Tens of thousands of extra visitors expected in mid-Missouri over eclipse weekend

The population of Columbia and even Jefferson City could very easily double as visitors travel to mid-Missouri to view the solar eclipse. Convention and Visitor’s Bureau spokesperson Megan McConachie said those kinds of numbers are unprecedented.

“We’re used to a little bump when we have students moving back,” she said. “But as far as an August weekend being this full, this is definitely unheard of.”

The weather next Monday will be a huge factor in the amount of people who make a day trip.

“If Columbia is going to have good weather that day, we can expect a lot of traffic and also just a huge influx of people on that day,” she said.

McConachie said that of the approximately 3,800 hotel rooms in Columbia, around 95 percent of them have been reserved for Sunday. On Saturday, there’s about 75 percent reserved and on Monday, the number is hovering around 65 percent.

In Jefferson City, officials with the Convention and Visitors Bureau said that of their 1,130 available hotel rooms in the city, 100 percent of them are reserved for Sunday. There are also two hotels located in Apache Flats that are also booked that day, but the rooms aren’t included in the total because it’s in unincorporated Cole County. On Saturday and Monday, the rooms are 75 percent full.

If 95 percent of the 3,800 rooms are booked for Sunday, that means about 3,610 rooms are booked. ABC 17 News estimated that if two people stayed in each room, there could be more than 7,000 extra people staying in Columbia hotels.

“In the summer without students, just visitors, we probably have a few thousand visitors here every day,” said McConachie.

That number doesn’t even include the day trippers, who could easily number in the tens of thousands Columbia or even Jefferson City.

In Jefferson City, if two people stayed in every room booked on Sunday, there could be almost 2,300 extra people roaming the city over the weekend.

McConachie said major highways like 63 and 70 pose potential problems. Through her experience, she said she imagines tributaries like Providence Road and Stadium Blvd. will also be congested.

Law enforcement agencies in Jefferson City, Callaway County and Boone County said Tuesday they’re all preparing for a major traffic influx.

“We don’t know what to expect,” Sergeant Doug Ruediger, with Jefferson City police, said. “Plan for the worst, hope for the best.”

According to Ruediger, the entire seven-officer traffic unit will be working Sunday and Monday next week. They’ll have a team of officers assigned north of the river. He said they won’t be directing traffic but will be present in areas with high traffic.

“Eyes on the road, not on the sky,” he said. “A lot of people will be in town who aren’t from the area. Be patient and conscious.”

Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism said Tuesday that the department expects an increase in traffic complaints, so deputies will be working overtime assignments through the weekend and administrative staff will work the road to provide extra patrols.

“Just this morning, we’ve been meeting with business owners to coordinate patrols of any significant events they’re having in the county,” Chism said in an email.

They will also assist the Missouri State Highway Patrol and local police departments as needed throughout the weekend.

Boone County Sheriff’s Department officials said they aren’t planning any specific enforcement but they will have extra patrols. Lieutenant Philip Smith said he discourages people from stopping on the road to watch the eclipse.

“It’s going to be dark so anytime you stop on the side of the road and it’s dark that’s a safety hazard not only for you as a pedestrian but for other motorists in the area,” he said. “I think that would be a major traffic concern and something I would watch for if I was traveling through the area.”

There will be plenty of safe places to watch the eclipse in Columbia and Jefferson City. For a list of events, you can click here. You can also watch our full coverage and special on Monday, starting at 11:00 a.m.