Tens of thousands of visitors are anticipated to flood the state Monday to see the eclipse, and officials are advising the public on how to best navigate the event, from anticipated traffic congestion to protecting against retinal burn.

“For months now state agencies have been working hand-in-hand with one another, in close coordination with local communities and business, 14 state agencies, hundreds of people involved,” Gov. Chris Sununu said Friday at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. “[They’ve] all really come together to make sure that this one moment on Monday afternoon goes as smooth as possible.”

The eclipse will occur between 2:25 p.m. and 4:38 p.m. While all areas of the state will be within 95% totality – 96% for Concord – the northernmost points of the state, from Lancaster and up, will be in the path of totality.

“It’s a very big day across the country but especially in New Hampshire,” said Sununu.

Roughly 10,000 visitors are planning to stay overnight in the state on top of the tens of thousands planned to make a day trip out of it. This means likely heavy traffic on I-93, I-95, and I-89, and Routes 3 and 26. While officials think visitors will trickle in throughout the morning and early afternoon, they anticipate a mass exodus once the eclipse is over around 5 p.m.

“Please plan ahead as much as possible: arrive early, stay late, stay put. We ask everybody as they come up to find a safe place,” said William Cass, commissioner of the Department of Transportation. “We want people to find a safe place, away from traffic. We don’t want people stopping on the road to try to watch the event. We certainly don’t want people to be driving during the event.”

Locals will want to stick to town and local roads Monday if possible. Real-time traffic updates can be found on NewEngland511.org.

From both out-of-state travelers and locals on the road, Sununu asked for patience.

“If everyone’s patient, if everyone gives themselves enough time, understanding that there’s a lot of folks in a small area, we have no doubt that it will go off very, very successfully,” Sununu said.

Sununu also asked that people stay on main roads. Back and side roads are not equipped to handle high volumes of traffic.

Up north, it’s mud season. And on top of the mud is currently a foot of snowfall from Thursday’s storm. While Colebrook Town Manager Tim Stevens is happy to welcome visitors during a usually slow season, and excited for the economic activity that the eclipse brings, he warned about staying off private property, back roads, lakes, and “enticing areas” in the mountains, since there are only so many tow trucks and resources available, and visitors are likely to get stuck given the current snowy and muddy conditions.

Jeanne Gerulskis, executive director of the Discovery Center, made it clear that people should make an effort to view the eclipse, but safely: through specific eclipse glasses, not sunglasses.

“The next solar eclipse will be in 2079, and I don’t know about you, but I probably won’t be here unless they figure out how to download my brain into a robot’s body,” said Gerulskis. “So this is a chance to enjoy the moment with friends and family.”

Gerulskis said to be wary of buying glasses through places like Amazon or Temu. Glasses can be tested by making sure you can only see something as bright as the sun through them – you should not be able to see anything else. Number 13 or 14 welding helmets can also be used. Without the use of these protective measures, the eclipse will burn the retina.

Sununu encouraged visitors to follow these measures, but also to take the opportunity to get to know the state.

“You can sit in your car and wait in traffic or you can visit a restaurant or visit one of our tax-free stores and enjoy all the economic opportunity that New Hampshire has to offer,” Sununu said.

For more information on the eclipse, events, or designated parking areas, visit NHsolareclipse.com.