will prove convenient during the 2024 total solar eclipse when guests enjoy unobstructed front-row seats to the eclipse with lake views as far as the eye can see.
The Lake House’s 2024 Solar Eclipse Viewing Package includes luxury accommodations for two in a light-filled guest room with a rain shower and soft linens, a keepsake blanket, eclipse viewing glasses and a Celestial Celebration on April 8, from noon to 5 p.m. Held in the property’s Naples Room, which opens to the front lawn leading directly to Canandaigua Lake, revelers will dine on solar eclipse-themed hors d’oeuvres like sun chips and caviar, moon ball meatball sliders and crispy milky ways.
Rates for this package begin at $724 per night with a two-night minimum and check-in on Sunday, April 7.
The great deal
For better value, it’s worth considering hotels that are just outside the path of totality as well for your eclipse-viewing adventure
The Hotel Ithaca, near Cornell University, will get 98.8% totality (known as a deep partial) April 8 and is offering a Solar Eclipse Package to celebrate. The package includes great perks like eclipse viewing glasses, keepsake blankets and deluxe accommodations for two guests at a reasonable nightly rate. There’s an eclipse viewing party, including hors d’oeuvres and a DJ.
New York’s Finger Lakes region is well worth visiting with its wineries and dramatic scenery, including gorges and waterfalls. If you do want to experience totality, it’s about an hour’s drive to towns in the Finger Lakes region that are in the path of totality, such as Geneva.
Rates for this package begin at $330 per night for two, with a two-night minimum.
Niagara Falls, New York
The natural wonder
The city of Niagara Falls will provide such a beautiful natural backdrop for the total solar eclipse that it was recently announced it will host NASA in April. IHG’s Voco The Cadence boutique hotel, named for the rhythmic sound of the falls just blocks away, is offering a package including overnight accommodation, complimentary eclipse viewing glasses, a bottle of Champagne and breakfast for two. With a tapas and cocktail bar and an outdoor patio, The Cadence is sure to be lively after the eclipse unfolds.
Take your pick when it comes to scenic viewing points inside Niagara Falls State Park. The eclipse should cast an eerie light onto the American Falls and rapids at Prospect Point, and the view from the Observation Tower, which extends dramatically over Niagara Gorge, will likely be otherworldly, too. Consider arriving a few days early. Beginning April 4, NASA scientists and other experts will be at locations across the city hosting educational events and programs. All events will be free and open to the public (reservations may be required).
Rates for this package begin at $1,194 per night.
Stowe, Vermont
The adventurer’s base camp
Stowe’s official tourism organization, Go Stowe, is offering eclipse travelers a lodging special that includes complimentary solar eclipse viewing glasses for each person in the party when booking any lodging reservations through GoStowe.com.
[circuit type=hyperlink circuit_id=”20420170758″], a modern take on a Vermont chalet a short drive from Mount Mansfield, still has availability with a minimum stay requirement of two nights, including April 8. Guest rooms in two distinct buildings include everything from roomy suites for families to cozy Lodge Rooms. The hotel also has a swimming pool, hot tub and spa services.
When it comes to viewing the eclipse, it’s just a 10-minute walk into downtown Stowe. The total solar eclipse should be viewable from most places in town and along Mountain Road, or guests can take the free shuttle to Stowe Mountain Resort, where they can watch darkness sweep across the landscape from the slopes. The ice rink at Spruce Peak will also be open.
Rates for this hotel begin at $642 per night, with a two-night minimum.
Houlton, Maine
Small-town charm
With fewer than 6,000 residents, Houlton, Maine, may not be at the top of every traveler’s bucket list, but it will be in the spotlight come April. It’s in the path of totality, and visitors will find plenty to love about this town on the United States-Canada border. Surrounded by mountains and dotted with pine trees, it’s considered one of Maine’s adventure capitals, with abundant fishing, hiking, skiing and snowmobiling in the winter months.
Ivey’s Motor Lodge, a roadside motel with an Irish pub, is nothing fancy, but it offers tidy rooms near all the festivities planned in downtown Houlton during the weekend leading up to the eclipse, everything from a Saturday beer fest to a craft fair. Stop by the Eclipse Metaphysical Tent April 6-8 for tarot card readings, reiki and sound healing.
Ivey’s Motor Lodge requires a two-night minimum stay for the eclipse. Houlton is free of light pollution and has an exceptionally dark sky, so stargazing come nightfall should be top-notch.
Rates for this package begin at $405 per night with a two-night minimum.
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