Texas, prepare for the eclipse onslaught: A new study predicts that the Lone Star State will be the top destination for eclipse tourists, with more than a million visitors expected to travel here to catch the total solar eclipse on April 8.
According to a model developed by the Great American Eclipse team, Texas is anticipated to see 1.08 million tourists — the highest number out of 48 continental states (Alaska and Hawaii excluded).
For context: The report predicts between 931,000 and 3.73 million people will travel from some part of the United States to an area inside the path of totality on eclipse day.
Nearly 31 million people in the U.S. already live inside the eclipse's path of totality, Great American Eclipse says, with more than 12.78 million residing in Texas.
Their findings show that people who live near the eclipse's path are more likely have an interest in witnessing the solar spectacle; and those who do travel will simply go to the spot that's nearest to them on the path of totality.
Texas' eclipse tourism estimates far outweigh the remaining 14 states with areas along the eclipse's path. Indiana (No. 2) is expected to see between 131,000 to 522,000 out-of-state visitors, followed closely behind by Ohio (No. 3) with an estimated 125,000-500,000 tourists.
Texans should prepare to see a lot of tourists on April 8.greatamericaneclipse.com
Texas cities within the eclipse path
The report suggests the Hill Country and Central Texas area will have the highest influx of tourists. Kerrville is expected to see a high influx of travelers due to its close proximity to the eclipse path's center. San Antonio is also highlighted on the destination list.
The entire Dallas-Fort Worth area — which consists of approximately 7 million people — is also within the path of totality.
"Our model does not predict a particularly large visitation to Dallas because other destinations may be closer, but expect these numbers to be greatly exceeded for Dallas simply because of the large numbers of people who will host relatives and friends for the eclipse," the report says.
Kerrville is nearly in the center of the eclipse's path of totality.greatamericaneclipse.com
If Texans are looking to get away from the top tourist-heavy cities, they should head to more rural parts of the state.
"While visitation estimates are lower for the Uvalde and Eagle Pass areas, we expect additional eclipse chasers because of the superior weather odds," the report says. "A bonus in rural Texas will be a spectacular night sky."
The report used U.S. Census data, ArcGIS software, and a "digital road network" of the country to determine eclipse destination points inside the path of totality and the shortest drive paths to a destination. The study also factored a state's typical weather patterns to determine the likelihood of higher visitation.
