Plan Ahead Travel Tips For April 8th Solar Eclipse

We are less than a week away from the very anticipated Total Solar Eclipse. It promises to be a wonderful experience, but it is crucial to stay safe if you must travel that day. Ensure your travel safety before, during and after the eclipse by checking traffic conditions and following the travel tips listed. This way you’re prepared to travel so you can view the eclipse and have a memorable experience! 

• Have A Full Tank of Gas: Whether you’re heading to the path of totality for a once-in-a lifetime experience or staying close by, it's important that you keep your gas tank full! We recommend filling up as often and as early as possible – sticking with at least a half of a tank of gas is usually safest. Please DO NOT carry extra gasoline in your vehicle, as gasoline is highly combustible. 
• Drinking Water/Food: Pack plenty of snacks and water in case you are stuck on the side of the road or in traffic. 
 • Eclipse Glasses/viewer Remember you must protect your eyes so make sure you have your solar eclipse glasses or a viewer to safely view the eclipse. They must meet a very specific worldwide standard known as ISO 12312-2. 
 • Vehicle Check Before you embark on your eclipse road trip, make sure your car is in great shape. To give yourself peace of mind during your travels, have the experts check out everything under the hood and top off all necessary fluids to ensure your car is safe! Don’t forget the jumper cables and a spare tire.
• Mobile Phone and Car Charger: Spotty cell coverage and GPS navigation apps can drain a phone’s battery quickly – be sure you’ve got a charger to ensure you’ll always be in-the-know! A portable battery pack is a great backup to ensure you stay fully charged. 
• Physical/Paper Map: Don't let a potential cell network overload ruin your eclipse experience! Be sure to prepare for any possible phone coverage outages by bringing an atlas or large state road map along with you. This will provide helpful guidance around alternative routes and put your mind at ease during the event. 
• Have Cash : It’s always important to carry physical cash on hand, as you might need to fuel up or buy supplies somewhere that doesn’t accept credit cards, or can’t because of an outage. 
• Extra Medication: It's always a good idea to plan ahead for your medication needs when you travel. Be sure to bring enough of each prescription, plus an extra supply just in case. 
• Emergency Kit: Assemble an emergency kit that includes a first-aid kit, a basic tool kit and a flashlight and batteries. If possible, it is a good idea to have emergency flares or reflectors in case your vehicle breaks down on the side of the road. These will make sure that other drivers can see you if you are dealing with a flat tire or other car maintenance.