# Eclipse traffic **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 14, 2017, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650 "2017-08-14T17:51:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/81 "2017-08-16T03:17:41Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Also, don’t count on Google Maps and phone based GPS to work. > > Cellphone overload is going to be a real problem - no data, no maps. Time to dust off the old Garmin or get a paper map. Google Maps on iOS (and presumably other platforms) has an “offline map” feature that lets you download entire maps for rather large areas for offline use. GPS will continue to function with the offline maps. No cell tower needed for that. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/82 "2017-08-16T03:27:35Z")
Are there any predictions of eclipse-related airline/airport delays in the Southeast? I’ll be flying out from San Diego about 12:30pm on Saturday, with that stopover at ATL which I already mentioned. My final destination is Charleston SC. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/83 "2017-08-16T03:52:53Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > It’s worse than that … > > Starting a couple hours before the event people will be parking on shoulders and in the infield. > > Once all those spaces are full near the place somebody = anybody has chosen as “their” destination, that somebody/anybody will simply park in the outer traffic lane. Soon more cars will park in the same fashion and within a few minutes the interstate is reduced to one lane each way with zero shoulders and clogged on/offramps. > > Not too long after the outside lane is mostly clotted somebody else will park on the inner lane. Now you have a linear parking lot 5 to 10 cars wide and umpteen miles long growing in length at a decent clip. > > Neither police nor fire nor EMS will be able to move from wherever they’re sitting when the [del]traffic[/del] cars clot solid. > > It will be epic. Epic fail. Are you aware that the totality zone is about 75 miles wide? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/84 "2017-08-16T03:55:23Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Also, don’t count on Google Maps and phone based GPS to work. > > Cellphone overload is going to be a real problem - no data, no maps. Time to dust off the old Garmin or get a paper map. I printed totality maps off the NASA website, and I don’t use GPS anyway. Last night, I got out an old, battered road atlas and marked the totality zones over a wide swath; where I end up going depends, like I said earlier, on the weather forecast. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/85 "2017-08-16T04:20:09Z")
> [@Pasta](#): > > Google Maps on iOS (and presumably other platforms) has an “offline map” feature that lets you download entire maps for rather large areas for offline use. GPS will continue to function with the offline maps. No cell tower needed for that. Sure, as long as you plan for it. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/86 "2017-08-16T06:23:57Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Well, I hope for all of you who ARE making the effort that this is true. And that you have perfect viewing conditions and not-too-awful traffic jams. > > It’s way too late for me to make plans at this point, and it would have been a real challenge anyway for other reasons, so I’ll stick to my plan of virtual participation. We’ve waited almost 40 years for a total eclipse in the contiguous USA … but the next after this is in 2024 … and that one will be better (longer duration) … do put it on your bucket list … > [@TroutMan](#): > > The weather people are just toying with us. Yesterday, the forecast for Corvallis on Monday was full sun. This morning, the forecast was for overcasts skies. Now it’s back to full sun. I expect them to yank my chain several more times between now and the weekend. Phaw … too soon to tell … Oregon weather forecasts don’t have any reliability over 72 hours out … so check on Friday morning for anything even closely resembling accuracy … that said, the NWS is expecting a long wave ridge on Monday, but timing is still uncertain … but we knew years ago that Western Oregon most certainly could have cloudy mornings on any given Aug 21st … yeesh … this morning was definitely Fall weather in every way … 43ºF here on the Swale … > [@](#): > > That said, there does seem a notable trend towards > at least somewhat favorable eclipse viewing conditions. The key area > of lower confidence at this point is just how thick and widespread > any morning clouds will be. Confidence will hopefully increase in the > next several days, and with all eyes focused on Monday`s eclipse, > continue to monitor the latest forecast with the expectation that > some changes will be made as the forecast is refined over the coming > days. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/87 "2017-08-16T12:31:16Z")
> [@Pasta](#): > > Google Maps on iOS (and presumably other platforms) has an “offline map” feature that lets you download entire maps for rather large areas for offline use. GPS will continue to function with the offline maps. No cell tower needed for that. I was going to mention this (which I’ll be doing). The problem is that these maps take up a lot of space which your phone might not have. It’s best if you save the data on the phone’s real external storage,. For some versions of Android\* that might require rooting to map the fake external (really internal) storage to the actual microSD card. - The multi-version issues with stuff like this also makes Googling the how-tos difficult at times. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/88 "2017-08-16T13:43:24Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Are you aware that the totality zone is about 75 miles wide? Yes I am. I’m also aware that the duration of totality is a steep bell-shaped curve based on how close to the centerline you are. At the outer limits of the 75 miles you’ll have a couple seconds of totality. At the center you’ll have a couple of minutes. \*Big \*difference. The vast majority of the other umpteen million people driving to see this thing know that too. The few miles of the few roads closest to the eclipse centerline will be THE place the vast majority of those folks want to be. And once that small area on any given road / highway clots, you’ll simply have the clog growing in both directions from there. As to the various comments about cell service, downloadable maps, etc. Many of the various map apps have downloadable offline maps as folks have said. But … which maps do not have the eclipse path included. Certainly people can plan ahead and download jpgs or whatever of the area they hope to get to with the path already superimposed. But once things start to clog up and folks decide they need to replan where they’re going many of them will struggle. Gonna be fun to watch that show. I’ll have to settle for 80% here at home. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/89 "2017-08-16T17:03:52Z")
The well has already run dry. Confirmed reports gas stations in parts of Oregon are out of fuel. No guarantees that stations will be refilled anytime soon. I’m hearing this via wildland fire fighters (who have their own fuel supply on fires but may not have fuel if their tours are up and being rotated back to home base). ---
**Author:** ![Khendrask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/90 "2017-08-17T11:46:10Z")
Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about the traffic. My house in SC is on Lake Marion, and just about 4 miles north of the center of the path of totality. \*\*\* Damn… That is rubbing it in to some folk, sorry bout that. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/91 "2017-08-17T12:43:42Z")
And I just checked the 2024 map, and it turns out that Cleveland is in the path for that one. I was thinking that I needed to start making my plans for that one as soon as this one is over… OK, done. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/92 "2017-08-17T14:16:31Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > I think most of the predictions about traffic and such are overblown hype. We get this everytime a potential disaster faces us (reference Y2K, for example). In actuality, what happens is no where nearly so gruesome. Still remains to be seen, but preliminary results are indicating issues. As **Duckster** said, there are already some gas shortages in central and eastern Oregon. Yesterday, roads to Prineville were [completely jammed](http://www.oregonlive.com/eclipse/2017/08/eclipse_traffic_clogs_gas_stations_roads_central_oregon.html) with early arrivals to a festival that starts today. This festival is expected to attract 30,000 people over its five days. The town of Madras alone (pop 6500) expects 100K, and is along the same roads as Prineville. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/93 "2017-08-17T14:35:22Z")
Folks running out of fuel or breaking down are a problem in any mass movement of vehicles. We deal with this every time there’s a hurricane threat. It only takes one car crapping out every 5 miles to slow a multi-lane freeway from 80 mph to a crawl. And once everybody is crawling, folks get impatient, do dumb maneuvers on the shoulder and collide, or start overheating. Which creates more blockages. Gas mileage truly sucks in traffic jams, so pretty soon people discover their range wasn’t what they thought it was. Bottom line, this is an exponential feedback process. The fact we’ve seen only the smallest hints of widely dispersed issues so far is par for the course. But it also has very little predictive power for the end game. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/94 "2017-08-17T14:42:20Z")
Sorry, late add: The final factor is that the quality of any given eclipse viewers’ preparation is probably proportional to how early they get there. All the thoughtful folks with well-founded self-sufficient resilient plans are moving into place now or are already there. But consider all the folks who first learn about it this weekend or who’ve been thinking “meh”, but wake up Monday with a newfound resolve to drive the e.g. 180 miles = they think 3 hours to totality. All those utterly unprepared folks will come surging out towards ruralia with fairly predictable outcomes. The “low-information driver” works about as well as the “low information voter”. And they’re equally decisive in their millions. Quantity has a quality all its own. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/95 "2017-08-17T15:42:38Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Well, I hope for all of you who ARE making the effort that this is true. And that you have perfect viewing conditions and not-too-awful traffic jams. It absolutely is true. It’s a surreal, beautiful experience when you see that blazing corona in the sky. You only get that with 100% totality. It really is a “holy shit!” Moment. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/96 "2017-08-17T15:53:20Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The final factor is that the quality of any given eclipse viewers’ preparation is probably proportional to how early they get there. All the thoughtful folks with well-founded self-sufficient resilient plans are moving into place now or are already there. You might be giving the people involved in the traffic jam yesterday too much credit. The Symbiosis Festival attracts the type of people who might be a little more care-free and non-planning. 🙂 I think this is a good indication of what to expect. Oregon roads are not built for the volume that is already happening. As you say, it doesn’t take many incidents for traffic to clog completely. And for those thinking they’ll take the back roads: that [doesn’t always](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Kim#Snowbound) [work out](https://www.today.com/news/time-was-running-out-woman-lost-woods-wbna21321788) [so well](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/14/sheriff-stranded-oregon-man-starved-froze-death.html) [in Oregon](http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/09/nevada.missing.couple/index.html). Google Maps and Waze are wildly inaccurate with BLM roads, even if you remember to download the maps before you’re out of range or cell service is overwhelmed. And with a two- or one-lane road, all it takes is one incident to halt traffic completely. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/97 "2017-08-17T15:58:09Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > You might be giving the people involved in the traffic jam yesterday too much credit. The Symbiosis Festival attracts the type of people who might be a little more care-free and non-planning. 🙂 > > I think this is a good indication of what to expect. Oregon roads are not built for the volume that is already happening. As you say, it doesn’t take many incidents for traffic to clog completely. > > And for those thinking they’ll take the back roads: that [doesn’t always](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Kim#Snowbound) [work out](https://www.today.com/news/time-was-running-out-woman-lost-woods-wbna21321788) [so well](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/14/sheriff-stranded-oregon-man-starved-froze-death.html) [in Oregon](http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/09/nevada.missing.couple/index.html). Google Maps and Waze are wildly inaccurate with BLM roads, even if you remember to download the maps before you’re out of range or cell service is overwhelmed. And with a two- or one-lane road, all it takes is one incident to halt traffic completely. Many of the BLM and other private roads are already closed due to the very real fire danger. Every single one in my area is already closed and “no camping” signs have been posted for several days. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/98 "2017-08-17T16:01:36Z")
I checked this morning to see if the Amtrak Coast Starlight train would be be a way to sneak into central Oregon from CA. No dice - all the trains are sold-out. Probably have been for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/99 "2017-08-17T16:40:36Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > You might be giving the people involved in the traffic jam yesterday too much credit. The Symbiosis Festival attracts the type of people who might be a little more care-free and non-planning. 🙂 > > I think this is a good indication of what to expect. Oregon roads are not built for the volume that is already happening. As you say, it doesn’t take many incidents for traffic to clog completely. > > And for those thinking they’ll take the back roads: that [doesn’t always](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Kim#Snowbound) [work out](https://www.today.com/news/time-was-running-out-woman-lost-woods-wbna21321788) [so well](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/14/sheriff-stranded-oregon-man-starved-froze-death.html) [in Oregon](http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/09/nevada.missing.couple/index.html). Google Maps and Waze are wildly inaccurate with BLM roads, even if you remember to download the maps before you’re out of range or cell service is overwhelmed. And with a two- or one-lane road, all it takes is one incident to halt traffic completely. > [@Aspenglow](#): > > Many of the BLM and other private roads are already closed due to the very real fire danger. Every single one in my area is already closed and “no camping” signs have been posted for several days. Just got off the phone with folks on fires in Oregon. Central Oregon eclipse viewing does not look good. The major Whitewater Fire on Mt. Jefferson (smack dab in the middle of totality) is burning hot and heavy throwing up smoke. That alone should blanket much of the prime viewing across much of Central Oregon. When you add up other fires north, south and east, totality should be much darker than anticipated. They have closed roads all over the place because of fire, potential fire, and just because. Only time will tell if the weather changes by Monday. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650/100 "2017-08-17T16:57:25Z")
> [@Khendrask](#): > > Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about the traffic. My house in SC is on Lake Marion, and just about 4 miles north of the center of the path of totality. > \*\*\* Damn… That is rubbing it in to some folk, sorry bout that. My hotel reservations are in Summerville but I can stop by the Lake for the eclipse. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eclipse-traffic/793650.md?page=6)