It’s not every day that the stars align, quite literally in the path of totality with a once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse gracing April skies.
This cosmic spectacle didn’t just draw amateur astronomers; it spurred an unexpected and remarkable surge in travel demand.
The travel industry was rife with excitement as Airbnb reported an occupancy rate nearing 90% along the eclipse path, with overall rates across North America peaking at 92.4%.
Adventurers not quick enough to snag a traditional stay turned to unconventional options: Hipcamp, a camping firm, saw a meteoric 9,000% spike in eclipse region bookings, and it wasn’t just locals — international visitors from countries like Japan, Iceland, and Australia helped fuel the camping craze.
Aside from lodgings, rental car and flight bookings tripled ahead of the celestial event, effectively shaking off any notions of April as a ‘slow season.’