Records were broken last week in New York State. The Governor’s Office has announced record-setting tourism numbers from April 6 to April 9 as visitors arrived for the total solar eclipse. Nearly one million people visited New York State Parks during the four days, an increase of 45 percent compared to last year. The New York State Thruway Authority and New York State Department of Transportation recorded significant increases in vehicle travel, and the New York Power Authority provided nearly double the charging miles for electric vehicles when compared to the previous week.
From April 6 to April 9, nearly one million visitors showed up to New York State Parks to witness and celebrate the total solar eclipse, an increase in attendance of more than 45 percent compared to the same days in 2023. On April 8 alone, New York State Parks welcomed more than 326,500 visitors, an over 52 percent jump in attendance compared to last year. 12 state parks reached full capacity on April 8:
- Cayuga Lake (Seneca County)
- Chimney Bluffs (Wayne County)
- Crown Point (Essex County)
- Cumberland Bay (Clinton County)
- Fair Haven State Park (Cayuga County)
- John Brown Farm (Essex County)
- Point Au Roche (Clinton County)
- Robert Whele (Jefferson County)
- Selkirk (Oswego County)
- Seneca Lake (Seneca County)
- Southwick Beach (Jefferson County)
- Stony Brook State Park (Steuben County)
New York opened campgrounds at State Parks within the path of totality early to accommodate visitors for the total solar eclipse, which were 100 percent booked the night of April 7 and 93 percent booked the night of April 8. To welcome visitors, New York State Parks and Historic Sites hosted numerous eclipse-viewing gatherings on April 8.
