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April 8 solar eclipse in Iowa | What time is it? Which states have best views?

Skygazers in the Hawkeye State will only ever see 86% of the sun covered by the moon. But that's nothing a road trip can't fix.

DES MOINES, Iowa — A total solar eclipse will soon sweep over much of the United States, with some of Iowa's border states achieving full totality. 

A lucky 115-mile-wide expanse of the United States will experience the Monday, April 8 event like never before, with the phenomenon even expected to last longer than 2017's.  

Skygazers in the Hawkeye State will only ever see 86% of the sun covered by the moon — in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Dubuque. According to TimeandDate, the partial eclipse will begin around 12:45 p.m., peak just before 2 p.m. and welcome full brightness back at 3:15 p.m.

But don't worry: Plenty of places getting 100% totality are just a Midwestern road trip away. 

Ready to hit the road? Here's where to head in if you want a little more totality in your future.

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Kansas

A few hours southwest of Iowa will get you 3% more sun coverage, with parts of Kansas seeing as much as 89% of totality on Monday. 

The partial solar eclipse will start at approximately 12:30 p.m., peak at 1:50 p.m. and end at 3:09 p.m., according to TimeandDate.

Illinois

Head southeast to the area around Richwoods and Carbondale, Ill., to witness actual totality. 

The few minutes of 100% darkness will start in southern Illinois around 1:58 p.m. and end at 2:07 p.m.

Other cities like Chicago and Springfield will still see more than Iowa, with 90-96% of the sun covered as early as 12:45 p.m., according to TimeandDate.

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Missouri

Iowa's southern neighbor will get plenty of darkness on April 8, with the path of totality crossing through the Show-Me State. 

Head to Sikeston — a nearly eight-hour drive from Des Moines — to experience a 3.5-minute long total solar eclipse. Just six hours away from Des Moines, St. Louis will see 99% of the sun covered. 

In most of Missouri, the eclipse will begin at 12:35 p.m. and reach maximum totality at 1:55 p.m, ending around 3:15 p.m., according to TimeandDate.

Other Iowa border states

Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota are all getting even less totality than Iowa. If you're interested in viewing a partial solar eclipse from any of those locales, check out the city search function below to learn more. 

RELATED: Total solar eclipse forecast: Will your city have clear skies Monday?

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