On April 8, 2024, North America will witness a historic, awe-inspiring event: a total solar eclipse. The moon will cross in front of the sun, sending earth into temporary yet total, eerie darkness below.
Mexico will go dark first before the eclipse travels northeast through Texas and up and across the country to Maine and off the coast of Canada.
To help you find the perfect high point in the path of totality, we created the all-new 2024 North America Eclipse Map. Here’s everything you need to know about the map and how to use it to witness this rare and remarkable celestial event.
What is a total solar eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the earth, moon, and sun directly line up in a moon sandwich, sending the day into deep twilight for about 4 and a half minutes. While the sun is about 400 times bigger than the moon, the moon is about 400 times closer to Earth. As a result, when the moon crosses directly in front of the sun above us, the two appear to be about the same size and the sun disappears from view.
At first, the moon will glide in front of just a corner of the sun before slowly obscuring more and more until the entire sun is hidden entirely. This roughly four and a half minutes of total eclipse is called the totality, and it’s the only time during the eclipse when it’s safe to look up at the sun without eye protection. It’s also when the outermost part of the sun’s atmosphere, called the corona, will be visible in a glowing array to the naked eye. The entire event will take 70 to 80 minutes in any given location.
As demonstrated on our brand new North America eclipse map, only a thin band of land will experience totality. However, nearly the rest of the U.S. will experience at least some percent of the eclipse.
Non-North American friends, don’t despair! More total solar eclipses are on the horizon for other regions of the world, starting with one on August 12, 2026, that will pass over the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and Spain, followed by one on August 2, 2027, that will cover north Africa and Saudi Arabia. But the next total solar eclipse to grace the contiguous U.S. won’t be for 20 years, on August 23, 2044.
The 2024 North America Total Solar Eclipse Map
To help you best view this magnificent event, our cartography team created a special map called 2024 North America Eclipse. We sourced this data directly from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), with supplementary time zone information for Mexico and Newfoundland, Canada.
This beautiful map shows the path of totality in purple, followed on either side by violet, blue, and gray bands corresponding to the percent of sun coverage.
As you zoom out on the map, a dotted line represents the “centerline” of the eclipse path, where the moon will directly obscure the sun overhead. As you zoom in, the path of totality is represented by purple ovals that indicate exactly when the eclipse will peak on April 8. The percentage of sun coverage is noted on each other band as well.
How to Use the 2024 North America Eclipse Map
The North America Eclipse map is free to everyone with a Gaia GPS account. Here’s how to use it:
- Add the 2024 North America Eclipse Map. Add it on your big screen at gaiagps.com, or on the iOS or Android app on your phone.
- Toggle the opacity of the map to reveal the trails, roads, and mountains below.
- Pair the 2024 North America Eclipse Map with your favorite base map (optional). The default basemap layered underneath is Gaia Topo, our proprietary map designed for backcountry travel. If you’re planning on viewing the eclipse from the top of a peak or somewhere else you reach on foot, this map is probably for you. But if you’re driving to the path of totality, or offroading in the desert for crystal clear views, you can also pair the eclipse map with any other base map such as Gaia Overland or USGS Topo.
- Plan your route. Using the eclipse map and your basemap of choice underneath it, draw out your route on foot, in the car, or via bike to find a prime viewing spot. Look for high points, clearings, and places with less chance of storms. Also, keep in mind which roads may clog up with skywatcher traffic.
- Add weather maps to cross-reference your eclipse viewing spot with clear skies so you get a full showing.
- Mark your destination by dropping a waypoint on the map.
- Navigate to your destination. Download your map for offline use just in case, and find your way to your prime viewing spot using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, turn-by-turn directions in the app, or simply by referencing the route you drew.
Where are the best places to watch the eclipse?
The most dramatic show will come in the path of totality. The major cities in that path include:
- Dallas, Texas: 1:40-1:44 p.m. CDT
- Idabel, Oklahoma: 1:45-1:49 p.m. CDT
- Little Rock, Arkansas: 1:51-1:54 p.m. CDT
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri: 1:56-2:00 p.m. CDT
- Paducah, Kentucky: 2-2:02 p.m. CDT
- Carbondale, Illinois: 1:59-2:03 p.m. CDT
- Evansville, Indiana: 2:02-2:05 p.m. CDT
- Cleveland, Ohio: 3:13-3:17 p.m. EDT
- Erie, Pennsylvania: 3:16-3:20 p.m. EDT
- Buffalo, New York: 3:18-3:22 p.m. EDT
- Burlington, Vermont: 3:26-3:29 p.m. EDT
- Lancaster, New Hampshire: 3:27-3:30 p.m. EDT
- Caribou, Maine: 3:32-3:34 p.m. EDT
Based on historical weather patterns, Texas is your best bet for seeing the total solar eclipse under clear skies. If you’re looking for a peaceful viewing experience, head to the trails, side roads, hills, and mountains outside of town.
How can I watch the solar eclipse safely?
It’s only safe to look directly at the sun during totality. Staring at the sun for too long on any day can cause permanent eye damage and even blindness. So pick up a pair of paper eclipse viewers, paper glasses, a special filter for your binoculars or camera, or even special eclipse binoculars so you can soak in every moment of this magical event. You can find all of these devices easily with a quick Google search, including here.
The 2024 North America Eclipse Map is Available for Free
The 2024 North America Eclipse Map is available for free. Upgrade to Gaia GPS Premium or Outside+ to access our entire 300-plus map catalog, including our proprietary Gaia Winter and Gaia Overland maps, as well as our suite of National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps, high res satellite imagery, USGS and USFS maps, and MVUM.
You can also download maps for offline use—including the North America Eclipse map—so you can find your way, even without cell service. Plus stay safer with our suite of weather features and safety tools including air quality, wildfire maps, and slope angle shading.
