Know before you go: Check statewide traffic conditions and road closures Here. Locally, Moore Street between Moss Street & Davis Drive will be closed from 12:00am-4:00pm on April 8. Davis Drive will be converted to one-way from 2:00-4:00pm.
With 3 minutes of total eclipse duration and ample prepared space for viewing, Searcy, Arkansas is the perfect place to come for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse! Conveniently located on Hwy 67/167 only 45 minutes from Little Rock, less than 2 hours from Memphis, and less than 6 hours from Nashville, Jackson, and Birmingham, Searcy is a small town that is BIG on fun. We look forward to welcoming eclipse visitors and tourists on April 8, 2024 and beyond to our charming town filled with plenty of local dining, shopping, festivals, and historical & cultural arts experiences that you’ll find featured throughout this page. We can’t wait for you to come to Searcy and “Find More Space”!
*PLEASE CALL HOTEL OR CAMPGROUND DIRECTLY IF NOT SHOWING AVAILABILITY ONLINE. MANY ARE REQUIRING DIRECT BOOKINGS.
JET INC 2556 Eastline Rd., Searcy, AR 72143 501-254-9990 Parking spots for tour buses, self-contained RVs, cars/trucks/suvs, semi trucks, ETC. Right off the highway with amenities near. Call for pricing as pricing varies.
Camping @ 129 Nita Lane in Searcy located 2 miles from downtown. 7 acres for self contained vehicles. Please call 501-593-8588 to reserve.
Local Restaurants
Restaurant Chains
Arby’s, Burger King, Captain D’s, Chik-Fil-A, Chili’s, Colton’s Steak House, Dairy Queen, Daylight Donuts, Dominos Pizza, Firehouse Subs, Freddy's Frozen Custard, Fuji Steakhouse, Hardee’s, IHOP, KFC, Little Ceasars Pizza, Loves Travel Stop (Subway), Marcos Pizza, Mazzio Pizza, McAlister’s Deli, McDonalds, Papa John’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, Popeyes, Rib Crib, Shipley Donuts, Slim Chickens, Sonic, Starbucks, 7brew, Subway, Sunrise Donuts, Taco Bell, The Healthy Hub, Tropical Smoothie Café, Waffle House, Warehouse 4, Wendy’s, Western Sizzlin Steak House, Zaxby’s. Texas Roadhouse
Boutique Shops
Shopping Malls
Antique Shops
Full list of events here.
1327-1759 Higginson St, Searcy, Arkansas 72143
2804 East Race Ave, Searcy, Arkansas 72143 501-254-0004
2609 S. Main Street, Searcy, Arkansas 72143 501-279-1080
1903 E Beebe Capps Expressway, Searcy, Arkansas 72143 Visit Website
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. People located in the center of the Moon’s shadow when it hits Earth will experience a total eclipse. The sky will darken, as if it were dawn or dusk. Weather permitting, people in the path of a total solar eclipse can see the Sun’s corona, the outer atmosphere, which is otherwise usually obscured by the bright face of the Sun. A total solar eclipse is the only type of solar eclipse where viewers can momentarily remove their eclipse glasses (which are not the same as regular sunglasses) for the brief period of time when the Moon is completely blocking the Sun. (nasa.gov)
The last total solar eclipse passed over the United States in 2017 for the first time in almost a century and was a massive travel event with millions of travelers flocking to the path of totality. The total solar eclipse in 2024 will be the first time in recorded history that Searcy has been in the path of totality and will be again at the next total solar eclipse to pass over the United States in 2045. You can view a NASA video of the 2017 eclipse here.
Just as in 2017, the sun is going to be in “solar max” cycle during the total eclipse on April 8, 2024. Solar Max is one of the most active periods in the sun’s 11-year cycle which will create rarely visible features such as solar flares during the eclipse. As seen in this simulation: Searcy Arkansas eclipse viewing information for the Great North American Eclipse of April 8, 2024 | eclipse2024.org, the eclipse in Searcy will also provide unique and sought after features such as Bailey's beads and prominences (photos of these phenomoenon and more info here).
Thanks to the Searcy Advertising & Promotion Commission, our city has 50,000 pairs of free eclipse glasses! These will be available at local restaurants, hotels, and any prepared food establishments. Schools located in Searcy will also hand out glasses to students & staff.
Searcy has lots of great areas for eclipse viewing, and we are preparing special places and experiences to do so! While the eclipse is a great reason to visit our area, we encourage you to come early and stay late to avoid the post eclipse traffic jams. Check our Eclipse Viewing Site icons on the interactive map or click on Viewing under Plan Your Trip at the top of the page for more details! Events Calendar
Local residents can expect increased traffic on streets and in businesses. Area schools will be closed and there will be plenty of fun activities planned for the whole family. Check our planned events under the Experience tab above or click here to volunteer if you’d like to get involved. Additionally, if you’re interested in renting out your home or yard/RV for camping to visitors you can email searcyeclipsecoordinator@outlook.com for more information. View a slide of helpful tips here
Searcy loves its local businesses! We have created these tip sheets on how you can prepare different business types for visitors during the eclipse. Additionally, we are hosting public meetings in person for business owners and managers with presentations from Arkansas Tourism and our Eclipse Planning Economic Impact Committee. Click here for more info on these meetings. You can also view the business preparedness tip sheets under the Resources section at the bottom of this web page.
Eye safety is VERY important when viewing a solar eclipse! You can find safe eclipse viewing information here: How to View a Solar Eclipse Safely | Solar Eclipse Across America (aas.org). Also, you may also consider keeping necessary supplies and games or other items to keep kids occupied in your car in the event of long traffic delays after the eclipse. The White County Office of Emergency Management will be coordinating with all local emergency departments in the event of an emergency and are coordinating together with safety as our #1 priority. The State of Arkansas is also coordinating all major safety & logistical department eclipse efforts on a statewide scale in order to best prepare our state for eclipse visitors & tourists to have a safe & fun viewing experience. You can find suggested preparedness kit supplies at www.ready.gov. You may sign up for White County Emergencey Alerts through the CodeRed app that will transmit regardless of cell service availability at https://accountportal.onsolve.net/whitecountyalerts (highly reccomended).
Below are some helpful resource files that will be updated periodically. For more information or questions, please email searcyeclipsecoordinator@outlook.com