The Great North American Eclipse on April 8, 2024 is a highly anticipated event. And Arkansas is in a top-notch location to experience it. The path of totality is set to make a large appearance in the state, stretching from the southwest corner of Arkansas to the northeast point. Overall, 53 of the state's 75 counties are in this path, including cities like Little Rock, Hot Springs, Texarkana, Conway, and Jonesboro. The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism is primed and prepared for the expected record number of visitors to the state.
"We look forward to welcoming everyone to Arkansas for this historic event," said Shea Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism and director of Arkansas State Parks. "The Great North American Eclipse will be a memorable occasion for many and a chance to experience the beauty of The Natural State. Our parks and heritage locations will be fully staffed and ready to handle any safety issues."
Among the key tips for experiencing the eclipse in Arkansas is to arrive early and stay late to avoid traffic delays.
Thirteen Arkansas Welcome Centers can be found at various entry points to Arkansas. These centers will have resources available for the traveling public to help ensure safety and a memorable experience for visitors. More details on Arkansas Welcome Centers can be found at arkansas.com/arkansas-welcome-centers.
Arkansas.com/eclipse is a go-to resource for eclipse information. Here you can find details about the eclipse as well as links to traffic, weather, safety, eclipse events and lodging resources.
Arkansas' state parks, heritage sites and tourism attractions have a variety of entertaining and educational activities to take part in over eclipse weekend. Arkansas has 52 state parks and 26 state park locations are in the path of totality. For more details on experiencing the eclipse in an Arkansas State Park and information like safety tips and eclipse times, visit arkansasstateparks.com/eclipse. Please note that entry to Arkansas State Parks will be on a first-come basis and when the park is full, further entry may not be available. Maps with details on the estimated number of day-use vehicles permitted at each park location are available at arkansasstateparks.com/articles/parkseclipsemaps.
Details on events at Arkansas State Parks can be found at arkansasstateparks.com/events. Venues highlighting the state's heritage, including the Old State House Museum, Historic Arkansas Museum and Mosaic Templars Cultural Center in Little Rock will be open during the eclipse and some will also have special eclipse programming and events leading up to that day too. More details can be found at arkansasheritage.com.
The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism is ready for the Great North American Eclipse and this exciting time in history for the nation and Arkansas.
###
Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism
The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism protects and promotes our state's natural, cultural and historic assets, contributing to a thriving economy and high quality of life. It is made up of three divisions: Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Heritage and Arkansas Tourism.