🗺️ The Ultimate Travel Goal: Visiting All 50 States by 50
On a road somewhere in the United States
It's a fantastic feeling to set major personal milestones, and my current mission is a big one: to visit all 50 states by the time I turn 50. It’s important to have exciting travel goals, and this one has shaped my US adventures for years.
The Foundation: Early Travel and Work Perks
I grew up in California, initially only exploring nearby states like Nevada and Oregon. My journey really expanded when I moved cross-country to attend college in New York. After graduation, a consulting career kicked off my progress on the 50 States Challenge.
One of the best perks of work travel was the flexibility in choosing where to go for the weekend. Since I was single and traveling constantly, I'd often use my flight allowance to fly somewhere new instead of heading home. Thanks to this perk, I had traveled to just under 30 states by the time I turned 30.
Golden Gate Bridge from the MacArthur Tunnel, San Francisco
Defining What Counts: The 50 States Rule
For the purpose of achieving this travel goal, I have a clear definition of what "traveled to" means: I must do or see something of local significance in the state. This does not count flying or driving through, stopping for gas, or grabbing fast food you can find anywhere.
However, I would count Kentucky if the only thing I did was go to the original Kentucky Fried Chicken (though that was, admittedly, a bit of a letdown!) because it has local significance. In any case, we drove the length of the beautiful Bourbon Trail, so Kentucky is checked off the list of 50
An Interruption: Focus on International Travel
Soon after turning 30, my focus shifted. I got married and moved to Singapore. Work travel primarily occurred within Asia, and living on the other side of the world meant we naturally prioritized exploring new countries. We took advantage and saw as much of Asia as possible, temporarily halting progress on US travel and significantly racking up the number of countries visited instead.
When we returned to the US in 2016 and settled in Florida, we resolved to resume our US travel and see more of our own country, which is full of incredible natural beauty and unique diversity. Yet, having friends worldwide, we still found ourselves prioritizing international destinations and neglecting the remaining states.
The Rise of the US Road Trips (2020 and Beyond)
The moment the world shut down and borders closed, international travel was no longer an option. As a couple with serious wanderlust, we couldn't stay put, so we headed on road trips in the US.
Blue Ridge Mountains, Georgia
At first, we explored nearby states like Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Then we got more ambitious, and we began flying to a US region and renting a car for multi-state road trip adventures.
Chasing Waterfalls, Tallulah Gorge, Georgia
Chasing Waterfalls, Tallulah Gorge, Georgia
Some friends think this travel goal is bizarre—who, they ask, would want to visit North Dakota? My answer is simple: Theodore Roosevelt claimed North Dakota is where "the romance of my life began" and said, "I never would have been President if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota." I needed to see the place with the power to transform someone. Stories and history are exactly why I am committed to my 50 states journey.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Unit, Riverbend Overlook
“One must travel to learn.”
We learn so much traveling and going to different places; the US is no different. Traveling in the US, we have learned US history that we were never taught in school, discovered new foods to try, and met people with different backgrounds and perspectives, even though we are from the same country.
Inspiration and The Final Countdown
I'm certainly not the only one with this objective; I’ve met others on the road committed to the same travel goal. I take inspiration from friends who successfully completed the challenge, for example, a single mother who made it to all 50 states by her 50th birthday, providing incredible experiences for her son along the way.
Currently, my travel planning involves reading books and articles on the most beautiful places in each state or unique historic stops. I enjoy the planning process almost as much as the journey itself, allowing me to curate unique and personalized travel experiences.
I have just 8 states to go, and a few more will be checked off this year! Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Washington, and Wisconsin—here I come!
📍 Share Your Travel Goal!
Are you also taking on the 50 States Challenge? Or do you have another major travel goal you’re working toward? Share your list of completed states, or the one state you're most looking forward to visiting next, in the comments below!
