Total Eclipse 2017 In Tennessee: Which State Parks Will Be Best For Viewing?

NASHVILLE, TN — August 21 will mark the first total solar eclipse visible from coast to coast in the United States since 1918 and the first total eclipse visible anywhere in the continental United States since 1979 and Tennessee is a prime spot.

Along with Kentucky, much of Tennessee will experience longer periods of totality than anywhere else in the country, with parts of the Volunteer State shrouded in eerie total midday darkness for nearly three minutes, marking the first total eclipse in this area in nearly 500 years.

With that in mind, Tennessee State Parks are planning special events, particularly at the 20 parks that fall within or near the path of totality and parks officials are encouraging people to book cabins, campgrounds, RV spots and inn rooms now to beat the rush.

The 20 parks are listed below or check out Patch's map:

• Bicentennial Capitol Mall
• Bledsoe Creek
• Burgess Falls
• Cedars of Lebanon
• Cumberland Mountain
• Cummins Falls
• Dunbar Cave
• Edgar Evins
• Fall Creek Falls
• Fort Loudoun
• Frozen Head
• Henry Horton
• Hiwassee-Ocoee
• Long Hunter
• Montgomery Bell
• Paris Landing
• Port Royal
• Radnor Lake
• Rock Island
• Standing Stone

The state park website has more details, including the length of totality at each park, ranging from nine seconds at Montgomery Bell to 2 minutes, 39 seconds at Bledsoe Creek. The site also has a running list of events at the parks and reservation information.

Image via Luc Viatour, used under GNU Free Documentation License