Best Campgrounds To See 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Probably one of the best places to see a total solar eclipse is from a campsite. Campgrounds are expected to sell out well in advance so now is the time to think about reserving a site.  Use Campsite Assist and get availability alerts when a campsite becomes available.

The 2024 total solar eclipse is going to put on quite a show!  At its peak it will last 4 minutes and 27 seconds, almost double that of the total solar eclipse on August 31, 2017. Roughly 20 million people from Oregon to South Carolina witnessed the 2017 total solar eclipse and many more are also expected to watch the one on April 8, 2024.

Spoiler Alert!

These are the stages of a total solar eclipse. The partial phases last about an hour and 20 minutes, with the full eclipse lasting about 4 ½ minutes.

A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk.

Path of Total Solar Eclipse

In the US, totality will begin in Texas at 1:27 pm CDT and will end in Maine at 3:35 pm EDT on April 8, 2024. This map shows the path for the total solar eclipse through the United States.

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Best Campgrounds to See 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

These campgrounds are located (more or less) within the path of totality and will offer excellent viewing opportunities.  Click on a campground to see photos of each campsite, set up an availability alert, make a reservation and get other info.

Texas Campgrounds

South Llano River State Park

• Blanco SP
• Caddo Lake State Park
• Cedar Breaks Park
• Cleburne State Park
• Dinosaur Valley State Park
• Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
• Fort Parker State Park
• Fort Richardson State Park
• Garner State Park
• Guadalupe River State Park
• Jim Hogg Park
• Kimball Bend Park
• Lake Mineral Wells State Park
• Lake Tawakoni State Park
• Lost Maples State Natural Area
• Lake Whitney State Park
• Meridian State Park
• Mission Tejas State Park
• Pat Mayse East
• Pat Mayse West
• Pedernales Falls State Park
• Purtis Creek Sate Park
• Ray Roberts Lake State Park – Johnson Branch
• Ray Roberts Lake State Park – Isle du Bois
• Sanders Cove
• Sandy Creek Park
• South Llano River State Park
• Speegleville Park
• Tyler State Park

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Arkansas Campgrounds

White Oak Lake State Park

• Big Coon Creek
• Blanchard Springs Recreation Area
• Cossatot Reefs
• Crowleys Ridge State Park
• Gulpha Gorge
• Lake Charles State Park
• Lake Frierson State Park
• Little Coon Creek Park
• White Oak Lake State Park

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Missouri Campgrounds

Johnson Shut Ins State Park

• Bluff View Clearwater Lake
• Johnsons Shut Ins State Park
• Markham Spring
• Piedmont Park Clearwater Lake
• Pinewoods Lake
• Round Spring
• Sam A. Baker State Park
• Silver Mines
• Suttons Bluff

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Illinois Campgrounds

Ramsey Lake SRA

• Coon Creek Recreation Area
• Eagle Creek State Park
• Ramsey Lake SRA

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Indiana Campgrounds

Raccoon Lake SRA

• France Park
• Raccoon Lake SRA
• Shades State Park
• Turkey Run State Park

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Ohio Campgrounds

Geneva State Park

• Geneva State Park
• Grand Lake St. Marys State Park
• Kiser Lake State Park
• Mt. Gilead State Park

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Vermont Campgrounds

Brighton State Park

• Brighton State Park
• Lake Carmi State Park

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New York Campgrounds

Meacham Lake

• Cranberry Lake
• Four Mile Creek State Park
• Meacham Lake

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New Hampshire Campgrounds

Umbagog Lake State Park

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Maine Campgrounds

Lily Bay State Park

• Lily Bay State Park
• Rangeley Lake State Park

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How to (Safely) Watch a Total Solar Eclipse

Remember to use only ISO-certified-safe solar eclipse glasses and viewers. Keep them on while the Sun is not yet fully eclipsed.  You can remove them once the sky suddenly turns dark and the solar corona appears. Put them back on again (or don’t look at the sun) once the partial eclipse starts again.

Warning: The marketplace was flooded with counterfeit eclipse glasses (labeled as ISO-compliant) to watch the total solar eclipse in 2017. Make sure you get your eclipse viewers from a reputable/approved supplier.

And if you can’t make the total solar eclipse campout next year, you’ll have to wait this year the until August 23, 2044. Best campground list for 2044 TBD.