National Eclipse

ECLIPSE OVERVIEW

The centerline of the eclipse enters Ohio at approximately 1:53pm EDT, with totality beginning in that location at about 3:08pm EDT.

Much like its trip through Indiana, the eclipse paints a bullseye on several large cities in Ohio. At the same time, it comes excruciatingly close but misses a couple of others. Dayton is one of the lucky cities, located off the eastern edge of the eclipse path about a third of the way to the centerline. In downtown Dayton, totality will last for about 2 minutes and 43 seconds, longer than the maximum duration anywhere during the historic 2017 eclipse but considered merely respectable for our 4-minute-plus eclipse of 2024. South of Dayton, the path of totality barely misses Cincinnati. Unfortunate, yes, but especially so, considering the fact that a total solar eclipse hasn't occurred in what constitutes present-day Cincinnati since the year 1395 (and there won't be another one for at least 1,000 years). It's a quick and easy trek into the eclipse path, however, and eclipse fans can use Cincinnati as a convenient home base with plenty of lodging. From Cincinnati, Interstate 74 meets up with the centerline in Indiana and Interstate 75 runs through Dayton and connects with the centerline in Ohio.

Toledo is situated right along the western limit of the eclipse path, resulting in rather modest durations of totality for this Lake Erie city. In downtown Toledo, totality will last for about 1 minute and 53 seconds, with durations decreasing quickly as you go north and west and with a small area of northwestern Toledo outside the path. For longer durations, Toledoans can drive south on I-75, which eventually connects with the centerline. Above Toledo, in Michigan, Detroit is about an hour away from totality and can make a good base of operations for eclipse chasers. I-75 will get you to the path and all the way to the centerline (Detroiters can also reach totality by crossing into Canada and driving to the northern shores of Lake Erie). On the other side of the eclipse path, Columbus, Ohio's capital and largest city, is perched right on the edge of the path. Although some areas in the northwestern part of the city are inside the path of totality, most of Columbus will experience a partial solar eclipse only. But its wealth of lodging options and its extremely close proximity to the path will make the city a great basecamp for expeditions into the totality zone.

About halfway through the state, the western line of the eclipse path hops out of the U.S. and into Canada, not to re-enter again until Maine. This is also when the centerline and the western side of the eclipse path head out into Lake Erie. Unfortunately, it won't be July or August, but you can bet that plenty of boaters will be out on the lake to witness the show from the water. In fact, somewhat surprisingly, meteorologists think the frigid waters of Lake Erie (and, farther along the path, Lake Ontario) in early April might actually inhibit the formation of clouds over the lake. Although an eclipse viewing on the water might be a chilly experience, it might also offer better weather prospects than locations farther inland.

Cleveland is very close to the eclipse centerline, which is over water at this point, and the lucky citizens of this lakeside city can expect very generous durations of totality on April 8. In downtown Cleveland, totality will last for about 3 minutes and 49 seconds. With such a long duration of darkness and with plenty of lakeside viewing spots, Cleveland will certainly be rocking on April 8, 2024. Interstate 90 parallels the centerline from Cleveland all the way to the Pennsylvania border. West of Cleveland, I-90 crosses the centerline as it curves around the lake and heads to Toledo. South of Cleveland, it will be a "Goodyear" in the Rubber Capital of the World when the eclipse comes to Akron, with totality clocking in at around 2 minutes and 46 seconds in the downtown district. And about halfway between Cleveland and Akron is Cuyahoga Valley National Park, one of only two U.S. national parks located along the 2024 path of totality.

The centerline of the eclipse exits the state over Lake Erie at approximately 4:30pm EDT, with totality coming to an end in that location at about 3:19pm EDT. From the Indiana-Ohio border to the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, the Moon's shadow travels approximately 263 miles along the centerline in 7 minutes and 28 seconds at an average speed of 2,110 miles per hour.