Where To See The 2024 Solar Eclipse

The 2024 solar eclipse, predicted to occur on April 8, will see the sky suddenly darken in broad daylight in what some regard as one of the most spectacular natural events you can witness.

Here at Hertz, we’ve got the latest information on the next solar eclipse, including what to expect, where you can view it and exactly when it will take place. Continue reading to learn more.

In this article:

• What is a solar eclipse?
• What's different about the 2024 solar eclipse?
• When will the 2024 solar eclipse happen?
• Where can I see the 2024 solar eclipse?
• What other solar eclipses will there be in the future?

What is a Solar Eclipse?

A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and the earth at just the right time, casting a shadow over our planet. This shadow creates a trail – known as the path of totality.

There are four types of solar eclipses, each depending on how the sun, moon and Earth are aligned at a certain time.

• Total solar eclipse. When this happens, the sun is completely obscured by the moon.
• Partial solar eclipse. Only a portion of the sun is obscured because the moon isn’t completely blocking it. It often looks like the moon has taken a "bite" out of the sun.
• Annular solar eclipse. The moon is centered in front of the sun but doesn't cover the whole surface. What’s known as a "ring of fire" shines around the moon.
• Hybrid solar eclipse. A hybrid solar eclipse is the rarest kind. It's a mix of two types of eclipses — total and annular. This happens when the moon's shadow moves over the Earth, starting as one kind of eclipse and then changing to the other kind.

What's Different About the 2024 Solar Eclipse?

In 2024, a total solar eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024. Only 28% of solar eclipses are total, according to data. But what makes the next solar eclipse extra special is the fact that the totality is expected to be the longest on land for over a decade – twice as long as 2017.

Plus, the sun's corona – the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere – is set to be particularly large. This is because the sun is close to solar maximum – its most active stage during its approximate 11-year solar cycle.

If you’re in the right location, you’ll even be able to feast your eyes on Venus and Jupiter, two of the biggest planets in our solar system.

When Will the 2024 Solar Eclipse Happen?

The 2024 solar eclipse will begin over the South Pacific Ocean and be first visible on land at roughly 11:07am PDT. This will take place on Mexico’s Pacific coast.

After this, the eclipse will travel in a north-easterly direction. It will last be visible on the North American continent on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, around 5:16pm NDT.

Where Can I See the 2024 Solar Eclipse?

When it comes to getting the best view of the 2024 total solar eclipse, location is everything. To witness this spectacular event, you’ll need to be within the 115-mile-wide path of totality. This time round the solar eclipse path travels from Mexico to Texas to Maine, so unless you’re within that line, you’ll only get a view of a partial solar eclipse. The closer you are to the center of the path, the longer the totality and the maximum point of the eclipse you’ll get to see.

To make a real trip out of this phenomenal event, you could reserve your car rental, pick up a few of your nearest and dearest, and head to any of the below locations.

Happy eclipse hunting with Hertz!

Texas

Dallas – Grab a car rental from our Mesquite branch and take the I-30 W to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. You’ll join plenty of astronomers and enthusiasts to get an awe-inspiring glimpse of the eclipse.

Austin – From East 10th Street HLE, head down East 11th Street and North Lamar Boulevard to Zilker Park. This 351-acre “jewel in the heart of Austin" will be a popular choice for locals and visitors.

Eagle Pass – Head to the Eagle Pass ISD Student Activity Center via the TX-480 Loop to witness over 4 minutes of totality.

The solar eclipse is also visible in the following Texas locations: Uvalde, Kerrville, Killeen, and Fort Worth.

Ohio

Cleveland – Take a drive to the Cleveland Great Lakes Science Center which, along with its partner NASA’s Glenn Research Center, will be providing a premium viewing experience. Take the I-71 S to get here.

Dayton – Take the OH-4 North to Dayton’s National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, which is set to be a primary viewing location for the eclipse.

Wapakoneta – Watch the 2024 total eclipse in Neil Armstrong’s Hometown at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum. Get to via east Pearl Street and Bellefontaine Street.

The solar eclipse will also be visible in Toledo.

Indiana

Indianapolis – Make your way to White River State Park, an ideal place to view the next solar eclipse. Why not stay at the JW Marriott Downtown? It’s just a two-minute drive away, and you can get an Indianapolis car rental right on your doorstep from our on-site Hertz desk.

Terre Haute – Grab the kids and head to the Terre Haute Children’s Museum to make the solar eclipse a family affair. Getting here is usually an easy journey, it’s located just on Wabash Avenue. Alternative locations to watch the 2024 solar eclipse include local parks, The Mill and the Terre Haute Regional Airport.

Arkansas

Little Rock – Another great place to watch the eclipse with the family is the Little Rock Zoo. Rent a car at Hertz Little Rock - West Markham then drive just eight minutes to this location via North Rodney Parham Rd and I-630.

Other places in Arkansas where you can see the solar eclipse are: Jonesboro, Poplar Bluff, and Russellville.

Missouri

Cape Girardeau – VisitCape is a great place to experience the eclipse if you’re in Cape Girardeau. They’re hosting a free public event with music, food, giveaways and plenty of activities for little ones to enjoy. The grounds are just a 50-second walk away from Courtyard by Marriott Cape Girardeau, so this would be an ideal place to stay if you’re visiting.

Illinois

Mount Vernon – Take a trip to the Cedarhurst Center for the Arts where they’ll be hosting a solar eclipse watch party. This spacious 80-acre campus is situated on Richview Road.

See the solar eclipse in these Illinois locations too: Evansville, Carbondale, Makanda, and Alto Pass.

Pennsylvania

Erie – Parks are the place to be in Erie for viewing the 2024 solar eclipse. Crowds are expected to flock to popular venues like Presque Isle State Park, but traffic is expected to be high. To avoid the congestion, go for an alternative city park like Bayview Park, located just near the foot of Cherry Street.

New York

Buffalo – One of the best places in Buffalo to view the upcoming total solar eclipse is Buffalo Harbor State Park. You can enjoy the open air in the city’s only state park and witness the eclipse with the rest of the friendly locals. Follow the I-90 E to get here.

The solar eclipse is also visible in the following New York locations: Rochester, and Syracuse.

Vermont

Burlington– There are plenty of places to watch the solar eclipse in Burlington, like Oakledge Park. This picturesque public space is situated in the South End of the city.

Catch the solar eclipse elsewhere in Vermont: St. Albans, Montgomery, Stowe, Waterbury, Morrisville, and Montpelier.

Maine

Houlton - The last town in the U.S. to experience the 2024 solar eclipse and one of the areas that’s set to have the longest period of total darkness, Houlton is another excellent place to visit. Watch the event at Riverfront Park or Houlton International Airport.

The solar eclipse is also visible in these Main destinations: Island Falls, Presque Island
 

What other solar eclipses will there be in the future?

The next total solar eclipse will occur August 12, 2026 although this will mainly be visible in places like Greenland, Iceland, Spain and Portugal. In the United States it will be visible as a partial eclipse.

Can’t wait that long for your next eclipse fix? You’ll be able to see a partial solar eclipse in the US on March 25, 2025.

Explore More

That concludes our complete guide to getting the best view of the 2024 solar eclipse, wherever you are in the US. No matter which location you choose, one thing’s for sure – this astronomical event is set to be one to remember.

To make the experience even more seamless, why not get a car rental from Hertz? Whether you’re traveling to Ohio or Buffalo, Pennsylvania, or Illinois, there’s a Hertz car rental office close by that will offer you the right ride for you and your group.