The most-hyped astronomical event of the last few years is almost upon us — so if you haven’t made plans for seeing it yet, you’re cutting it close.
The skies of North America are gearing up for a spectacular total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, visible along a narrow path stretching from Texas to Maine. During totality, the moon will completely block the sun’s surface, plunging the day into twilight for a brief but awe-inspiring period. This will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States for two decades, making it a truly rare sight.
If you’re lucky enough to be within the path of totality, all you need to do is follow a few simple steps (and source some eclipse-viewing glasses). But if you aren’t in the path of totality, you can be — as long as you book one of these eclipse home rentals or hotels in the path of the eclipse that are still available as of mid-March 2024.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon, much smaller than the sun but much closer to Earth, lines up perfectly between us and the sun. The moon is much smaller than the sun, but it’s also much closer to Earth, creating a kind of cosmic illusion that makes them look the same size. This alignment (and visual trick) allows the moon to completely obscure the sun’s bright face, casting a dark shadow on a specific path across Earth’s surface.
A map showing where the Moon’s shadow will cross the U.S. during the 2023 annular solar eclipse and 2024 total solar eclipse. Photo: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio
We hope you love the eclipse home rentals and hotels we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
The Ultimate View House is one of the most upscale eclipse home rentals still available in Dallas, Texas, that sits squarely in the path of the eclipse. While you can watch the eclipse from the home’s backyard or balconies, you may want to head a few miles away into downtown to party like a pro. The Downtown Dallas Association is hosting a multi-day Solar Eclipse Weekend Party, complete with art installations, parties, yoga classes, a street festival, and, of course, an eclipse watch party.
The 2024 total solar eclipse will cross over Caribou, Maine — but that’s very far north, and it’s quite difficult to get there for just a few days. instead, consider booking a room at this adorable bed and breakfast roughly two hours south in Lincoln, Maine. It’s much easier to reach (there’s an airport in Bangor, about 50 miles away), and it’s darn cute, housed in a historic building from the 1920s. You also don’t have to drive all the way to Caribou to see the eclipse, as heading just an hour north will bring you into areas that will see near-totality — so the sun won’t be totally eclipsed, but it’ll be close to it.
Berea is a cute city about 15 miles southwest of Cleveland, so it’s a great place to stay if you want a sleepier environment, but with easy access to the city.
For the upcoming eclipse, Berea won’t be directly in the path of totality — but Cleveland will. So you can drive to Cleveland, or just stay in Berea, since it’ll still experience a very high percentage of totality (meaning the sun will be almost completely covered by the moon). If you do head to Cleveland, you may want to attend the “Total on the Oval” eclipse party, hosted by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Riverside Gables Bed and Breakfast is a cute little hotel with upscale, old-school rooms, plus on-site tennis and a large garden (ideal for eclipse viewing).
If you’ve never been to Paducah, Kentucky, there’s no time like the present. It’s in western Ohio on the Ohio River, and fortunately, the cute 1895 Washington hotel is still available during the eclipse. And Paducah falls within the path of totality for the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8th. Public parks like Bob Noble Park or Riverfront Park could be good locations from which to view the eclipse, though the city is also a gateway to the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, a haven for outdoor enthusiasts that should have a great view of the sky (and excellent hiking).
Interestingly, the 1895 Washington Hotel is a living history museum, meaning staying there is like stepping back in time. The hotel was opened by descendants of US Founding Father George Washington, though it does have updates like high-end mattresses and jetted bathtubs.
If you want to combine a stay at a last-minute eclipse hotel along with some outdoor adventure, you may want to head to New Hampshire. Whitefield is in the path of totality (the eclipse is predicted to go over Lancaster, NH, 10 miles north), and this eclipse home rental is in the woods, with plenty of space to watch the celestial event without crowds or urban noise. It’s also very close to both Franconia Notch State Park and Mount Washington, making it a great home rental for using the eclipse as an excuse for an early season snowshoe or hiking trip in New Hampshire.
Burlington is one of the coolest towns in the Northeast, combining outdoorsy-hippie vibes with plenty of farmers markets and artsy boutiques. It’s in the path of totality, but so is one of the coolest eclipse home rentals in Vermont: this pretty rental in Colchester, super close to Lake Champlain. It’s only 15 minutes north of Burlington and just 10 minutes from Burlington International Airport. It has four bedrooms, a patio, and a deck overlooking the water, creating a picture-perfect place to watch the eclipse in the later afternoon (perhaps with a local Vermont beer in hand).
New Harmony offers a unique blend of history, charm, and artistic spirit. Founded by two utopian communities in the early 1800s, and the town’s historic core is a National Historic Landmark (and easy to explore on foot). But it’s also an art hub, with art galleries and museums. New Harmony Inn Resort is a great eclipse hotel as it’s very close to Harmonie State Park, perfect for hiking and in the path of totality mid-afternoon. The hotel has a big indoor pool and free bike rentals, plus a complimentary breakfast each day.
Broken Bow is in the Ouachita Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma, making Crystal Moon one of the best eclipse home rentals for travelers who feel at home in nature. It’s in the path of totality, so you can watch the blackout from the home’s wooded back yard. It’s a fairly high-end home, with a gourmet kitchen and large rooms, plus an outdoor covered hot tub. While the roof over the hot tub will make it hard to watch the eclipse while soaking, all you have to do is hop out around 1:34 PM — the totality is expected to begin over the mountains of Broken Bow around 1:45, so that should leave you enough time ot grab a towel and post up on the lawn. Don’t forget your eclipse glasses.
It’s also only about 90 minutes from Crater of Diamonds State Park, if you feel like going on a diamond-hunting adventure before or after your stay.
This is one of the best eclipse hotels if you’re anywhere near Little Rock, since it’s only about one mile from MacArthur Park. The is the host for Little Rock’s eclipse viewing party, complete with a live DJ and stage performances (plus food and artisan stalls) over the course of the day on April 8. The Empress of Little Rock is old-school glam, housed in a literal Victorian mansion. It’s richly colored, moody, and equal parts romantic meets historic, with suites named after figures central to Arkansas’ history. It’s also close to some gorgeous Arkansas state parks, if the viewing party isn’t your thing.
If you’re looking for an eclipse hotel where you can watch the celestial event over the water, look no further than Lakeview on the Lake. It sits, fittingly, on Lake Erie, with easy access to area adventures and only about 20 minutes from the town of Erie. But despite that closeness, it’s very rural and remote-feeling. You can choose from hotel rooms, or choose a cottage or cabin if you’re focused more on eclipse home rentals with extra space.
With hammocks, Adirondack chairs, a heated pool, and beach access, you’ll have no shortage of areas from which to watch the eclipse. And after the event, you can head just a few minutes away to on of more than two dozen wineries, as North East is the center of the state’s wine country.
