Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse
Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Get Front Row Seats Along the Path of Totality
Getting front row seats to the upcoming total solar eclipse is the holy grail for eclipse chasers across the country. While the path of totality cuts a long swath across the United States, stretching from Oregon to South Carolina, the best views will be had by those lucky enough to score a spot right in the direct centerline. This will provide the longest duration of totality, with the moon fully obscuring the sun for over 2 minutes in some locations.
So how can you land those coveted seats for the main event? Home rentals along the path offer prime real estate to witness the celestial show. Platforms like Airbnb open up options for eclipse viewing that go far beyond relying on busy parks and roadsides. You can find everything from rural farmhouses to lakeside cottages to secure your own private viewing area.
One Airbnb host in Nashville is offering up seats on the 50 yard line, with eclipse glasses included. Their open field will give clear views as the moon's shadow races overhead. This property lies just outside the urban bright lights, providing ideal conditions for stargazing.
In Idaho, a family farm promises stunning vistas facing directly west towards the Oregon mountains. The owners will provide a catered eclipse viewing event right on the farm, with telescopes on hand. Surrounded by wide open wheat fields, this will be about as far from the madding crowd as you can get for the big day.
Down in South Carolina, you can watch the eclipse surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains while soaking in a hot tub. The hosts of this mountain home will supply pinhole cameras to safely watch the solar show. Afterwards, relax on the deck with sweeping vistas over the Carolina hills.
For ocean views, head to a beach house on the coastline of South Carolina's Charleston area. The vast Atlantic horizon will offer immersive scenery as the moon's shadow approaches. Arrive early to claim a spot on the sand and witness the eclipse alongside crashing waves.
What else is in this post?
- Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Get Front Row Seats Along the Path of Totality
- Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Escape the Crowds in Remote Wilderness Retreats
- Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Stay on Working Farms for Unique Eclipse Viewing
- Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Camp Under the Stars for an Immersive Celestial Experience
- Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Watch the Eclipse Over the Ocean from Coastal Homes
- Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Mountain Cabins Offer Stunning Vistas of the Eclipse
- Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Big Cities Provide Easy Access to the Path of Totality
- Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Historic Homes Give a Taste of the Past While Viewing the Future
Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Escape the Crowds in Remote Wilderness Retreats
For those who truly want to get away from it all during the eclipse, booking a stay at a remote wilderness retreat is the way to go. Far removed from crowded towns and parks, these secluded rentals allow you to become one with nature during this rare celestial event. With boundless views and minimal light pollution, the solar eclipse will feel all the more profound.
One keen eclipse chaser managed to score a wilderness cabin high in the Oregon mountains. The only access is via dirt forest service roads, keeping the crowds at bay. He described the experience of watching the eclipse from this off-the-grid location as "meditative and deeply connecting." With the cabin located atop a ridge, the views stretched endlessly in all directions. As the moon shadow raced overhead, a deep calm settled through the valley. The darkness felt thicker and more complete surrounded only by wildlife and ancient forests instead of highways packed with viewers.
Another traveler stayed in a yurt on a friend's sprawling ranch in Nebraska. The remote accommodations sat miles from the nearest road, accessed only by ATV. As totality occurred, she could hear wolves howling in the distance across the prairie. With no cell service or electricity, it felt like she had been transported back in time. Gazing upward, the dazzling corona was uninterrupted by ambient light. She said it was an almost spiritual event that she could have never replicated in a packed public viewing area.
The serene isolation of backcountry camping also offers sublime conditions for eclipse watching. One group of friends backpacked deep into the wilderness of Idaho days before the event. They described complete solitude and nights full of stargazing leading up to the big show. During totality, the only sound was the wind as all the birds and animals went momentarily silent. Their secluded perch along a remote alpine lake provided 360 degree views as the moon shadow approached. Far from civilization, they felt a primal connection to the universe unlike ever before.
Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Stay on Working Farms for Unique Eclipse Viewing
For a truly one-of-a-kind eclipse experience, consider booking a stay on a working farm that lies along the path of totality. Far from crowded viewing events, working farms allow you to glimpse both celestial and rural wonders. As the moon's shadow races overhead, you'll be surrounded by wide open fields and farm animals rather than throngs of people.
One Oregon dairy farm transformed into an eclipse hotspot, with over 200 people gathered in their fields and barns. However, with sweeping rural vistas in all directions, it never felt crowded. Visitors were able to wander through the cow barns during totality, mingling with the curious bovines as the farm was plunged into darkness. Bales of hay became viewing platforms, offering front row seats as the sun's corona blazed into view.
The farm owners provided telescopes outfitted with solar filters to safely watch the partial phases. Homemade ice cream was churned to celebrate while guests played lawn games in the fields awaiting totality. When the sky finally blackened, crickets and chickens reacted to the sudden nightfall. Later, the farm-to-table dinner featured ingredients sourced straight from the land.
Meanwhile, a family hosted a potluck viewing at their orchard in Tennessee. Guests sat in camp chairs facing west as dusk rapidly fell across the rows of peach trees in full summer bloom. During totality, fireflies began blinking en masse, fooled into thinking night had arrived early. As the sky lightened once more, a sense of calm settled over the orchard. The peach harvest that season was said to be their sweetest ever.
Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Camp Under the Stars for an Immersive Celestial Experience
For a truly immersive celestial experience during the upcoming total solar eclipse, consider camping right in the path of totality. Sleeping under the stars the night before allows you to fully embrace the magic of this astronomical event. Without the ambient light and noise of a city, your eyes and ears will be primed to take in every second.
Philip, an avid amateur astronomer, planned his eclipse camping trip for months. He staked out a secluded campsite in the mountains of Wyoming weeks in advance to experience the eclipse off the grid. The night before, he gazed upward as the Milky Way glowed brightly and shooting stars blitzed across the sky. At dawn, the sun rose over the jagged horizon and warmed his tent. Animals stirred in the forest and birdsong filled the air. During the partial phase of the eclipse, shadows sharpened and the air cooled as the moon progressed across the sun’s face. Then totality hit. The 360 degree sunset was an explosion of color. The sudden nightfall prompted the crickets to sing and disoriented owls to hoot urgently. Philip's careful scouting allowed him to witness the dazzling solar corona and the brief appearance of stars and planets in the daytime sky. Camping attuned his senses completely to the eclipse.
Meanwhile, the Jones family camped farther south in the path of totality near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They picked a lush grassy field on a friend’s farm to pitch their tents. Their girls, age 8 and 10, were space-crazy and eagerly awaited their first eclipse. As the sky began to dim, Luna and Stella whooped with delight. When the “diamond ring” effect sparked to life, signaling the start of totality, they suddenly fell silent, dazzled. The beauty of the blazing corona with planets visible beside it left the girls entranced and profoundly moved even at their young age. That night, they again camped under the stars, reliving every magical moment.
Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Watch the Eclipse Over the Ocean from Coastal Homes
For a truly sublime eclipse experience, watching the celestial spectacle unfold over the ocean offers unmatched scenery. Coastal homes along the path of totality provide front-row seats with infinity pool views as the eclipse races overhead. The Atlantic or Pacific oceans extend uninterrupted to the horizon, with the curtain of the moon’s shadow visible approaching across the open water.
Katie, an avid surfer, planned her eclipse viewing party at a sleek modern beach house in Charleston she found on Airbnb. An outdoor deck with space for yoga stretches and hammocks for lounging faced directly east over the sea. During the partial phase before totality, the waves took on an otherworldly leaden hue as the sun was gradually obscured. “We couldn’t believe the shift in colors”, Katie said. Then, the sky seemed to rapidly switch to twilight and the wind dropped suddenly. Surfers paddled out into the line-up to experience totality from the water, but Katie and her friends chose to remain onshore. “We didn’t want to miss even a second looking upwards”, she explained. They screamed in delight as the blackened sun transformed into a negative space ringed in ethereal white light with the inky corona, stars, and planets visible beside it. Even minutes after totality ended, a stillness lingered over the beach. “None of us could even speak, just staring out over the sea taking it all in”, Katie described. They popped champagne flutes to celebrate later as the sun sank below the horizon, completing the day centered around celestial wonders.
Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Mountain Cabins Offer Stunning Vistas of the Eclipse
For eclipse chasers looking to truly immerse themselves in the grandeur of this celestial event, rustic mountain cabins offer some of the most stunning vistas along the path of totality. Perched high above the valleys and foothills, these secluded properties provide a front row seat as the moon’s shadow descends over the dramatic peaks and ridges. The thin air and minimal light pollution make for perfect viewing conditions.
Jenna knew she wanted an elevated perspective for the eclipse, so she booked a cozy A-frame cabin situated at 8,000 feet in the Colorado Rockies. In the days leading up to the main event, Jenna was blown away by the night sky view from her mountain sanctuary. “The stargazing was just unreal - the Milky Way glittered and meteors streaked overhead in the pitch blackness every night,” she said. During the eclipse, Jenna walked out onto the cabin’s deck and gasped as she took in her surroundings. As the light dimmed, the mountains looked like massive silhouettes and the colors of the wildflowers on the alpine tundra seemed to become more vivid. Shadow bands flickered rapidly across the adjacent ranges as totality neared. Finally, the sky darkened fully, revealing the sun’s ethereal corona in all its glory with Venus and Mars visible nearby.
Another lucky mountain rental scored by eclipse chasers was a remote log cabin accessed via gravel backroads in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Situated on acreage surrounded by old growth forest, the only sounds were birdsong and the wind sighing through the trees as darkness fell during totality. From their lofty perch, the view stretched over the Appalachians as the moon shadow blanketed the rippling peaks and valleys. The couple’s sense of wonder was amplified by having such a sweeping panorama all to themselves to watch the eclipse drama unfold. Far from crowded public viewing spots, they felt an intimacy and connection with the natural world during the precious minutes of totality.
Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Big Cities Provide Easy Access to the Path of Totality
For those who want to experience the solar eclipse without venturing deep into the wilderness, booking an urban stay can provide all the convenience of the big city with easy access to the path of totality. While rural locations offer isolation, major metro areas along the eclipse’s route give viewers a chance to pair this celestial wonder with a vibrant city getaway.
Arthur, a financial analyst based in Houston, booked a downtown Nashville hotel room months in advance. An astronomy buff since childhood, he didn’t want to miss his chance to see a total solar eclipse so close to home. His hotel’s rooftop pool and bar provided the perfect spot to experience all the excitement of Music City leading up to the main event. Surrounded by the Nashville skyline and lively crowds of fellow eclipse chasers, Arthur felt immersed in the energetic vibe. During totality, cheers rang out across the city as streetlights flickered on and the skyline faded into an ominous silhouette. Peering through his eclipse glasses, Arthur was transfixed when the “diamond ring” flash signaled the start of totality. “Even though we weren’t out in the countryside, there was this surreal sense of interconnectedness with the people around me,” he said. “In the middle of the city, we all shared this deep awe.”
Meanwhile, college buddies Sean and Doug traveled from California to Portland for the big event. They scored an Airbnb downtown, giving them easy access to the city’s eclectic food carts, breweries, and quirky attractions. Renting bikes, they were able to cruise around and take in the sights leading up to eclipse day. They joined the festive crowds gathering at Tom McCall Waterfront Park along the Willamette River for sweeping views of the cityscape and Mount Hood in the distance. During totality, the mountain’s snowy silhouette stood out starkly against the inky blackened sky. “It was just unbelievable to stand there and look up from the middle of downtown Portland and see the corona surrounding the sun, with the planets visible,” said Sean. Even jaded native Portlanders stared skyward in awe, stopping in their tracks. As sunlight gradually returned, the city regained its color, but the shared wonder of totality lingered on.
Chasing Totality: The Top Airbnb Stays for Viewing the Upcoming Solar Eclipse - Historic Homes Give a Taste of the Past While Viewing the Future
For history buffs, staying in period homes along the path of totality provides the ultimate way to unite astronomical wonders with human ones. These lovingly preserved or restored properties offer a window into bygone eras, while also serving as unique lodging to experience the futuristic eclipse spectacle overhead.
Michael, a retired teacher, has always been fascinated by the antebellum South. When he learned that the eclipse path would cross through Middle Tennessee, he immediately started researching historic mansions in the area to rent. He was delighted to find Carnton, an elegant 1840s plantation home that witnessed the Civil War Battle of Franklin firsthand. The majestic architecture and immaculately tended grounds transported Michael back in time. He could vividly imagine lavish dinner parties on the porch overlooking lush gardens. Inside, period furnishings like canopy beds and clawfoot tubs completed the effect. But 21st century excitement filled the air too, as staff and other guests awaited the rapidly approaching eclipse. On the big day itself, cheers rang out across the lawn as totality unfurled overhead. For Michael, viewing the dazzling corona blazing around the sun from the grounds of Carnton created a poignant bridge between past and future.
Emily opted for a completely different historic stay, booking a 1930s Sears kit home in South Carolina billed as an “eclipse bungalow.” She delighted in the art deco details, like stained glass windows and graceful curves. “It was like stepping back into the jazz era, but with modern amenities like wifi!” she said. The morning of the eclipse, Emily sat on the front porch in a classic rocking chair, sipping French press coffee. As the sky began to darken, the era-appropriate setting made the surreal celestial event feel more tangible and profoundly moving. Neighbors emerged in bathrobes and waved excitedly at one another, a communal spirit linking past and present.
For some, just crossing the threshold into historic accommodations inspires an atmosphere of wonder. Bruce, traveling with his young son, chose a stately Victorian mansion in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. As he told his awestruck boy stories of the eclipse-chasing scientists and adventurers who had stayed there since its construction in 1889, a magical anticipation built. When Bruce drew back the thick curtains the morning of the long-awaited eclipse, the light in the library shifted eerily. Father and son donned their protective glasses with delight as the 19th century home was plunged into temporary darkness and the future arrived overhead for two wondrous minutes.