Path of totally pricey parking: $100 a day for eclipse
OK, so you went to the ATM to pick up some cash for your trip to chase Monday’s eclipse.
Sure you got enough for gas, food and lodging, plus maybe some extra for a few hats and a “My mom went to the path of totality and all I got was this lousy T-shirt” T-shirt.
But you’re forgetting one thing. One really big thing.
Parking money.
A sign was spotted in Depot, Ore. — on the coast west of Salem and firmly in the path of totality — offering parking rates of $100 a day, $500 for the week and $750 for RVs.
Price gouging is routine for eclipse parking, though not usually that deep! The city of Columbia, S.C., has doubled its rates, though to a relatively-modest $10.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">To view the parking rates for the 2017 Solar Eclipse weekend please visit <a href="https://t.co/7shTowOAi4">https://t.co/7shTowOAi4</a> <a href="https://t.co/MSWgXOvgKb">pic.twitter.com/MSWgXOvgKb</a></p>— City of Columbia (@CityofColumbia) <a href="https://twitter.com/CityofColumbia/status/898696114496581637">August 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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A high school in Madisonville, Tenn., is looking to make a few bucks with school not yet in session.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">No classes on Monday- enjoy the eclipse safely! Parking available at Sqhs $10- great location on HWY 411</p>— Sequoyah High School (@SequoyahHS) <a href="https://twitter.com/SequoyahHS/status/898644873233940480">August 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Still, not everyone is out to make a buck. Of all places, a major university in the southeast seems to be offering free parking (do you get to pass Go?) for the celestial event.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Don't get left out in the Dark - Free parking on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Clemson?src=hash">#Clemson</a> campus for solar eclipse visitors | Clemson University <a href="https://t.co/zxu76Lf87x">https://t.co/zxu76Lf87x</a></p>— Clemson Buzzz (@ClemsonBuzzz) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClemsonBuzzz/status/894694980949770240">August 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
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But the lesson seems to be: pack plenty of food, water and cash.
This story was originally published August 18, 2017 at 6:48 PM with the headline "Path of totally pricey parking: $100 a day for eclipse."