Solar eclipse 2017: 5 expensive rentals still available now

A rare total solar eclipse will travel across the U.S. on Monday, August 21, with up to 7.4 million eclipse tourists hitting the road to see the event. Hotels and rooms have been booked for years in the 70-mile-wide path of totality, when the moon will completely block the sun for two minutes.

But if you’re a celestial procrastinator—or if you’ve just been living under a rock—there are still a few places available for rent. The only problem? These accommodations come at a stiff price.

Normally in towns like Casper, Wyoming or Twin Falls, Idaho, you’d be hard pressed to find hotel rooms above $300. But eclipse tourism is a big deal; large cities in the path of totality predict that eclipse visitors will spend tens of millions of dollars.

Last-minute lodging prices to see the eclipse are on par with five-star hotels in pricey tourist destinations like Paris, London, and Tokyo. From a $2,500 per night camper to a $10,000 house in Oregon, here are some of the most interesting—and expensive—places to stay if you want to see a total eclipse.

The ‘Silver Streak’ Camper in Casper, Wyoming:

Airbnb

Cost: $2,500 per night

The draw: Rooms are full at The Sterling Hotel in Casper, Wyoming, so the hotel owners are offering this 32-foot 1976 camper for rent. Casper is forecasted to have an excellent view of the total eclipse, and your stay comes with an access card to use a hotel bathroom, and breakfast and dinner at two local establishments.

A ranch house in Madras, Oregon:

Airbnb

Cost: $10,000 per night

The draw: This four-bedroom, three-bath home sleeps ten and boasts a lovely yard and patio. Madras is in the high desert of central Oregon and is considered one of the premier viewing locations in the U.S.

The Fontanel Mansion in Nashville, Tennessee:

Courtesy of Booking.com

Cost: $2,000-$3,000 per night, per bedroom

The draw: Nashville is the largest city in the U.S. in the path of totality, and Booking.com is offering four bedrooms in the 33,000 square foot Fontanel Mansion for stays on August 20. The stay includes a viewing party with complimentary daybeds, telescopes, and protective glasses.

A 4-bedroom house on Idaho’s Snake River:

VRBO

Cost: $5,000 per night

The draw: This rather suburban looking four-bedroom house near Twin Falls, Idaho, boasts perfectly fine accommodations. But the real attraction is this jaw-dropping view of the Snake River from the property’s back yard hot tub, fire pits, and patio. A stunning spot to view the eclipse.

A rooftop suite in Lincoln, Nebraska:

VRBO

Cost: $2,100 per night

The draw: Book the Penthouse Suite at the Grand Manse in Lincoln, Nebraska, and not only will you be able to use this rooftop patio to see the eclipse, but also you’ll get six bedrooms, five bathrooms, and space to sleep 20 people.