Solar Eclipse Countdown! What to Expect in the Midwest

On April 8, all eyes will be on the sky. A rare total solar eclipse will travel across a ribbon of North America—including several Midwest states.

The last time the U.S. enjoyed an event of this magnitude, 2017, roughly 20 million people watched it. This spring's event is expected to draw even more eclipse chasers, according to The Great American Eclipse. The region won't witness another total solar eclipse until 2044.

This interstellar marvel occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun at just the right distance. During the event, the moon is close to the Earth; it appears large enough to cover the entire sun. The result: for a few short minutes, day turns to dusk, the temperature plummets, and nocturnal critters may even come out of hiding. Above, the only beacon of light is the sun's atmosphere, known as the corona, which shimmers around the moon's fringes.

For any eclipse, the full moon-overlapping-sun effect is only visible in a narrow band of the world, known as the path of totality. Come April 8, the totality passes from Mexico to Newfoundland and Labrador. It crosses Midwestern states like Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio along the way.

Many lodgings in major cities along the eclipse route have been booked for months, and if not, the rooms left are likely to be pricey. You may have more luck finding a room (and less traffic) in smaller cities. A two-night stay is recommended to avoid an expected solar eclipse traffic jam.

Here's where, when, and how to catch the total solar eclipse in the Midwest. (Reminder: Never look directly at the sun with the naked eye. Purchase NASA-approved eclipse glasses—not regular sunglasses—well in advance.)

Best Places to Watch the Eclipse

Cities and parks throughout the path of totality—including Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky—are going all in on celebrations. Eclipse extravaganzas include:

Indianapolis

The Hoosier capital will welcome the full eclipse at 3:06 p.m. local time, with a host of fun leading up to those 3 minutes and 51 seconds of totality. Join Indy Eclipse Weekend April 5-8 for films, performances, lectures, and gatherings centered on astronomy and space. Events include a watch party and food truck festival at White River State Park; an Eclipse Extravaganza at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, home to the Beyond Spaceship Earth exhibit; a festival with a mindfulness theme, Total Eclipse of the Art, at Newfields, campus of Indianapolis Museum of Art; and a full day of eclipse programming at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, one of NASA's three broadcast locations in the U.S. To celebrate the occasion, some Indy restaurants are crafting a lineup of eclipse-themed cocktails, like the Solar Obscura at Ash & Elm and the Luna Solar at Bluebeard.

If you're still looking for lodging, check Visit Indy's hotel search for availability.

More in Indiana

Other major Indiana cities in the path of totality include Bloomington (where William Shatner, joined by singer, songwriter and actress Janelle Monáe, will narrate the eclipse during Indiana University's Hoosier Cosmic Celebration at Memorial Stadium), Evansville and Terre Haute. Indiana's state government has set up a solar eclipse website with comprehensive information for the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to arrive for the event.

Traffic is anticipated to be heavy in all major sites the day of the event. If you do need to drive on eclipse day, check travel conditions via the Indiana Trafficwise website or another app on your phone, and have a variety of route options so you can adjust your plans if needed.

Cleveland

At 3:13 p.m. local time, Clevelanders will experience the total eclipse's eerie daytime darkness—but the fun extends well beyond its 3 minutes and 50 seconds of totality. From April 6-8, the Total Eclipse Fest 2024 will fill the city's North Coast Harbor, located by the Great Lakes Science Center downtown, with immersive science, music, and entertainment experiences run in collaboration among the science center, the NASA Glenn Research Center, and The Cleveland Orchestra. NASA will also broadcast live onsite on eclipse day. This is Cleveland's solar eclipse website can help direct you to local lodgings, though availability by now may be limited.

Another place to watch near Cleveland, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, located roughly 40 minutes south of the city, is one of only a few national parks on totality's path. Some of the best views include the Beaver Marsh and the Kendall Lake area. Traffic is likely to be extremely heavy, though, as it will be throughout the eclipse viewing area. (The State of Ohio's solar eclipse website, like Indiana's, points you towards traffic update tools.)

More in Ohio

While Cleveland is the largest Ohio destination in the path of the eclipse, several other major Ohio cities also will experience totality, including Dayton (where the city's convention and visitors bureau is planning a variety of events and has announced that the grounds of the free National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will be a primary viewing site), Toledo, Bowling Green, Akron, Lima, Mansfield and Springfield. In Miami County just north of Dayton, the towns of Troy, Tipp City, Pleasant Hill and West Milton will host events surrounding the eclipse date, including a music festival and Solar Eclipse Block Party in Tipp City and a Lost Creek Eclipse Experience in Troy.

Perryville and Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Perryville, Missouri, knows a thing or two about eclipses. This Mississippi River-adjacent getaway was in the path of totality of the 2017 spectacle, and it will enjoy another roughly four minutes of totality come April 8, starting at 1:58 p.m. local time. The city, 80 miles southeast of St. Louis, will host several watch areas: Perryville City Park, the Perryville Regional Airport, Saxony Hills Brewery, and family-owned Hemman Winery.

Cape Girardeau, about 40 miles south of Perryville, will have 4 minutes and 6 seconds of total eclipse time. The town will be celebrating with a festival at the Benton Speedway, Town Watch Party, and a block party with Southeast Missouri State University. 

More in Missouri

The state of Missouri's solar eclipse website lists a variety of eclipse-related events at other destinations around the state.

Paducah, Kentucky

Kentucky's UNESCO Creative City, Paducah, is another destination that's familiar with buzzed-about eclipses. The western Kentucky city was on the 2017 path of totality, and will be there again on April 8, 2024. The artsy escape is hosting community-wide celebrations to help locals and visitors join the fun, including parties, themed fare, and family activities. Its fleeting stretch of totality will hit at 2 p.m. local time, and will last for roughly 90 seconds. For a quintessentially Paducah experience, join the lawn watch party at the city's National Quilt Museum—complete with eclipse-themed quilt-making projects for guests.

Southern Illinois

In southern Illinois, much of the Shawnee National Forest—including the popular Garden of the Gods— lies in the path of total eclipse. The Southern Illinois Crossroads Eclipse Festival in Carbondale will celebrate the event.