After witnessing the solar eclipse in cities and towns along the path of totality, drivers returning home on Monday described enduring some of the worst traffic jams they had ever experienced. Many found themselves stuck on the roads all night and well into Tuesday morning.
The influx of tourists in the path of the eclipse set new records for many cities and towns, leading to an economic boost for states from Texas to Vermont. While visitors arrived gradually over the weekend leading up to the event, a large number departed simultaneously after the eclipse ended on Monday afternoon, causing congestion on highways and local roads.
Reports from the Vermont Agency of Transportation indicated heavy traffic on I-89, connecting Burlington to Boston, and on I-91 in the state on Monday afternoon. Richard Chen from the venture fund 1confirmation shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) that it was the "worst traffic" he had ever seen while visiting northern Vermont for the eclipse. Despite the challenges, he noted that the experience was "totally worth it."
Along I-75 near Dixie Highway around Perrysburg, Ohio, motorists were stuck in miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic, as reported by a local media outlet.
Michigan residents who had traveled to Ohio to witness the eclipse described their return journeys as taking twice as long as expected, according to WTOL 11.
The Maine Department of Transportation disclosed that the state experienced ten times the normal volume of traffic in its western and southern regions on Monday evening, as stated by Fox23 Maine. The majority of eclipse spectators left around the same time on Monday, despite arriving at different times prior to the event, according to The Maine Turnpike Authority.
The Maine DOT had previously recommended that visitors arrive early and depart late to avoid road congestion.
On TikTok, user @schoolhousecaulk shared his experience of anticipating heavy traffic in Vermont and deeming it "worth it," despite driving 150 miles overnight at a slow pace.
He mentioned that at 5:30 in the morning, he finally arrived at his home in New York City after a 13-hour drive covering 370 miles.
