As spring unfolds with longer days and warmer weather, the upcoming solar eclipse is sparking a surge in travel plans, positioning numerous cities along its trajectory as highly sought-after destinations this season. On April 8, a celestial event will cause the skies over Mexico, the United States, and Canada to dim at midday, in what will be the last total solar eclipse visible across North America for over two decades.
Cities on the Eclipse’s Trail See a Boom in Interest
The anticipation for the 2024 solar eclipse is leading to an unprecedented boom in Airbnb bookings along the eclipse’s full shadow path. Data from Airbnb reveals a staggering 1,000% increase in searches for listings in the United States within the eclipse’s trajectory, with over a thousand new hosts preparing to open their homes to guests for the very first time to accommodate the heightened demand.
Cities across North America situated directly under the eclipse’s full shadow are preparing for the arrival of countless eclipse enthusiasts. Austin, together with the broader Hill Country area in Texas, and Indianapolis are topping the charts as the most reserved destinations in the United States for the eclipse weekend. They are closely followed by Cleveland, Dallas, and Montreal. Moreover, New York City and Mexico City are leading in terms of sending the most travelers to witness the eclipse across various locations.
Top Cities on the Eclipse’s Full Shadow Path
- Austin and Hill Country, TX
- Mazatlán, Mexico
- Indianapolis, IN
- Montreal, Canada
- Cleveland, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Niagara Region, Canada
- Buffalo, NY
- Stowe, VT
- Little Rock, AR
Cities Sending the Most Travelers
- New York City, NY
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Seattle, WA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Philadelphia, PA
- Denver, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Portland, OR
Private Spaces and Unique Settings Fuel Demand, Surpassing Hotels
Airbnb hosts are significantly contributing to the eclipse tourism wave, with their listings in the eclipse’s path outdoing hotel numbers by a ratio of over 15 to one throughout North America. With two-thirds of the United States featuring Airbnb listings in areas devoid of hotels, the platform is facilitating a more immersive eclipse experience in a wider array of communities, offering amenities that travelers prioritize for such a momentous occasion.
Recent insights reveal that over 10% of guests opted for Airbnb for their first booking during the solar eclipse period, possibly attracted by the opportunity to experience the eclipse in a more intimate and personal setting. This aligns with the preferences US guests indicated last year when booking through Airbnb:
- 76% valued amenities such as a backyard
- 59% preferred a private space exclusively for their use
- 53% sought a convenient location
- 49% were interested in a local event or outdoor activity
Viewing the Solar Eclipse: Airbnb vs. Hotel Locations
Explore the distribution of Airbnbs and hotels within the eclipse’s full shadow path using the interactive slider.
Exceptional accommodations available in the solar eclipse’s trajectory
Numerous Airbnb properties situated along the eclipse’s trajectory offer visitors the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the eclipse’s shadow, enjoying up to 268 seconds—or nearly 4.5 minutes—of midday twilight. Among these, a captivating and remote cabin managed by Mario in Durango, Mexico, epitomizes the ultimate eclipse watching experience, providing the maximum amount of time in the shadow of totality. Fortunately, Mario’s cabin is just one of many distinctive properties located along the totality’s path, each featuring special amenities such as telescopes and observatories to enhance the solar eclipse viewing experience to remarkable levels. With the addition of new Hosts throughout North America, there remains a significant number of one-of-a-kind stays available for reservation along the totality’s path.
Spring travel shines bright with the upcoming solar eclipse
The approaching solar eclipse is set to ignite a spike in outdoor travel, marking a highlight for the spring season. Recent statistics indicate a surge of nearly 40 percent in interest for outdoor-related accommodations, including Yurts, Campers, and Camping sites. Domestic travel within the US is experiencing a notable increase in popularity for destinations situated along the eclipse’s path, demonstrating growth on an annual basis. On the international front, travelers are pursuing both peaceful retreats and urban adventures across three continents.
Popular domestic US destinations among American travelers include:
- Upstate New York (covering Lake Placid, Buffalo, Rochester, and Niagara)
- Burlington, VT
- Waco, TX
- Little Rock, AR
- Cleveland, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- Fredericksburg, TX
- Santa Rosa Beach, FL
- Hot Springs, AR
- Rosemary Beach, FL
Top international destinations for American travelers:
- Tokyo, Japan
- Mazatlán, Mexico
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Kyoto, Japan
- San Salvador, El Salvador
- Nassau, The Bahamas
- La Fortuna, Costa Rica
- San Pedro, Belize
- Fajardo, Puerto Rico
- Antigua, Guatemala
This solar eclipse marks the beginning of a thrilling period of discovery and adventure throughout North America.
The information provided in this article aims to inspire and showcase. Airbnb neither endorses nor promotes these or any other accommodations or experiences on its platform.
Key insights include:
- A noticeable increase in searches and new listings along the path of totality in North America for April 5-8, 2024, compared to the same timeframe in 2023.
- Locations with the highest booking rates along the path of totality in North America for April 5-8, 2024.
- A comparison of the number of individual hotels to Airbnb listings in the area, excluding room capacities.
- First-time bookings along the path of totality for the period of April 5-8, 2024.
- Airbnb data for all US guests from January 1, 2023, to December 21, 2023.
- Availability of listings in Mexico, the US, and Canada as of February 25, 2024.
- An increase in searches for Camping, Camper, and Yurt categories by US guests in February 2024 for spring check-ins, compared to the previous year.
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