We drove nearly 8 hours to watch and about 14 to return home. That said, it was worth it. My 9-year twins were quite happy. Seeing the total eclipse is not something a picture can do justice with. The sun turned off/on like a light switch, the quiet was incredible. And feeling the temps drop, then go back up... Yes, worth the day off from school, the day off from work, the very long overnight camping trip to watch, in our case, from top of a ridgeline in central Oregon.
I might’ve been quite near you. I was on top of a ridge line about an hour or so outside of Madras. I did pretty well with traffic coming in from Ashland on Sunday, but I spend 15 hours getting from Madras to Klamath Falls afterwards. Worth every last minute!
I didn't see this eclipse but I did back in 1979 and many of these descriptions take me back. The conditions were a little different since the 1979 one was in the middle of winter but the sky was clear enough it was just as eerie and spectacular. Over the years I have come to the conclusion that trying to relate this to someone who hasn't seen and experienced it is difficult. The best one can say to them is if they get the chance go to the totality zone and experience it for yourself. Near the centerline for max viewing if possible. Do it safely and enjoy it and if they ask if it is worth the trip I say yes you won't regret it.
I ended up about 30 miles NE of Prineville. Spectacular, well worth the traffic. Took us 12 hours to get back down to Asheville and the smoke was incredible down that way, dusting of ash on the truck in the morning.
I took 9 gallons of extra gas, 6 gallons of water (plus the washer water which I keep only potable) and there’s always a few days of eats in the truck in a pinch.