Discover 11 Spectacular Spots in Indiana to View the 2024 Eclipse

On April 8, the Great North American Eclipse will carve a line from Mexico to the Midwest to Canada, treating those within the 115-mile path of the totality to four minutes of darkness in the middle of the day. Seeing the sun’s corona hanging in an otherwise nighttime sky, watching (and feeling!) the sun gradually disappear – it’s an experience you won’t forget and one well worth traveling for. With the path of totality crossing a giant chunk of the state, Indiana is one of the best places to make your eclipse plans.

If you’re looking to travel to the Hoosier State, we’ve found 11 places to spend the afternoon watching the eclipse or the entire weekend exploring.

Southern Indiana

Take your pick of star-studded events and eclipse festivals in vibrant cities or a small resort town

1. Bloomington

A star-studded celestial celebration

There are few cultural figures more associated with outer space than Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner. So what better way to experience the Great North American Eclipse than to travel to Bloomington, Indiana, where Shatner will perform spoken word poetry during the eclipse totality?

Shatner will be just one part of Indiana University’s Hoosier Cosmic Celebration. Held at Memorial Stadium on campus and open to the public, the event will also include a concert from Janelle Monáe and a presentation from Mae Jemison, the first American woman of color to go to space.

The eclipse passes right over town, with a whopping 4 minutes and 3 seconds of darkness beginning at 3:04pm (the partial eclipse begins in Bloomington at 1:49pm). And it’s not just Indiana University: organized eclipse events in Bloomington abound. The WonderLab Museum, Bloomington’s science museum, is putting on a Solar Eclipse Street Party with educational components and free, family-friendly activities. Bloomington Parks & Recreation, a local pumpkin patch, a drive-in theater, multiple wineries, and several nearby lakes are also organizing eclipse viewing parties. You can find a full list of events here.

Bloomington is a city full of youthful energy and things to do, making it the perfect place to head if you want to spend the weekend in a fun location before Monday afternoon’s eclipse. If you do, make sure to check out the University’s Brain Statue, the world’s largest anatomically accurate sculpture of a human brain.

2. Orange County

Mineral springs and an eclipse cruise

Orange County offers the chance to see the eclipse in a more natural, relaxing environment.

The towns of West Baden and French Lick are ideal locations, with 3 minutes and 55 seconds of totality. (Built around natural mineral springs, the West Baden Springs Hotel offers lodging and the chance to see the historic resort, an architectural marvel.)

To ensure that everyone can safely view the eclipse, the West Baden Visitor Center will give out free safety glasses and bottled water. The entire weekend preceding the eclipse will be a celebration, with music, food trucks, and more at local establishments; a full list of events can be found here.

Another option in Orange County, just south of West Baden, is the Patoka Lake Marina & Winery. The marina is hosting a Solar Eclipse Boat Tour, with a cash bar on board for $75 a person.

3. Vincennes

Maximum totality

At 4 minutes and 5 seconds, Vincennes has the longest totality period in Indiana. (That’s nearly a minute and a half longer than the longest totality anywhere during 2017’s eclipse!) The total eclipse will begin around 3:02pm on April 8th, but the celebrations have already started: artist Harry Dean has created eclipse-inspired sculptures on view in Vincennes’ Fox River Nature Park. On the day of, events include “a transformative outdoor spa experience” and a “Dog Side Of The Moon” pet adoption event. More information can be found here.

4. Evansville

River walks and a Solarpalooza

The city of Evansville, just across the Ohio River from Kentucky, is well worth exploring and a great place to spend the eclipse weekend. You can catch a hockey match or concert at The Ford Center or wander downtown Evansville, full of stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues (and average temperatures in the mid-60s in early April). Don’t miss a visit to Bosse Field, the third-oldest baseball stadium in the United States (after only Fenway and Wrigley Field) and a filming location in A League Of Their Own.

On the day of the eclipse, the University of Southern Indiana is throwing a Solarpalooza with scientific presentations, hands-on exhibits, and workshops. Dozens of other events will be happening around Evansville; a list can be found here. Make note: since Evansville is in the Central Time Zone, the total eclipse will begin at 2:02 PM. The totality will last 3 minutes, 2 seconds.

Central Indiana

Spend four days or four hours celebrating the 2024 eclipse.

5. Indianapolis

The official NASA experience

One of only three official NASA eclipse broadcast sites in the country will be located in Indianapolis at a blockbuster event happening at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Presented by Purdue University, the event will include complimentary safety glasses with ticket purchase and a variety of eclipse merch for sale. Various speakers will talk about the eclipse, including retired astronaut and Purdue grad Drew Feustel. A STEM symposium will offer presentations for families and more professional programming as well. And since it’s located at the Motor Speedway, the NASA TV broadcast of the event will start with some demonstration laps in a racing Chevrolet.

Indianapolis is one of the premiere cities in the Midwest, home to world-class restaurants and shopping, so it’s worth getting to town early to explore. If you do decide to make a weekend of it, be sure to check out the (on theme!) Indianapolis Moon Tree, a Sycamore tree grown from a seed taken to the moon by Apollo XIV.

6. Festival Country

Take your pick of eclipse parties

They call it Festival Country for a reason! Dozens of eclipse events are happening in this part of Indiana on April 8th — way too many to list, but they can all be found here. And since it’s right in the path of the eclipse, the area will experience more than 4 minutes of totality, starting around 3:05pm. Free eclipse glasses are available at the Festival Country Indiana Visitor Center in Franklin.

Here are a few options for spending your eclipse day: Franklin, Indiana is planning an event with live music, food trucks, and even a hot air balloon. If you’re so inspired, the town is also organizing a Run for the Sun 5K race on the morning of Saturday April 6th. Patches Flower Farm is hosting an eclipse viewing as well as a Grateful Dead tribute band on Sunday evening. Even an airport is celebrating: the Indy South Greenwood Airport will offer music, food trucks, and airplanes on display.

7. Richmond

Four days of jam-packed celebrations

This mid-sized city near the Ohio border is going all out for the eclipse, with a four-day Eclipse And More 2024 Celebration. Zip lining, dancing LED robots, fireworks, bounce houses, food vendors, live music, and much more will be on offer in the lead-up to the eclipse, all held at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. Elsewhere in the city, Show ‘N’ Tell Ceramics will also offer painting classes in the lead-up to April 8th, helping you capture the experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

On the day of the eclipse, viewing events will be held across Richmond; see them here. Some highlights include a street fair in Richmond’s Historic Depot District, a day of programming and activities at the Cope Environmental Center, and an Eclipse Event, including planetarium shows at the Joseph Moore Museum. The city will experience 3 minutes, 48.8 seconds of totality.

(And don’t leave town without checking out the Gennett Walk of Fame!)

8. Terre Haute

Eclipse bash on the Wabash

Terre Haute, which will experience 2 min 53 seconds of totality, offers numerous eclipse-watching events throughout downtown and across the city’s parks.

The Terre Haute Children’s Museum will host a viewing party, and the Griffin Bike Park invites you to “bike through it” with a Daytime Night Ride. If you’re looking to spend the eclipse outdoors, the Sycamore Winery is inviting the public onto their 60-acre property to watch the skies, eat food from food trucks, drink eclipse-themed drinks, and even do yoga on the morning of. In the lead-up to Monday’s eclipse, the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra will perform a celestial-themed program on Saturday, April 6th.

More information about viewing the eclipse in Terre Haute can be found here. If you have time, be sure to walk the Smith Memorial Labyrinth, which is patterned after a labyrinth in Chartres, France.

9. Kokomo

A no-fuss, family-friendly viewing experience

Kokomo is on the edge of the path of totality, meaning it will experience 40 seconds of total solar eclipse. That also means it will likely be less deluged with visitors than other parts of Indiana, making it the perfect town to drive to, experience the eclipse, explore the city, and then leave without the headaches of traffic.

One great option for watching the eclipse in Kokomo is in Jackson Morrow Park, at an event sponsored by the Parks & Recreation Department. This family-friendly event will include a bounce house, eclipse crafts and activities, and yard games, with eclipse glasses and snacks available. The park itself includes an accessible walking trail that is great for spring wildflower viewing. Also hosting a child-friendly eclipse viewing event is the Kokomo Municipal Stadium, which will provide food trucks outside the stadium and games on the field and concourse.

While you’re in Kokomo, swing over to the Seiberling Mansion, an elaborate Victorian mansion now home to the Howard County Historical Museum.

Northern Indiana

Easy access and local oddities make this a prime eclipse location.

10. Berne

A little bit of Switzerland in Indiana

Just about the last thing you’d expect to find in Northern Indiana is a small Swiss town, but that’s exactly what you’ll find in Berne. Founded in 1852 by Swiss Mennonite immigrants, it has maintained a Swiss identity to this day. And since it’s in the path of the eclipse, it will experience 3 minutes and 15 seconds of totality on April 8th. You can view the eclipse underneath the imposing Muensterberg Plaza Clock Tower and stay in a 100+ year old restored home.

11. Huntington County

All the majesty of the eclipse with none of the traffic

Located just off multiple major roadways, Huntington County is the perfect place to dip into for the event and to dip out of without the hassles of road delays and crowding. If you’re looking to share the experience, check out the “Total Eclipse of the Park” event in the town of Markle’s Fish and Game Club Park. Just off the highway, the event will include acoustic music, a food truck, and — always important — access to restrooms.

Nearby Warren, Indiana is hosting its event at Riverside Park and at Heritage Pointe of Warren, the latter of which is giving away not only eclipse glasses but also free ice cream.

While you’re in the area, make sure to swing by the Huntington Sunken Gardens, a former quarry transformed into a charming garden.