I live a few miles east of Columbia, and less than 2 miles from I-70. Predictions are for 400k-500k visitors in the immediate area for eclipse viewing.
IF that many people show up it is going to be a gigantic CF here. I-70 will be a parking lot. US63 will be a parking lot. You will not be able to purchase anything that you need because, if you manage to get to the store, they will be sold out. This town can barely handle the traffic that a Mizzou home football game brings. I can imagine what it will be like if the predictions of visitor numbers come true, and it ain’t going to be pretty.
I will be stocked up on liquor, guns and ammo, and not leaving my property on eclipse day.
TripAdvisor.com is showing a handful of hotels in town with rooms available next weekend so you might get lucky if you don’t fiddle around getting something booked.
Those are the same projections for almost any region on the totality path. Article last week listing all the problems expected in small towns in Oregon. They are warning pregnant women who are due around then to plan for full hospitals and traffic jams. Basic things like food, water, and sanitation are expected to be in short supply.
And that traffic has been less since the blm fiasco.
I live three miles NW of Hallsville. All I need to do is step out of the office door. I had no idea it was such a big deal until last week when my law partner told me that Columbia was going to be completely full of people. Anyhow, it will be pretty cool to see!