Like so many others, traveling to all fifty of the United States of America is on my life’s list of things to do.
So far I’ve been to thirty-four!
With the CoVid-19 stay-at-home orders and all, I’ve spent some time trying to figure out how to get to the other sixteen once everything opens back up. I thought I’d share what I discovered, in case you are doing the same research.
A Fifty State Journey Begins with a Single Step
As the Chinese proverb says, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
The same is true when undertaking a fifty state journey, even though you’ll be covering thousands of miles instead of just one.
That first step? Make up your mind to do it!
Let’s make it happen.
For me, approaching awesome goals such as this one, require some thought and some planning. My go-to tool are the five W’s: who, what, why, how and when.
Let’s start with the easiest one.
WHO is undertaking this adventure?
You!
Will you include a traveling companion?
From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans, white with foam or otherwise, less than 1% of Americans have visited all fifty states. Can you believe that?
Of course you can! The task is daunting. And not for everybody.
The United States is a vast expanse of land. Geographically and socially, there’s no other place, anywhere on the planet, like it. Which is why people from around the globe travel to the US to experience all of the states for themselves.
If you are undertaking a grand tour of all fifty states (or even the forty-eight continuous), including travel companions in the planning makes sense. Otherwise, it may be difficult to find someone with identical interests and available resources to cobble together an itinerary.
I don’t see anything wrong with being a little selfish in your planning.
WHAT are you doing?
Duh! heehee
Traveling to All Fifty States in the United States of America!
In 1959, when Hawaii became the fiftieth state in the USA, a new global pastime was born – traveling to all FIFTY* states in the USA!
* That’s not to say prior to 1959 folks weren’t visiting all the states in the country; there just weren’t fifty yet.
With so much to see and do, the big question becomes how do you get around to every state and what are you going to do once you get there?
WHY travel to all Fifty States?
The reason to travel to all fifty states is as individual as individuals.
You don’t have to have a particular reason to color in all the states as visited on your map of the US. For me, I’ve gone to six states for weddings, four for work and have driven through a few to get to the aforementioned events.
However, there are some who make it a mission. I’ve found a fascinating variety of reasons people travel to all the states. Here’s a few.
Play a round of golf in each of the fifty states. This article chronicles the author’s top pick of golf courses in each state.
Eat at fifty Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. A web post devoted to favorite stops Guy Fieri’s television show has made in each state.
Take a selfie at each state capitol. Here is an astoundingly optimized 13.310 mile route that takes you to each of the lower 48 state capitols.
Your WHY, your purpose, will direct your journey.
HOW to declare a state visited?
Everyone seems to have their own standard as to when they pronounce a state officially visited.
Most agree your feet or tires must touch the soil of the state in question. Some say rushing through an airport, like the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, is enough to color that state (in this case Georgia) on your map. Others believe flying over is enough.
You be you and decide.
To help you keep track of your travels, you can start a simple spreadsheet or print out the map above and color in all the states you’ve been to.
WHEN will you go?
Consider your WHY and HOW.
If your purpose is an intentional one, like seeing a particular landmark or taking in a baseball game in every state, there may be seasons or other considerations.
Should your plan be no plan, like mine, then fit the states you need into your travels.
I colored this map and to see where I still need to go. Now I’m researching things I’d like to do in each state I still need to visit and from there I’ll venture out.
How many states have you visited?
