Airbnb Sees Listings Surge From Solar Eclipse Spectacle

On Aug. 21, for the first time in nearly 100 years, the earth, sun and moon will briefly align to cast darkness on a narrow trajectory between Salem, Oregon, and Charleston, South Carolina. For homeowners living on the route of the Great American Eclipse, the stars appear to be aligning for them to reap a small fortune renting their homes on Airbnb.

In the past month, Airbnb Inc. listings and bookings have surged as astronomy enthusiasts scramble to find accommodations along the “path of totality,” the 70-mile strip projected to go dark this Monday. Over 29,000 homes, single rooms, plots of grass and recreational vehicles along the eclipse’s trajectory are registered for rent on Airbnb. More than 50,000 people are booked to stay in rentals over the weekend, compared with about 11,000 last week.