Eclipse travel scramble: Hotels, Airbnbs in path of totality full

(NewsNation) — Those who want to view the solar eclipse on April 8 but haven’t made plans yet may find themselves struggling, as data shows lodging is almost entirely booked along the path of totality.

New data from Airbnb shows most areas 100% booked along the path of totality and numerous nearby areas with just 10% of rentals still left to grab. According to the company, searches in areas where the full eclipse will be visible spiked by 1,000%.

Airbnb rentals outnumber hotels on the path by a factor of more than 15, which is bad news for people looking to make or change plans since hotels are also reporting high occupancy rates.

Plane tickets are increasingly challenging to get as are rental cars for those who may hope to fly to a nearby city and drive to a location where the total eclipse will be viewable.

It’s good news for cities welcoming the tourism boom but not so great for procrastinators who have left plans to the last minute or people hoping to change plans after weather forecasts showed many areas likely to have poor visibility on eclipse day.

For those trying to make plans, there are still some options. Hotel rooms may still open up as people cancel due to changing plans, illnesses or emergencies, so it’s worth checking. There’s also the option of finding a place to stay farther away from the eclipse and driving the rest of the way.

It may seem counterintuitive, but last-minute travelers should look to larger cities in the path first. While bigger cities may be more well-known and likely to attract travelers, they also have a much larger stock of hotel rooms available than small towns.

Another option is skipping the car rental and getting an RV instead, taking care of transportation and lodging in one go. Camping is another option, especially for those familiar with backcountry camping, as well-known and developed campgrounds are more likely to be booked already.

For those who manage to snag a last-minute booking or those who thought ahead, don’t forget your eclipse glasses since this will be the last chance for the contiguous U.S. to see a total solar eclipse for 20 years.