What is the 50 State Challenge? It is the desire to visit all 50 of the United States of America. I know that I’ve talked to a few people that track the number of states that they have been to. Also, most of those people counting are trying “The 50 State Challenge” to make it to all of the United States!
*Last updated 7/24/2024
Below, I’ve marked the driving routes that we’ve taken as a family. However, I’m lucky that my kids are good travelers.
I’ve been to all 50 states, but now I’m working to hit them all a second time with my kids! Also, below is a map of all the 38 states they’ve been to (marked in blue). Additionally, if you want to create your own map of the states you’ve visited, like below, click to create your own visited states map!
The 50 State Challenge
When I was in 8th grade, my history teacher asked the students how many states we had visited. Some people said 5. Some people said 10. However, for most, it was not a lot more than that. I raised my hand and told my teacher “45”. However, I don’t think he believed me. It wasn’t until then that I realized how lucky I was to have been to and seen so many places.
There is something special about the United States. Each state is different. Every state has it’s own special secrets to be unlocked. New York is different from California, Texas is different than Maine. However, I have so many amazing experiences and wonderful memories in every one of them.
As a kid, my parents drove us to all 48 of the “continental” United States. Also, my 49th state was Alaska and my first travel/vacation with my future wife. Additionally, my 50th state was Hawaii and my brother traveled with me. We had made it to all 50 states together.
Also, my daughters have now been to 36 states as of September 2023 (which I’ve drawn our trips on the map above). Additionally, we will be hitting some new ones next summer on our Colorado trip. However, I’m looking forward to getting them to all of them as well and sharing all those new memories with them.
And remember, it is a marathon, not a sprint. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Alas, there it is, the 50 State Challenge. How many have you been to? How many will you see?
The United States of America
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
If you are looking for ways to track your progress consider the following options. I like to track our routes on a road map with a sharpie, but it would also be fun to do a scratch-off map!
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