Surviving the 2017 Eclipse in Salem (Eugene, McMinnville: hotels, home, live)

[landmissle]

Hi folks,

So, ashamedly, I have to admit I'm one of the folks that will be contributing to the influx of people and traffic to the Salem area due to the upcoming total solar eclipse on Aug 21st 2017. Sorry.....my only defense is I'm an astronomy nerd and I planned this over a year ago.

Just checking in to see what the general feel is regarding the eclipse, and the influx of out of state spectators with respect to traffic and such. I've already secured a place to stay over a year ago, and even then, the number of booked hotels was pretty high. Can't imagine what it would have been like recently to try to book something.

Specifically, I'll be staying in McMinnville, which is "just" inside the shadow of totality. I would like to the take 99W down to Monmouth which will be much deeper in the shadow and will enjoy more totality time (30 secs vs 2 minutes). Can any locals tell me if this sounds like a good way to go? Is 99W a heavily traveled route or might it be on Aug 21st. I'm thinking I5 will be seriously congested especially near Salem and hence want to find an alternate location and travel path.

Any feed back would be greatly appreciated.

[Metlakatla]

99W really isn't an "alternate" route to Monmouth from McMinnville-- it's the route. I-5 goes nowhere near Monmouth. I imagine traffic will be heavy throughout the entire area with people trying to get those extra few seconds of totality. ETA this is just a guess, but I think a lot of people are going to have ideas about "back roads" that won't work out as planned. If it were me, I'd test it out in the morning, and if traffic is really bad going out of McMinnville, I'd turn around and take my 30 seconds.

[5gables]

You can click on any place on this interactive map to see the eclipse duration-

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/sites/d...map/index.html

Just a few miles south of McMinnville is over a minute according to the map, so it might not be necessary to drive so far to have a decent experience.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by landmissle

Hi folks,

So, ashamedly, I have to admit I'm one of the folks that will be contributing to the influx of people and traffic to the Salem area due to the upcoming total solar eclipse on Aug 21st 2017. Sorry.....my only defense is I'm an astronomy nerd and I planned this over a year ago.

Just checking in to see what the general feel is regarding the eclipse, and the influx of out of state spectators with respect to traffic and such. I've already secured a place to stay over a year ago, and even then, the number of booked hotels was pretty high. Can't imagine what it would have been like recently to try to book something.

Specifically, I'll be staying in McMinnville, which is "just" inside the shadow of totality. I would like to the take 99W down to Monmouth which will be much deeper in the shadow and will enjoy more totality time (30 secs vs 2 minutes). Can any locals tell me if this sounds like a good way to go? Is 99W a heavily traveled route or might it be on Aug 21st. I'm thinking I5 will be seriously congested especially near Salem and hence want to find an alternate location and travel path.

Any feed back would be greatly appreciated.

99W is a narrow two lane road. It will be jammed. Leave early.

[haroldjackson]

it never got thaaat bad

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by haroldjackson

it never got thaaat bad

Actually the exodus after the eclipse certainly lived up to the predictions IMHO. Getting there was not so bad, but I spent five hours sitting in total gridlock after the eclipse. Even eight hours after the eclipse the traffic was still stop and go on I-5 through Eugene. It was that bad.

[StealthRabbit]

I need to get additional RV sites added to my TX Hill Country property for 2024. 4 minutes + of totality.

I missed 2017 Salem cuz I felt Nebraska had better odds of clear skies. (and it did!) 300+ miles of it (basically right down I-80. (handy for quick exit)

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

I need to get additional RV sites added to my TX Hill Country property for 2024. 4 minutes + of totality.

I missed 2017 Salem cuz I felt Nebraska had better odds of clear skies. (and it did!) 300+ miles of it (basically right down I-80. (handy for quick exit)

I'm kind of getting the urge to visit Texas in 2024. This being my first time viewing an eclipse, I didn't really know what to expect. I really liked some of the YouTube videos that people took of the 360 degree sunset. I didn't get much of a chance to see that, because I watched this eclipse from inside a small canyon slightly below the rim. I'm not usually a fan of flat land, but Texas could offer some nice opportunities for viewing a 360 degree sunset. I still have to think if it's worth a 5,000 mile round trip drive, though.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Cloudy Dayz

I'm kind of getting the urge to visit Texas in 2024. .... I'm not usually a fan of flat land, but Texas could offer some nice opportunities for viewing a 360 degree sunset. I still have to think if it's worth a 5,000 mile round trip drive, though.

2024 will be during Bluebonnet season (April), Hill Country is not flat, but not mtns. And plenty of ‘hills’ for 360 view. You can find $200 flights to Austin or San Antonio. That will save to some time and money (more to spend on BBQ) coolers of PNW Salmon fly free on SWA, barter for brisket to bring home to PNW.