April’s Solar Eclipse Is Historic, But It Could Cause Major Traffic Jams

April 8, 2024’s solar eclipse will be a historic event. It is expected to draw millions of people to look toward the sky, but this could cause potential problems, like traffic jams and flight delays.

To help avoid issues, the American Automobile Association offered some tips and warnings about driving during the eclipse. They suggest keeping your headlights on when the path of totality occurs, putting your sun visor down to block the sun’s view, and not wearing eclipse glasses while driving.

Also, don’t photograph or video the eclipse while driving, don’t pull over to the side of the road or highway to view the eclipse, and be mindful of pedestrians who may be walking around looking up.

“While an estimated 32 million people live within the path of totality, millions more will travel to see the event firsthand,” Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said. “This rare event may be a once-in-a-lifetime for some but could have widespread impacts on the traveling public.”

According to Transportation Research News, the last time a total solar eclipse occurred in the U.S. was in 2017, and “traffic congestion on rural Interstate routes lasted for up to 13 hours after the eclipse.” The worst of the traffic occurred just after the eclipse ended as everyone attempted to leave at the same time.

AAA suggests booking a hotel outside the path of totality if you can find one. They reported that hotels in the most popular cities, including Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Buffalo, have become 48% more expensive during the eclipse weekend than they were at the same time last year.

For those driving during the event, a spokesperson from AAA also said to “pack your patience,” considering so many people will be out on the roads. It is also a good idea to have a full tank of gas or a full electric charge before leaving for the day.

The Detroit Free Press reports that viewing will be different depending on where you are located the moment the eclipse begins. States on the path of totality for the 2024 solar eclipse include Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

ABC News says that the latest weather forecast, as of April 3, 2024, hints that clouds could block the eclipse in Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio have a 50/50 shot of seeing clouds and showers. The best chance of seeing the eclipse will be from Burlington, Vermont, to northern New Hampshire and northern Maine in the northeast.