Family camping trips are still one of the most popular vacation options for Americans, with the number of days spent camping totally an incredible 534.9 million days as of 2011. However, this summer there is a once-in-a-lifetime reason to head out camping, especially for those that have an interest in the stars and the sky.
The Great American Eclipse is coming soon, and most hotels and lodging along its path have been completely sold out for months. But while it might be impossible to find a cheap motel or hotel room along the path, there is still plenty of space to take advantage of.
Across the nation, from Oregon to South Carolina (the total path of the solar eclipse’s movement), there are hundreds of areas advertising spaces for tents and RV parking. Private ranches, farms, and vineyards are just a few places to name that are offering space, and some are so vast they’ll likely never sell out.
The fact is, there is still space to find during the event. Somewhere between 1.85 million and 7.4 million Americans plan to see the eclipse, and there is still space available for all of them.
But that doesn’t mean space for everything, and a lot of experts are predicting some troubles in areas on the path of the event. Interstates and major roadways may be flooded with individuals, and issues finding food or water or even a restroom could be a problem in many communities.
Some individuals, like Angela Speck, a researcher at the University of Missouri and a member of the American Astronomical Society’s Eclipse team, are reporting it could be quite crowded across the nation. Speck told Space.com that the event could, “resemble a zombie apocalypse.”
She went on to say that, “There will hopefully be less bloodshed, but zombies don’t need regular food, or sleep, or toilets.”
Which brings us back to the issue of the overcrowded cities and towns along the eclipse’s path, in which some city officials have warned residents to start getting their supplies now and avoid travel before and shortly after the event.
The Solar Eclipse is supposed to occur Monday, August 21, and it’s the first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse to occur in nearly 100 years.