I have eclipse envy. I live in Los Angeles, and yesterday we only got a puny quarter eclipse—kind of cool, but far from the totality experience. I’m extremely jealous of my friends and family who got to witness the shadow of the moon fully swallow the sun, so I’ve vowed to see the next one. If you’re in the same boat, I have good news and bad news. The good news: You won't have to wait too long to see a total solar eclipse. The bad news: it’s going to take some traveling.
The next total solar eclipse that will be visible in the United States will occur on March 30, 2033, but it’s only going to be visible in remote parts of Alaska, from Utqiagvik to Nome. So basically, you've got a long wait for a likely inconveniently located eclipse, but it'll perfect if you're a rugged person who doesn't mind sparse infrastructure.
If an adventure-trip to America’s frozen tundra isn’t your idea of fun, you’ll have to be patient: the next total solar eclipse that will be visible in the lower 48 won’t happen until August 22, 2044. The totality will be visible in three states: Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Twenty years is plenty of time to save up for a trip to Sioux Falls, but if you can wait another year, there will be a more convenient American eclipse. August 12, 2045 is the date of the next "great American eclipse," when the path of totality cuts across the majority of the the country, from northern California to Florida. This eclipse has the advantage of taking place in August, when there is likely to be less cloud coverage.
Seeing a partial eclipse is relatively easy: There are at least two solar eclipses per year somewhere on the Earth. The next partial eclipse that will be visible in the United States will take place on March 29, 2025, and will be visible in the far northeastern part of the United States, so hit up Maine’s tourism board if you’re interested.
If you’re more into lunar eclipses than solar ones, 2025 will be a big year: On March 13–14, you’ll be able to witness a total lunar eclipse, where earth’s shadow will block out the moon, everywhere in the lower 48 states, all of Hawaii, and parts of Alaska too. While not as spectacular as a total solar eclipse, this lunar eclipse won’t require travel, and you won’t have to wear those dorky glasses.
If you’re willing to travel, you’ll only have to wait until August 12, 2026 to see a total solar eclipse. It will be visible in Greenland, Iceland, Russia, and some of Portugal, but the best total eclipse viewing spot for 2026's event, in my opinion, is Spain. The Spanish Mediterranean Coast is a much more fun to visit than Utqiagvik, Alaska, and the path of totality will cut from Barcelona to Madrid and on to the Balearic Islands. Book your ticket and accommodations for this totality experience early; it’s likely to get crowded.
Here's another dream eclipse destination: Egypt in 2027. The path of totality of the eclipse on August 2, 2027 will be visible at the site of the great pyramids and will last for more than six minutes. If you're interested in dramatic eclipse photography, consider this the trip of a lifetime.
