AUSTIN, Texas — It’s just a few days out from Monday’s total solar eclipse, and already, people are flying into Austin to see it. Texas is one of the 13 states in the path of totality during the eclipse, attracting people from all across the country.
"My daughter-in-law lives in Corning, New York, and had this idea last fall to come down here," said Barbara Wetmore from North Carolina. "That we were all going to convene in Texas to watch the eclipse."
Wetmore and her family planned this trip months in advance when her daughter-in-law said after seeing one herself, they should all see a total solar eclipse.
“She wants us to experience it," Wetmore said. "So that's what we're all doing this trip to Texas to try to experience it."
For Ashley Savoie and her husband Ben Fox, who are coming from Canada, this is their honeymoon trip. They are also going to the Texas Eclipse Festival, a large music festival in Burnet during the eclipse.
"We love electronic music, we like dancing, we like space. This sounds like the perfect combination of everything we like,” Fox said.
Others use the eclipse as an excuse to plan trips with their friends. Samantha Barker and Christie Christian traveled to eclipses with their other 15 friends every time they happened. This total solar eclipse landed them in Central Texas.
“It’s supposed to be a pretty great place to view it, and it’s a fun city,” Christian said. “Austin is fun. Austin has things to do.”
While the airport was already seeing an influx of eclipse fans on Friday, they say their rental car returns are also busier than normal. They said it’s double what they see during the U.S. Grand Prix in the fall, where people come from all around the world to watch Formula 1.
Officials say to get to the airport earlier than the recommended 2.5 hours, so there’s enough time to return a rental car.