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Houston area residents still have time to plan their trips next Monday, when the first total solar eclipse in 20 years will pass through central Texas.
But for last-minute eclipse hunters, venturing into totality comes at a cost.
The Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio metropolitan areas will be able to fully experience the eclipse if the weather permits, but it will be most attainable for those in the Houston area, where the sun appears to be about 93-95% covered. can be an affordable option. By the moon. As of this Monday, travel packages from Houston to cities, including round-trip airfare before and after a Sunday night hotel stay, are available for $500 to $600 through travel booking websites Expedia.com and Priceline.com. It has become.
As of Monday, tickets to those cities alone were selling for at least $400, as well as Waco. Travel websites show that hotel rooms in and around these cities can be found for less than $100, with some hotels rated 3 stars or higher available for less than $200. Masu.
Related: Rice University's Patricia Leaf is ready for her next solar study
If you plan on seeing the eclipse in one of the many small towns along the path of totality (in Texas, it stretches from roughly the southwest corner of the state to the northeast), you'll be spending a lot of time traveling as well as traveling. It might happen. More money. His nightly rates at hotels in and around towns such as Corsicana, Fredericksburg, Kerrville and Temple, all at least a few hours away by car or truck, were often advertised for at least $400. Ta.
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For example, a room at the Motel 6 in Kerrville was $900 on Expedia, but a Days Inn on Priceline was $999. A room at the Quality Inn in Corsicana was listed for $490, and a room at the La Quinta in Killeen was listed for $399.
How about pitching a tent and camping at a state park on Sunday night? The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department operates 29 parks targeted for totality, but as of Monday, 25 of those venues were sold out on the day of the eclipse, with single-day passes available. The only locations in northeastern Texas are Atlanta, Cedar Hill, Danger Field, and Tyler State Park. .
If you have time next Monday, a day trip is also an option. Total Road is less than 140 miles from the Houston area and includes several off-the-beaten-path locations, including the town of Due on Interstate 45 and Hammond on State Route 6.
The average gas price in Houston is about $3.14 per gallon, according to information compiled by AAA, and many local drivers will probably be able to get all the way to the road and back for about $50. Of course, this does not include food, drinks or special glasses for eclipse viewing.
For Houston-area eclipse hunters without budget constraints, travel options are far more abundant. However, accommodation facilities and airplane seats are becoming scarcer by the day.
