Where Should You Go From California to See the Eclipse

For the most part, California has been snubbed by the last few eclipses, and Monday will be no different.

But, just because the solar eclipse won’t pass over us doesn’t mean we can’t see it.

Which City is Closest to California to See the Eclipse

Even if you stay in California you have a chance to see a partial eclipse. Southern California will be treated to a 60% eclipse, central California will see about 40% coverage, and in the north, it will be about 30% obscured. If you want to see the total solar eclipse you’ll have to travel since the path runs from Texas up to Maine.

Depending on how adventurous you want to be, you could drive across the country to see the eclipse in Maine. If you are looking for the closest city, a trip to Texas is your best bet.

The trip will take you around a full day of driving depending on where you live. But on average if you want to be in or near a big city in Texas and in the path of totality you’ll need to head to Forth Worth or Dallas. If you don’t mind a little more travel, Waco might be the best bet and will take you about 24 hours from the center of California. Forth Worth is 23 hours away and Dallas is about 23 and a half hours. Obviously, the times are much shorter if you fly there.

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If you do plan on heading to Texas, or any other place in the path of totality, there are many things you need to know and expect. First of all, you aren’t going to be the only one there. All the popular cities along the path will be packed with other people just like you. So, if you haven’t made plans yet, you should expect it to be difficult and spendy to find a place to stay and to find a space to view the eclipse.

RELATED STORY: Warning From Texas to Those Hoping to View the Eclipse

You can read more about what to expect in Texas and how to prepare in this story from our sister station KKYR.