Indy emerges as top eclipse hot spot
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
As the April 8 total eclipse draws near, Indianapolis has become a hot spot for travelers looking to bask in 268 seconds of temporary darkness.
Why it matters: The total eclipse will be visible in 13 states and a partial in all others except Alaska and Hawaii.
- The next time we'll be in the path of totality is the year 2153.
Driving the news: According to Airbnb data, Indianapolis is its most-booked destination across all of North America for the solar eclipse.
- Earlier this year, Airbnb dubbed Indianapolis a top trending destination for 2024 travel, and the solar eclipse is now skyrocketing demand.
The big picture: The company says there is also increased interest across the entire state, with a more than 2,000% surge in searches on the platform for the solar eclipse weekend.
- Most of the people traveling to Indy for the eclipse are coming from Chicago, Louisville and Madison, Wisconsin.
- As of March 1, more than 45% of Airbnb listings were still available to book in Indianapolis.
Zoom out: Airbnb data states that there is a 1,000% boost in searches for stays along the solar eclipse path of totality in the U.S.
- Airbnb listings outnumber hotels by more than 15 times along the path of totality across North America as backyards and private spaces are helping drive demand.
What's next: The eclipse will kick off what Airbnb expects to be a strong outdoor travel season for Indianapolis and other trending destinations in spring 2024.
- New data shows a 40% increase in searches for outdoor category listings such as yurts, campers and camping stays, per Airbnb.