Texas is the premiere destination for experiencing totality during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. With the best historical weather and longest duration of totality, everyone from avid eclipse chasers to casual eclipse observers will flock to the state’s southwest corner. And the Lone Star State is ready with eclipse festivals and viewing parties.
Historically, southwest Texas has the slightest chance of clouds in early April. Daytime highs in the lower 70s and overnight lows in the lower 50s will feel like a comfortable early spring.
There are almost 100 cities, towns, and parks where you can spend a weekend and watch the eclipse on Monday. Nearly 30 locations are close to the centerline of the eclipse and have about four minutes of totality.
International and regional airports, Amtrak routes, and interstate highways make it easy to get almost anywhere in Texas. But it’s a big state, so getting from one city to the next takes longer than most people are accustomed to.
Texas will be the most desirable destination, and southwest Texas will be the most-traveled region during the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. But there are many other places in the state to visit in the Path of Totality. Pack for early spring because the weather will likely be gorgeous.
Table of Contents
- What is the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse?
- How to Safely View a Total Solar Eclipse
- How to Choose a Viewing Location
- Essential Eclipse Articles
- Map of the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
- Best Places to See the Eclipse in Texas
- Alternate Places to See the Eclipse in Texas
- How to Get to the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse in Texas
- Things to Pack for Eclipse Day
What is the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse?
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, completely blocking the sunlight and casting a shadow on the Earth. As the Earth, Moon, and Sun continue to move, the shadow sweeps across the Earth – called the Path of Totality.
Anyone in the Path of Totality experiences the eerie wonderment of Totality. Totality is the longest on the centerline of the eclipse. And for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, it’s the longest in southwest Texas.
The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse is on Monday, April 8. The partial eclipse will last from 12:11 until 3:05 p.m. (CDT). Totality will start between 1:28 and 1:44 p.m. (CDT), lasting up to 4 minutes and 30 seconds.
How to Safely View a Total Solar Eclipse
The only time it’s safe to look at the Sun during a total solar eclipse is during Totality, when the Moon completely blocks the sunlight. But it’s critical to wear solar eclipse glasses or use solar filters while looking at the partial eclipse before and after Totality. These specially designed glasses and filters comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard, allowing only 0.0032% of light to pass through.
During the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, the American Astronomical Society found that Amazon was flooded with counterfeit solar eclipse glasses claiming to be compliant. The AAS compiled a list of verified suppliers of safe and compliant solar eclipse glasses to combat the dangerously fake glasses.
All my recommendations for solar eclipse glasses, solar binoculars, and solar telescopes below are made by suppliers verified by the American Astronomical Society.
Here are a few options for certified solar eclipse glasses:
- American Paper Optics Eclipser HD Glasses are stylish and sturdy for long uses.
- Rainbow Symphony offers a variety of options like Solar Eclipse Glasses, Wrap-Around Goggles, and Clip-On Solar Eclipse Glasses.
- You can buy cardboard framed glasses from American Paper Optics or Rainbow Symphony in a pinch.
Read More: Solar Eclipse Glasses, Binoculars, and Camera Filters for Safely Viewing a Total Solar Eclipse
How to Choose a Viewing Location
Photographers, scientists, and avid eclipse chasers will flock to southwest Texas to see the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. That’s because they are looking for the slightest chance of clouds, the longest duration of totality, and the easiest travel logistics. Their sole purpose for traveling is to view the eclipse. But they will see nothing if it’s cloudy on Eclipse Day.
That’s why I think you should use the eclipse as an excuse to travel and not just travel for the eclipse.
Instead of choosing a place based on the best eclipse conditions, choose an exciting travel destination that gives you something to do over the preceding weekend.
Here’s what I recommend you consider when choosing a viewing location:
- Travel destination. Does the place you want to visit have things to do, like local shopping, outdoor recreation, and great places to eat? If the destination has a tourism office, you’ll likely find things to do.
- Historical cloudiness and weather. AccuWeather says places in southwest Texas have the slightest chance of clouds in early April. The further north along the Path of Totality, the greater the chance of clouds. Places northeast of Illinois have the highest chance of clouds.
- Duration of Totality. The duration is longest along the Centerline in Texas. However, it’s only a minute shorter – and almost 3.5 minutes long – along the Centerline in Maine.
- Travel logistics. Fortunately, it’s remarkably easy to travel to almost any place in the Path of Totality.
Read More: How to Plan a Trip to See the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Essential Eclipse Articles
Browse these essential eclipse articles to learn more about planning a trip to see the eclipse, solar eclipse glasses and other things to pack, and how to find lodging for the eclipse.
Map of the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
How to use this map | Click the icon in the top-left corner to open the Map Legend, then click on any of the legend items to display more information. If you have a Google account, click the (very faint) star at the end of the map’s name to save this map to your account, then access the map from your smartphone during your trip.
Best Places to See the Eclipse in Texas
Although southwest Texas has the best conditions for viewing an eclipse, anywhere near the centerline throughout the state will be a great place to visit. These cities, towns, and parks have the most to offer visitors for a weekend adventure and the best viewing parties on Eclipse Day.
Note About Eclipse Times
Times and durations can vary widely. For precise times while choosing a viewing location, use Xavier Jubier’s Interactive Map. On Eclipse Day, use the Solar Eclipse Timer app for precise times based on your location.
This list is in order by Start of Totality.
Amistad National Recreation Area in Texas
Partial Eclipse: 12:11 to 2:51 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:28:54 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 2 minutes 45 seconds
Amistad National Recreation Area is an oasis surrounded by a desert in southwest Texas. Watching the eclipse from a boat will be a thrilling experience as darkness descends on the landscape. Spend the night at one of the campgrounds and enjoy a weekend of outdoor recreation before watching the eclipse.
Read More: Best National Park Sites to View the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Uvalde, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:12 to 2:53 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:29:41 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 15 seconds
Uvalde is the southwesternmost Texas town near the centerline of the eclipse. That’s certain to draw many visitors on Eclipse Day to the rural county with a population of 24,000. Multiple rivers and canyons offer splendid hiking and tubing opportunities. Spend your evenings in the small town at local restaurants or enjoy live music at the Uvalde Grand Opera House. Visit the Uvalde County Solar Eclipse page to learn more about viewing parties.
Hill Country State Natural Area in Texas
Partial Eclipse: 12:13 to 2:54 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:31:31 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 4 seconds
Find a viewing location for the eclipse in the 5,000-acre Hill Country State Natural Area. Explores dozens of hiking and horseback riding trails through rugged canyons and open prairies. You can enjoy peaceful spring camping if you don’t mind the primitive walk-in sites.
Read More: 10 Best State Parks to See the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Bandera, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:14 to 2:55 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:31:51 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 4 seconds
Bandera, Texas, is the “Cowboy Capital of the World.” Horseback riding, rodeos, and ranch tours are cowboy-themed things to do with a weekend getaway. It’s also an excellent base camp for scenic driving tours in the Texas Hill Country. With over four minutes of totality, the “Total Solar Eclipse Bullseye” will be a peaceful place to enjoy the eclipse.
Kerrville, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:14 to 2:55 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:32:07 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 25 seconds
Eclipse chasers in Kerrville, Texas, will enjoy one of the longest durations of totality of any destination in the U.S. Take a weekend to explore the scenic Guadalupe River and historic downtown. Learn more about how to experience totality on the Kerrville CVB eclipse page.
Fredericksburg, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:15 to 2:56 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:32:58 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 24 seconds
German migrants founded Fredericksburg in the mid-1800s. So, it’s no wonder you’ll find authentic wiener schnitzel and bratwursts at the local restaurants. It’s one of the best places to spend the weekend before the eclipse, with dozens of wineries, boutique shops, and luxurious lodging throughout town. The town’s Eclipse Information Central has everything you need to plan a fantastic eclipse viewing getaway.
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park in Texas
Partial Eclipse: 12:15 to 2:56 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:33:25 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 12 seconds
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park preserves the 36th President’s Texas ranch and his final resting place. Visitors can explore his boyhood home, where Johnson lived from age five until his high school graduation, and take a guided tour of the Texas White House. The open fields of the ranch will be an excellent place to watch the total solar eclipse with over four minutes of totality.
Read More: Best National Park Sites to View the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in Texas
Partial Eclipse: 12:16 to 2:56 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:33:27 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 25 seconds
Magical, mystical, and enchanted. Local legends aside, the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area could be one of the best places in Texas to see the total solar eclipse. A massive granite dome rises above the Texas Hill Country, giving eclipse chasers an unobstructed view of the big show. It’s about 15 miles north of Fredericksburg, so an easy drive there and back on Eclipse Day.
Read More: 10 Best State Parks to See the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site in Texas
Partial Eclipse: 12:15 to 2:56 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:33:28 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 11 seconds
Not to be confused with the adjacent national park site, the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site preserves the site of an early German farm. Walk the 1.2 miles of trails and find a perfect place to watch the eclipse in the open fields. Visit the Sauer-Beckman Living History Farm to see demonstrations of 1800s farming techniques.
Read More: 10 Best State Parks to See the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Johnson City, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:16 to 2:57 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:33:57 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 3 minutes 59 seconds
Johnson City is a charming small town where “vintage” is appropriately applied. Explore interesting museums and dive into delicious foods along Main Street. Visit the town’s eclipse page to learn more about viewing parties and things to do with a weekend visit.
Llano, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:16 to 2:57 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:34:07 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 23 seconds
Savory barbecue and over four minutes of totality await visitors to Llano, a small town about sixty miles northwest of Austin. The impounded Llano River creates a city lake and an opportunity to watch the eclipse across the water. The surrounding Texas Hill Country offers plenty of outdoor recreation and scenic drives. Visit the city’s eclipse page to learn more about viewing parties and things to do.
Marble Falls, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:17 to 2:57 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:34:33 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 13 seconds
The Marble Falls downtown district sits adjacent to the Colorado River, offering a spectacular place to watch the solar eclipse. The walkable downtown features many local restaurants, art galleries, and shops to explore. It’s also a great place to stay while exploring Texas Hill Country outdoor adventures and wineries. Visit the Marble Falls Solar Eclipse page to learn about viewing parties and travel itineraries.
Killeen, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:18 to 2:59 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:36:20 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 16 seconds
Killeen is a bustling small city with a population of just over 150,000 and home to Fort Cavazos, formerly known as Fort Hood. Go on a self-guided foodie tour around town, spend an evening at a family-friendly attraction, or go for a scenic drive in the countryside. Watch the eclipse at the city’s Solar Eclipse Over Central Texas event.
Gatesville, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:19 to 2:59 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:36:46 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 24 seconds
In 2001, Gatesville was officially declared the “Spur Capital of Texas” – you’ll need to visit a local museum to learn about the cowboy behind this story. Explore the boutique shops around town, sample the local cuisine, and catch a movie at The Last Drive in Picture Show – one of the few drive-in movie theaters in Texas. Learn more about experiencing over four minutes of totality at the “Eclipseville, Texas” website.
Temple, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:19 to 2:59 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:37:13 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 3 minutes 44 seconds
Temple has an expansive downtown featuring many local restaurants, breweries, and boutique shops. Along with a few museums and attractions, it’s easy to spend a day exploring downtown. You can enjoy the city’s First Friday monthly event if you arrive early enough. Visit the city’s solar eclipse page to learn about viewing parties on Eclipse Day.
Waco, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:20 to 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:38:02 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 11 seconds
With over four minutes of totality, Waco is going all in on eclipse viewing parties and events. Eclipse Over Texas: Live From Waco promises to be one of the best solar eclipse festivals in the country. Spend the preceding weekend exploring antique stores, wineries, and my favorite attraction – the Dr. Pepper Museum in the town where the soda concoction was invented.
Lake Whitney State Park
Partial Eclipse: 12:20 to 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:38:15 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 20 seconds
The impressive Lake Whitney Dam impounds the Brazos River, creating a 23,000-acre reservoir with 225 miles of shoreline. Lake Whitney State Park features fishing, swimming, boating, and hiking – plenty of things to keep you occupied during a weekend getaway. There is plenty of room for visitors to spread out along the lakeshore to experience over four minutes of totality.
Read More: 10 Best State Parks to See the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Hillsboro, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:21 to 3:01 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:38:43 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 23 seconds
Hillsboro will enjoy one of the longest durations of totality in Texas. With its location about halfway between Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth, it promises to be a busy place on Eclipse Day. Arrive early and spend the weekend exploring the museums and gorgeously restored homes throughout downtown. Visit the town’s Eclipse 2024 page to learn more about viewing parties and things to do.
Waxahachie, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:22 to 3:02 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:39:49 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 18 seconds
It will be too early for the “Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas” to be in full bloom, but that just gives you another reason to return to Waxahachie later. Sitting on the doorstep of Dallas, the compact downtown is filled with local restaurants and shops. The town is going big for the eclipse with three days of events.
Corsicana, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:22 to 3:02 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:40:03 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 9 seconds
About an hour from Dallas and Waco, Corsicana is a charming historical town that promises to be a great place to view the eclipse. Spend the weekend on a self-guided tour of bronze statues, visit one of the regional history museums, or visit the restaurants and shops on Main Street.
Dallas, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:23 to 3:02 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:40:43 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 3 minutes 51 seconds
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas, with a whopping 1.3 million residents. And Dallas is no exception to the saying, “Everything is bigger in Texas.” During a weekend visit, choose one of the city’s neighborhoods to explore and keep your itinerary localized to avoid the inevitable traffic jams. Visit the city’s solar eclipse page for details on viewing parties and events.
Mesquite, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:23 to 3:03 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:40:53 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 8 seconds
Mesquite sits at the edge of the greater Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, close enough for a day trip into the big city but far enough away to have a quaint downtown. Enjoy a peaceful weekend of sports bars, barbeque restaurants, and the Solar Rodeo. The three-day festival features a rodeo parade, family games, and live music, leading to a viewing party on Monday.
Plano, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:23 to 3:03 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:41:26 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 3 minutes 29 seconds
Plano’s largest attraction is the Fowling Warehouse, where guests go bowling with a football. And that’s just the beginning of a fun-filled weekend exploring walkable downtown and surrounding outdoor adventures. Visit the city’s solar eclipse page to learn more about where to stay and the viewing parties on Eclipse Day.
McKinney, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:24 to 3:03 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:42:02 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 3 minutes 4 seconds
About 30 miles north of Dallas, McKinney is a popular weekend getaway. It’s easy to unwind in the historic downtown with local restaurants, breweries, and antique stores. With just over three minutes of totality, McKinney is still a great place to visit – and it’s likely to be less crowded than other southwest Texas towns. Visit the Solar Eclipse McKinney page to learn more about the viewing parties.
Sulphur Springs, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:25 to 3:04 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:42:59 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 21 seconds
Sulphur Springs is a small town in the northwest corner of Texas. The walkable downtown surrounding the gorgeous Hopkins County Courthouse is filled with local restaurants, antique stores, and boutique shops. Visit the Total Eclipse Sulphur Springs page to learn more about viewing parties and planning a trip.
Cooper Lake State Park in Texas
Partial Eclipse: 12:25 to 3:05 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:43:13 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 18 seconds
About 15 miles north of Sulphur Springs, Cooper Lake State Park is one of the best places to watch the total solar eclipse across a peaceful lake. Doctors Creek on the north side of the lake has plenty of viewing locations along the lake’s shore. South Sulphur, on the south side of the lake, is a great place for spending the night with many waterfront campgrounds.
Read More: 10 Best State Parks to See the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Paris, TX
Partial Eclipse: 12:26 to 3:05 p.m. (CDT)
Start of Totality: 1:44:00 p.m. (CDT)
Duration of Totality: 4 minutes 2 seconds
Paris, Texas, was founded in 1845 and named after the more popular French capital city. Locals affectionately call the city the “second largest Paris in the world.” Explore one of the city’s distinctive historic districts, eat and shop your way through downtown, and visit the Texas-style Eiffel Tower. Visit the Paris Solar Eclipse page to learn about viewing spots, including the Eiffel Tower!
Alternate Places to See the Eclipse in Texas
There are a lot of places in Texas in the Path of Totality where you can see the eclipse. Most of these places have lodging, restaurants, and things to do, but check first to ensure it has what you’re looking for in a weekend getaway for the eclipse.
Note About Eclipse Times
Times and durations can vary widely. For precise times while choosing a viewing location, use Xavier Jubier’s Interactive Map. On Eclipse Day, use the Solar Eclipse Timer app for precise times based on your location.
This list is in order by Start of Totality.
How to Get to the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse in Texas
Do you prefer traveling by plane, train, or automobile? However you like to travel, there are many great options for getting to your destination for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse.
Traveling with Amtrak
Traveling by train certainly has some advantages. You won’t have to deal with congested traffic on the highways or find parking at the viewing location. You’ll have to wade through the least number of fellow travelers at the stations. And you can enjoy the gorgeous scenery in Viewliner cars.
However, traveling by train does come with a few disadvantages. Amtrak has a notorious reputation for delayed trains – do not plan to travel by train on Monday. There are also far fewer trains scheduled than any other transportation, which means fewer available seats. And the cost of traveling by Amtrak is frequently higher than flying or driving.
The Heartland Flyer connects Oklahoma City and Fort Worth. There are six stations along the route that ends in Fort Worth.
The Texas Eagle is a 2,700-mile route between Chicago and Los Angeles. In Texas, the route has stations in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and Del Rio.
The Sunset Limited is a 2,000-mile route between New Orleans and Los Angles, running along the same railroad west of San Antonio as the Texas Eagle. This route has a station in Houston for carrying passengers to the Path of Totality at San Antonio.
Read More: How to Plan a Trip to See the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Traveling into Airports
Flying is a great way to travel for the eclipse because you bypass the congested highways and don’t have to deal with finding parking. It’s a better option than the train because flights are more flexible to sudden increases in air travelers.
International airports are typically larger than domestic airports because they must have customs and border control facilities for passengers flying between countries. These airports offer the most amenities, carriers, and flights.
There are 6 airports in Path of Totality in Texas:
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL)
- Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (TYR)
- Waco Regional Airport (ACT)
Read More: How to Plan a Trip to See the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Traveling by Car
It’s easy to drive to the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse with dozens of interstate highways crisscrossing the Path of Totality. Interstates 10, 40, 70, 80, and 90 cross the nation through the eclipse path, connecting almost every state with viewing destinations.
But since most people traveling for the eclipse will travel by car, it will become increasingly difficult the closer the Eclipse Day. Friday evening and Saturday morning are the best times to drive to your destination before the eclipse, and Tuesday is the best day to drive out.
On Eclipse Day, plan for the driving time to be 2-3 times longer than a typical day. If you plan to spend the night before somewhere outside the Path of Totality, be ready to leave early to account for heavy traffic congestion. You can avoid much of the congestion after the eclipse if you wait about 2-3 hours before leaving your viewing location.
Things to Pack for Eclipse Day
Neatly folding your clothes into packing cubes and grabbing your travel tech bag is a good start to packing for any trip. But packing for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse isn’t like packing for a typical weekend getaway. It’s more like going to an outdoor concert that requires safety equipment.
Here are my suggestions for essential safety gear, chairs, power banks, outdoor games, and apps for seeing a total solar eclipse.
There are only 3 essential things to pack for a solar eclipse:
- ISO 12312-2 certified solar eclipse glasses. American Paper Optics Eclipser HD Glasses are stylish and sturdy for long uses. Rainbow Symphony offers a variety of options like Solar Eclipse Glasses, Wrap-Around Goggles, and Clip-On Solar Eclipse Glasses. You can buy cardboard framed glasses from American Paper Optics or Rainbow Symphony in a pinch.
- The Solar Eclipse Timer. The Solar Eclipse Timer app for iOS and Android provides audible notifications and countdowns to the key moments of the total solar eclipse.
- A comfortable chair. The Coleman Portable Camping Chair is the standard go-to for collapsible quad chairs, and the Coleman Big-N-Tall Quad Chair is slightly bigger and offers a higher seating capacity. The Helinox Chair Zero remarkably weighs just 8 pounds but supports 265 pounds. The Snow Peak Low Beach Chair folds into a storage bag and features a durable canvas material.
A quasi-essential thing to pack is a good power bank to keep your smartphone charged throughout the day. Some of these power banks have enough capacity to keep multiple devices charged:
- The Anker PowerCore III is a versatile power bank for Apple and Android phones. What I love most about this power bank is the wireless 10W Qi charger – simply set a compatible phone on top of the power bank, and it’s charging. There is no need to carry a charging cable. But the power bank also has an 18W USB-C and 15W USB-A port for additional charging options.
- The Anker Magnetic Battery only works with Apple MagSafe iPhones, but Wired
- wrote an article about adapting MagSafe products for Android phones. This power bank features a wireless MagSafe charger with an integrated stand – perfect for setting the phone upright to see the timer on Eclipse Day.
- The Anker Prime 20,000 mAh Power Bank is perfect for charging multiple devices on Eclipse Day. The hefty power bank features two 100W USB-C ports and a 65W USB-A port with a max 200W simultaneous charging capacity.
After packing the essentials for comfort, safety, and power, how about packing a few extra things for entertainment? Take one of these outdoor games for hours of fun while watching the partial eclipse slowly inch across the sky:
- This GoSports Cornhole Set features a solid wood design and includes a hefty carrying case for easy travel.
- The GoSports Left Center Right Giant Dice Game is a recreation of my favorite travel game. This set includes 3.5” wooden dice, giant tokens, and a carrying bag.
- If you’ve played Yahtzee, you’ll understand how Farkle works. The GoSports Giant Wooden Playing Dice Set has 3.5” wooden dice and a dry-erase board for keeping score.
- If you can find a solid playing surface like a picnic table or concrete pad, then you’ll love having the GoSports Giant Wooden Tower Game. It’s an outdoor-sized version of Jenga! The set includes a dry-erase scoreboard and a carrying case.
- The GoSports Regulation Bocce Set is a great game that requires little effort. The set comes with a premium carry case.
Finally, consider downloading some or all these apps that will be extremely useful during Eclipse Day:
- AccuWeather is my favorite app for tracking weather. The app is typically accurate and easy to use and has some great features you might find useful. Download on iOS or Android.
- If you insist on capturing eclipse photos with your smartphone, get the Camera+ 2 app. It’s one of the best camera apps, with many features and settings for getting the most out of your smartphone camera. Download on iOS or Android.
- Google Maps will be invaluable for spotting congested highways and finding alternate routes after watching the eclipse. It’s also a great tool to help you find public transportation to and from your viewing location. Download on iOS or Android.
