Solar eclipse in Oklahoma: Where to stay to get the best view of April's solar eclipse
If you are looking for a place to stay with the best view, KOCO 5 Meteorologist Taylor Cox has a breakdown of what you need to know
If you are looking for a place to stay with the best view, KOCO 5 Meteorologist Taylor Cox has a breakdown of what you need to know
If you are looking for a place to stay with the best view, KOCO 5 Meteorologist Taylor Cox has a breakdown of what you need to know
The excitement has already begun for the total solar eclipse that will have a path of totality over Oklahoma.
| ECLIPSE 101 | Solar eclipse in Oklahoma: What to know and where to see it
If you are looking for a place to stay with the best view, KOCO 5 Meteorologist Taylor Cox has a breakdown of what you need to know.
Parts of southeastern Oklahoma will be in the narrow path of totality on April 8. If you plan to travel to the area for the eclipse, you better start now, as AirBnBs, Vrbo and cabins are already booked up.
Campgrounds are booking up fast in places like Broken Bow and Idabel. KOCO 5 spoke with a cabin management company in Broken Bow, which said they've been booked for about a year.
"They started as soon as they could booking our cabins, Dawnisa Brown, the owner of Mountain Fork Management, said. "I have made it very clear to our guests to please come early, plan on staying late to help avoid that, and make sure that you have everything you need as far as groceries and all that stuff at the cabin."
Locals encourage travelers from out of town to do their research before making the reservations because there could be different policies or occupancies during the eclipse.
"I would recommend anyone who has booked our area to call the person or the company that they booked through and confirm that it is a normal rental and they are not going to be surrounded by extra people," Brown said. "Make sure they understand what they have rented and what they are going to get."
Given the novelty of the event, the demand is high for cabins in the area. Many AirBnBs and Vrbos are booked, but people can check back frequently as some new locations are added.
Another option people can consider is camping.
"Our developed campgrounds that have the amenities that everyone likes to have, they are first come, first serve," Forest Recreation program manager Bill Jackson said.
In the Ouachita National Forest, you can stay for 14 days in a campsite, so making claims to a spot could start as early as two weeks before the eclipse.
"We are expecting a large number of folks to come in ahead, well in advance and establish their camps," Jackson said.
People also should take into consideration the location of their intended place to stay. With an influx of people, there will be an increase in traffic, making it more difficult to get groceries and gas.
Before you go, make sure you have everything prepared," Jackson said. "Make sure that you have everything that you need, personally, to take care of yourself."