Wise, on the cheap enthusiasts, won't bother trying to reserve ridiculously expensive lodging right in the path of totality but rather figure out how with good maps, to drive to where highways, roads, and public lands as parks, will cross that path. Then a day or two before while roads are still not jammed up, drive there while being fully self sufficient, including sleeping in their vehicles or tenting. If one needs to stage such at lodging more than a couple days before, do so at least a couple hours away from the path where demand is nil. Start planning here:
National Eclipse
CalTopo - Backcountry Mapping Evolved
As April 8, 2024 approaches since the path is within dense areas of the Eastern USA, due to news media coverage, immense numbers of relatively unawares science and map ignorant people will suddenly become interested and make flawed plans to just drive wherever only to get stuck without food, water, clothing, etc in impossible traffic. And many will end up watching only partial eclipses that are IMO a waste of time and effort, not even close to the experience of totality while stupidly expecting just seeing a partial eclipse works.
There will be myriad people in their vehicles illegally parked along roads and highways that will greatly overwhelm law enforcement that will instead try to keep a lower profile not hassling those that do and instead concentrating on disruptive, dangerous, and criminal types. And stores and infrastructure in those path areas will run out of food, booze, protective glasses, etc.