How to Watch the Upcoming Total Lunar Eclipse
The first eclipse of the year is almost upon us, and it’s well worth a few hours of skipped sleep. In the early morning hours of Friday, March 14, stargazers in North America can watch the moon slide into Earth’s shadow then turn a haunting tangerine hue.
This striking phenomenon, known as a blood moon, is the signature finale of a total lunar eclipse. It’s a spectacle stargazers haven’t witnessed since November 2022, and one the U.S. won’t see again until 2026. Even better: it’s easily visible to the naked eye—even through light pollution. I watched the November blood moon from my backyard in Cleveland, Ohio. Weather-permitting, I plan to do the same come March 14.
Here’s how you can catch the show, too, as well as great getaways to make your eclipse-watching even more spectacular.
What’s a Total Lunar Eclipse?
During a lunar eclipse, Earth’s shadow slowly unspools across the face of the full moon. The entire duration of the event spans several hours—in this case, six. The subtle beginning phase, when the moon travels into Earth’s outer shadow, hits just before midnight ET on March 13. A partial eclipse, when the moon appears to have a noticeable bite missing, begins around 1 A.M. ET on March 14. And the moon fully enters our shadow around 2:30 A.M. ET. This brings the real showstopper, the blood moon, which glows a vivid red for roughly an hour, before transitioning back to a partial eclipse, then our regularly scheduled lunar programming.
The bright orange tine is a lesson in light and color. When sunlight passes through our atmosphere, shorter wavelengths, such as blue light, disperse. Only colors with longer wavelengths like red and orange can seep through. This light reaches the moon and paints it red.
Unlike last year’s buzzed-about total solar eclipse, this month’s lunar marvel is easier to spot. Its totality lasts for roughly an hour compared to a fleeting few minutes. And according to Space.com, a total lunar eclipse can be seen from a specific destination roughly once every 2.5 years—but North Americans are extra lucky. The next visible total lunar eclipse occurs on March 3, 2026.
A partial lunar eclipse (Photo: Stephanie Vermillion)
How to Watch This Year’s Total Lunar Eclipse
The moon will travel across the southern sky, toward the western horizon, throughout eclipse morning. That means you’ll want clear views to the southern sky. While you’re out there, watch for Mars and Jupiter. Both will hang above the western horizon in the lead-up to the blood moon.
Overcast skies can hinder your eclipse viewing, but don’t let a few clouds deter you. In my experience, an intermittent cloud cover can actually add to a blood moon’s spookiness.
The entire lunar event spans around six hours. If you can’t stay up all night, I recommend heading out around 1:30 A.M. ET to watch Earth’s shadow take its eye-popping chomp out of the moon. Totality begins at 2:30 A.M. ET, and lasts for another hour after that.
Best Accommodations to Watch the Total Lunar Eclipse
If skipping sleep on a school night sounds daunting, consider turning your eclipse chase into a long-weekend break. I’ve researched a host of U.S. accommodations to watch the blood moon, from a cozy cabin with a totality-view hot tub, a getaway with a private south-facing shoreline, or better yet, eclipse views from bed. All accommodations have eclipse availability as of publication.
Northeast
(Photo: Mirror Lake Inn)
Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid, New York
Century-old Mirror Lake Inn, set across eight fir-dotted acres just beyond Lake Placid’s Main Street, offers one of the Adirondacks’ best eclipse lookouts. The property peers south over its namesake lake, with water-view rooms for catching the show in your pajamas, or a private waterfront to photograph the scarlet orb reflecting off the glassy water. By day, go skating at the Olympic Center or head over to Mt Van Hoevenberg to watch the IBSF Bobsled and Skeleton World Championship, which runs from March 6 to 16. And take advantage of Mirror Lake Inn’s onsite amenities, such as a salt-therapy room and sauna, too. Mirror Lake Inn has 124 units; all overlook the water—and therefore, the eclipse. From $349 per night
Skyline Serenity Cabin, Pine Creek Township, Pennsylvania
Admire the blood moon from a scenic hot tub at Skyline Serenity cabin in Pennsylvania’s Pine Creek Township. The cabin, set among the rolling Allegheny mountains, is roughly 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. In addition to a hot tub, guests can sky-watch from the private patio or fire pit. The oversized windows make it possible to eclipse watch from the couch. Give your legs a daytime shakeout along the property’s forested walking trails, or amp up the hiking at nearby nature getaways like Cook Forest and Parker Dam state parks. Both are within an hour’s drive of the cabin. From $170 per night
Midwest
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, a rustic resort on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, takes its stargazing seriously. In 2022, light pollution authority DarkSky International turned the woodlands surrounding the lodge into the U.P.’s first certified dark-sky park. Come for totality, then continue the lunar fun with a guided full-moon showshoe hiking tour the night of March 14. The lodge’s 24 cabins remain open year-round, snow or sun. And keep your eyes peeled for the northern lights; it’s one of the best places in the lower 48 states to catch the aurora. In fact, I’ve caught swirls on the Keweenaw at least half a dozen times. From $250/ night with two-night minimum stay
Lookout Loft Treehouse, Valley Springs, South Dakota
Get a bird’s-eye view of the blood moon at the Lookout Loft Treehouse, a hilltop abode located just outside South Dakota’s Sioux Falls. From the roost, complete with a wraparound porch, you’ll enjoy unobstructed sky-watching from every angle, and its amenities only up the ante. There’s a hot tub and firepit-kitted patio, as well as windows to sky-watch from your plush bed. The treehouse rises 33 steps off the ground—the perfect cool-down after a day spent hiking through red quartzite canyons at nearby Devil’s Gulch Park. From $150 per night.
Southeast
Starlight Haven at Weiss Lake, Alabama
Watch totality from a south-facing shoreline at Starlight Haven, one of Alabama’s best astrotourism retreats. The getaway lies on Weiss Lake, with 1,500 feet of quiet waterfront and a communal fire pit area to mix and mingle while awaiting the lunar awe. Snag an A-frame cabin for two people with a private deck and hot tub with southern vistas over Weiss Lake (from $140), or a deluxe dome for up to four people with blood moon views galore (from $175). While you’re here, visit one of the country’s deepest canyons, Little River Canyon National Preserve, located 20 miles north.
Stargazer Cassiopeia, Terlingua, Texas
Stargazer Cassiopeia was tailor-made for night-sky enthusiasts, with space-view skylights that make sleep near impossible. Its location, just outside Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, is known for pristine nightscapes. Start your night watching the stars swim above the Chisos, then stay up by the fire pit to watch the moon turn a haunting red. Build in time for a stop, or several, at Big Bend National Park. The park’s west entrance is only 10 miles east of the A-frame. From $167 per night
West
(Photo: Matt Kisiday)
Autocamp Zion, Virgin, Utah
Set between the Virgin River and Zion’s soaring red rocks, AutoCamp provides quite the dramatic eclipse backdrop. Its Airstreams, cabins, and canvas tents are about 13 miles from Zion National Park’s main entrance. The property also takes advantage of its surrounding crag, with tours like full-day rock climbing, canyoneering, mountain biking, and a two-hour Zion stargazing tour complete with telescopes for peering into deep space. Zion National Park is also open all night, so consider hitting the Pa’rus Trail near the visitor center to watch the eclipse radiate above the the Watchman peak. From $211 per night
Zion National Park on Trailforks.com
(Photo: Camp V)
Camp V, Naturita, Colorado
Camp V welcomes campers and glampers to a remote and scrub-dotted corner of western Colorado. The 120-acre escape, located near the town of Naturita, comes with all sorts of lunar eclipse vantage points. Try the mountain-view water towers, an onsite lake with nearby camping, or a field with larger-than-life public art. For an extra splurge, book a Camp V special experience like “stargazing and snuggles” with cookies, blankets, cider, and a fire ($75). The site’s cabins, safari tents, and Airstreams are the perfect launchpad for the area’s adventure playground, with outings like canyon hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking nearby. From $165 per night for a cabin
The post How to Watch the Upcoming Total Lunar Eclipse appeared first on Outside Online.
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