50 states travel map

The perfect itinerary for an epic USA roadtrip (48 states at once)

• Post author: Andrew D'Amours
• Post published: December 28, 2022
• Post category: Travel inspiration / Trip itineraries & destination discoveries
• Post comments: 23 Comments

Do you like roadtrips? They happen to be a very American tradition and we found the perfect itinerary to visit every state in the continental USA during 1 epic roadtrip. A great trip idea for those who have a lot of time but want to stay closer to home .

Personally, I love roadtrips and I hit the road as much as I can, despite also being an aviation geek: you can like both, right? What matters is traveling and seeing new places , no matter how.

So here are the maps and details of the 2 itineraries that allow you to see all the lower 48 states at once, depending on your travel preference.

Basics of the 2 epic USA roadtrip itineraries

The USA is a huge country, almost as big as Europe (it’s even larger than Canada when considering land area alone).

So the USA has a lot of variety in terms of landscapes, but even in terms of culture too (even if many who aren’t from the country don’t realize that).

If you aim to eventually visit every state, any 1 of these 2 itineraries is a great way to almost all of them at once. The only 2 states you’ll have left to visit after this roadtrip will be Hawaii and Alaska.

There’s a version for national parks and points of interest and a version for cities.

I’m on the quest to visit all 50 states myself (in addition to also visiting every country obviously), and I’m not doing too bad with 47 already.

But let’s just say it would’ve been much quicker to get to 48 at once with this roadtrip instead of having to do it over dozens of trips.

Here are the details.

48-state roadtrip – national parks/points of interest version

Here’s a map of the 1st itinerary.

It was conceived by American Ph.D. student Randy Olson, on  his blog , and it was done scientifically to optimize the routing: each stop represents a national park or a point of interest.

So you’re not just seeing every state, you’re seeing cool parts of every state (which sadly wasn’t our case in North Dakota during our very random 1200-miles-nonstop-in-2-days Flytrippers roadtrip across the Midwest just for fun).

Good times. Roadtrips always make for great stories.

Anyway, the itinerary has also been optimized to be as efficient a route as possible to see all 48 states, so you can rest assured you won’t be wasting any time.

If you only stop to sleep, you can complete this roadtrip in only 9 days, but we recommend taking at least a couple of weeks to explore all these places obviously.

And gas is significantly cheaper in the US in case you were wondering. You can start anywhere, it’s a continuous loop, and it passes through many spots near the Canadian border.

You can even take a shortcut from Michigan to Vermont through Canada, as the stop in Cleveland is only to keep Americans without a passport from crossing into the Great White North.

Here is the complete list of all 50 landmarks (48 states + Washington, DC + a bonus stop in California):

1. Grand Canyon, AZ 2. Bryce Canyon National Park, UT 3. Craters of the Moon, ID 4. Yellowstone National Park, WY 5. Pikes Peak, CO 6. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM 7. The Alamo, TX 8. The Platt Historic District, OK 9. Toltec Mounds, AR 10. Elvis Presley’s Graceland, TN 11. Vicksburg National Military Park, MS 12. French Quarter, LA 13. USS Alabama, AL 14. Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL 15. Okefenokee Swamp Park, GA 16. Fort Sumter National Monument, SC 17. Lost World Caverns, WV 18. Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center, NC 19. Mount Vernon, VA 20. White House, Washington, D.C. 21. Colonial Annapolis Historic District, MD 22. New Castle Historic District, DE 23. Cape May Historic District, NJ 24. Liberty Bell, PA 25. Statue of Liberty, NY 26. The Mark Twain House & Museum, CT 27. The Breakers, RI 28. USS Constitution, MA 29. Acadia National Park, ME 30. Mount Washington Hotel, NH 31. Shelburne Farms, VT 32. Fox Theater, MI 33. Spring Grove Cemetery, OH 34. Mammoth Cave National Park, KY 35. West Baden Springs Hotel, IN 36. Abraham Lincoln’s Home, IL 37. Gateway Arch, MO 38. C. W. Parker Carousel Museum, KS 39. Terrace Hill Governor’s Mansion, IA 40. Taliesin, WI 41. Fort Snelling, MN 42. Ashfall Fossil Bed, NE 43. Mount Rushmore, SD 44. Fort Union Trading Post, ND 45. Glacier National Park, MT 46. Hanford Site, WA 47. Columbia River Highway, OR 48. San Francisco Cable Cars, CA 49. San Andreas Fault, CA 50. Hoover Dam, NV

These are all very enticing attractions, for the most part. It seems I’ve only seen 14 of those, so maybe I should hit the road again after all.

How about you? Tempted?

48-state roadtrip – city version

Here’s a map of the 2nd itinerary.

If you’re more of a city slicker, the map’s author has created a 2nd version that routes you through amazing cities instead.

It is slightly shorter but quite as impressive: it makes you go through the “Best City to Visit” in each state, according to TripAdvisor .

But you won’t have all the lower 48 states, unlike the other itinerary. That’s because no city in Vermont, West Virginia, or North Dakota made the top 400 cities to visit ranking, unfortunately. So plan on making a few extra detours if you want to hit all states at once with this version of the itinerary.

Here is the complete list of all cities:

• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Wichita, Kansas
• Denver, Colorado
• Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• San Francisco, California
• Portland, Oregon
• Seattle, Washington
• Boise, Idaho
• Park City, Utah
• Jackson, Wyoming
• Billings, Montana
• Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• Omaha, Nebraska
• Des Moines, Iowa
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Chicago, Illinois
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Louisville, Kentucky
• Columbus, Ohio
• Detroit, Michigan
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Manchester, New Hampshire
• Portland, Maine
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Providence, Rhode Island
• New Haven, Connecticut
• New York City, New York
• Ocean City, New Jersey
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Wilmington, Delaware
• Baltimore, Maryland
• Washington, D.C.
• Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• Charleston, South Carolina
• Orlando, Florida
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Birmingham, Alabama
• Jackson, Mississippi
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Houston, Texas
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Branson, Missouri

I do a little better on this list, with 31 already visited. You can see I love cities. How about you?

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If you were looking for an excuse to go on a roadtrip, this is it. And since we always enjoy giving you more for your money, we think 48 states instead of only 1 or 2 is something you’ll enjoy!

What’s the coolest roadtrip you’ve ever been on? Tell us in the comments below.

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Featured image: The itinerary (image credit: Randy Olson)

Original publication date: May 29, 2018

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Andrew D'Amours

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This post has 23 comments.

Hello Andrew, the PHD student suggests in the 1st Itinnerary that the one stop to make in Washington State is the Hanford Nuclear Reservation?! Flat out, that is a terrible idea. It is in the middle of nowhere, I am just shocked it’s mentioned. Out of all the beautiful and amazing places to see in such a diverse state as Washington, a Nuclear Site was chosen? Surely this student could have done so much better. Thank you for allowing comments.

Having been all around the Olympic Peninsula, I agree that’s there are better stops. But my understanding is that he really optimized for the quickest way to do all 48 and had to choose a point of interest that wasn’t too far off that optimal path, hence that choice (I think).

thanks for sharing this information with us.

I have taken a road trip from California to the the most northeastern part of theUS. west Quaby light house. it was my 1st trip across the us. .I seen so many amazing places.

Quite the drive for sure! Must have been epic.

Why do Americans always think the Statue of Liberty is in NY? it is in NJ. I’ve done road trips now that have taken in 39 states. Here’s a quiz to see how well you know the USA: Which state has only one syllable? Only one city has been name-checked on the moon. In which state is it? Which is the most Northerly of the contiguous states? In which state were Tennessee Williams and Elvis Presley born? Which was the last of the contiguous states to be admitted into the USA? Which four states all share a border with each other? Which state has the lowest population? Twelve cities are name-checked in “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” but only three states. Which? Which state has the longest name? Which two states have the most borders with other states? In which state is the geographical centre of the USA – and which one if you exclude Hawaii and Alaska? Which of the states of the USA has respectively the most Northerly, Southerly, Easterly and Westerly points?

The official Statue of Liberty address is Liberty Island, New York, NY, 10004.

Wow, these comments are very rude for no reason. Thanks for the article, maybe when I graduate from college I’ll consider hitting part of one of these itineraries.

“it’s a huge country (even larger than Canada when considering land area alone).”

Canada – 3.855 million mi² USA – 3.532 million mi² Where does this math fail you?

Where did reading fail you :P? It explicitly says “ when considering LAND area alone ” The quote you copied literally has a link provided under “even larger than Canada” and if you read that, it explains how Canada is only larger than the US due to water area being counted 🙂

There is no stop in North Dakota on the city version. You should stop in Fargo after Billings and before Sioux Falls

I’m 46 years old .. I have been to all 50 states and I’m 17 away from all 50 twice .. I have driven to 47 .. flown to Alaska, Hawaii and Washington..

Wow! That’s impressive :O

This is awesome

This is inspiring! Thank you for sharing!

“this roadtrip in only 9 days“ is extremely false statement. It is only 9 days if you are driving non stop, no breaks to even get out of your car, get gas, or actually see these places. From start to finish drive time it is 225 hours, 16 minutes = 9 days. Wow. Take some time to enjoy the view.

Yes, that’s what we said too 😛

Thanks for the tip 😊

Do you know the total distance of this itinerary? At what moment of the year doing this trip would be the best? Thanks!

Hi! It is 13,699 miles (22,046 km) for the landmarks itinerary and 12,290 miles (19,780 km) for the city version. You can even have the Google Maps links on the creator’s original post (I’ve reposted the link below). As for the timing, I guess it depends on your preferences, but I’d want to avoid that top half of the country (so half the itinerary) in the winter for sure! http://www.randalolson.com/2015/03/08/computing-the-optimal-road-trip-across-the-u-s/

Crappy itinerary! Does not even include Zion National Park… and so many stops in the North Eastern states?? Nobody cares about those places except maybe a couple of places.

As explained, the PhD student who built the itinerary wanted to have one stop per state, and there are many states in the North-East so that’s why there are many stops there. I agree that Zion is an iconic spot, but his goal was also to optimize a routing that was as short as possible so that’s why it’s billed as an itinerary to see all lower 48 states at once and not an itinerary to see *the best spots*. But those interested in doing this can definitely adapt it and add many interesting stops for sure 🙂

Curtis, you are crappy. Obviously this is meant as a guide that can be adapted to add spots. I think it’s awesome.

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Published: May 24, 2022 · 1 Comment · This post may contain affiliate links.

A 50 States Photo Map: The Best Way To Display Your Travel Adventures

We just got this awesome 50 States Photo Map, to document all our travels as a family. We love it so much! It's a great conversation starter, and pretty much everyone who sees it compliments it.

We've done hours of research, and the Thunder Bunny personalized USA Photo Map is easily the best option. It's the right size, has a very fair price point, and can be personalized by color/font/style. It comes with three different choices of frames that are the perfect depth for their multiple layers of die-cut mats. Best of all, they provide handy software that lets you customize your photos to the exact size and shape you need, and easily send them to a photo printer.

If you're going to make a personalized USA photo map, this is the way to go!

The 50 States Photo Map is available at Amazon , Etsy , and the Thunder Bunny Labs website . I recommend clicking through each to see if they are running a sale on one platform and not the other.

This is a fantastic gift! It could be an anniversary gift for your spouse, or a wedding gift for a new couple, or any kind of birthday or holiday! You can personalize it and wrap it up - your choice if you gather and print the pictures for them, or let them pick their favorites with you.

Read on for all the details about how this personalized USA picture map works.

It's made of 5 layers.

You can personalize it..

• There are 3 different frame styles.

The Thunder Bunny Labs Map Maker

Here's what you need to fill a 50 states photo map:, option 1: estimated cost of using walgreens to print, option 2: use an online printer to save, option 3: photo stickers now available, cutting out and affixing your photos, how big is it, not sure if this is the right option, amazing gift: a 50 states photo map to show off travel pictures.

One of the things that makes this option the best 50 states photo map is that it comes with several layers of mat and background. This adds really nice depth to the overall display, making it look very classy and high-quality.

First there's the cardboard layer (#1) that makes everything fit snugly, but this is completely covered by the actual background layer (#2). This layer is printed with the states in neutral colors, which will show until you visit them and add a photo. You'll cut out your states and use double-sided tape to attach the photos to this layer.

Then there is a white die-cut layer (#3) of all the state outlines. The beauty of this layer is that it makes all your states look clean and precise, even if you didn't cut them out perfectly! Some of those states are tricky, with all their jagged edges and river boundaries.

I think that this layer is what makes your finished map look so professional, and what makes the Thunder Bunny 50 States Photo Map way better than the competition.

Then there is a laser-cut mat (#4) that just has the outline of the continental US plus Alaska and Hawaii. This mat adds another layer of depth to the finished product, and also comes in several colors!

You can choose from a medium gray (called Driftwood), a medium blue (called Caribbean), a dark green (Zucchini), Sienna, White, or Black. There is also an option that has the bordering states printed on it like an actual map so that Canada and Mexico are visible.

I ended up choosing the white mat since I wanted our pictures to pop against the white color.

Finally, there's a clear acrylic layer (#5) to protect all your photos. This layer comes with lined with plastic on both sides to protect it from any scratches while shipping.

All those layers come super well protected in a shipping box.

Thunder Bunny has 4 options for what style of words you can add to the USA Photo Map. There are different fonts and placements, depending on what you like. Then when you order you just list which numbered style you want and what words those should be.

The personalization is on the top map layer. We got our family name printed on it, to keep track of all the places our family has traveled together.

This is the link for the personalized version from Amazon . This is the link for the personalized version from Etsy .

A personalized US photo map would make a really sweet wedding present for a new couple! You can add their names and wedding year to several of the options.

There are 3 different frame styles .

You can choose a frame from Thunder Bunny in white, black, or weathered gray. It comes super well packaged, with all the corners protected in a big box.

Of course, you can buy this US photo map unframed, but it's much easier to get the frame they have already prepared to fit their product perfectly.

Basically, all these options mean you can absolutely create a personalized USA Photo Map, in whatever color scheme or style you want!

I debated a lot about the frame color and ended up going with the gray frame. I think the black would have been really classy too though!

How Do You Make The Photos Shaped Like A State?

Printing state-shaped photos sounds like it could be a huge headache. Everyone wonders "how do you get the photos in the right shape?"

Don't worry - this company has already solved the problem.

Thunder Bunny offers a map maker on their website, that lets you upload pictures and print them in the exact size you need!

It is truly genius, and the only way I would have undertaken a project like this.

Here's the mapmaker site: https://www.thunderbunnylabs.com/mapmaker

You'll have to make an account, but it's super easy and convenient to have all your pictures available in their software. Then pick your template; I wanted the 50 states picture map template, but you can pick whatever one you're working on.

Then, you click a state and upload the photos you want to put in that state. You can drag and drop a photo into the template, or find it in your files.

The map-maker has functions to scale, rotate, and move your photo around the state template. It makes it super easy to adjust your picture to be the most pleasing in some of those odd shaped states!

You can even add multiple photos to each state to make a collage . (None of their competitors have this ability!) This is super helpful for bigger states like Texas and California, or frankly any of them. You can add up to 10 photos per state.

One of the things I loved was that you can preview what your map looks like as you make it! Each state fills in on your map as you add pictures to it, and everything is saved for each time you print a batch of photos.

That makes it easier to choose between picture options when you can see what states it borders.

For example, you might realize a scenery shot looks better next to a close-up in a bordering state. If you care about aesthetics, this really helps you design a really beautiful 50 States Picture Map.

How Much Does It Cost To Print Photos ?

After you've used the map maker, you have three options to fill your US Photo Map.

• You can print your photos at Walgreens using the built-in function
• You can download the files and print them at a printer of your choice.
• Or, their NEW option is to order photo stickers (no cutting necessary!)

Walgreens is obviously super convenient, especially if you want to use same-day pickup. It's a matter of only a few clicks and they go right to Walgreens. (You don't order in the Walgreens website or app - just start in the Thunder Bunny Labs site and it connects it automatically.)

Or, you can just download the files and print them where ever you'd like. To do this, you just click the green Print To Walgreens button and you'll see the dropdown option to download a JPG file.

Either way, you'll need a certain number of 8x10 and 5x7 images to fit the larger states, and then everything else goes on 4x6 prints.

We calculated 3 big 8x10 inch prints (for California, Texas, and Alaska), 8 medium 5x7 inch prints (for the states like Nevada, Montana, Utah, etc), and then 39 more 4x6 inch prints for the smaller states.

One of the things I really like about Thunder Bunny's map maker is that it automatically combines small states onto a 4x6 print if they can fit them. For example, Hawaii fits nicely on a 4x6 print with many different small states like Ohio.

It's cheaper to combine states where you can, but how much money you save just depends on the order you are ready to print your photos.

The Map Maker is automatically set up to print at Walgreens. It's super easy to just click the "send to Walgreens" button and choose your location. You can even use the same-day pickup to get your prints in about an hour!

Your estimated cost would be:

3 Large States x $3.99 = $11.97 8 Medium States x $2.99 = $23.92 <39 Small States x $0.35 = 13.65 Total: $49.54 to print at Walgreens

It's about $50 total to print all the photos you need at Walgreens for your 50 states picture map.

You could also save out your images from the map maker, and then print them somewhere else.

Online printers such as Mpix and Shutterfly usually offer better quality prints and often have sales that make them cheaper than a local big box store.

However, you'll also have to include shipping fees and whether or not you can combine it with other products to hit free shipping.

Your costs will vary here, depending on sales and their pricing. But here's the same scenario at other retailers.

Printing at Mpix (Full Price listed, but there are often sales)

3 Large States (8x10) x $2.99 = $8.97 8 Medium states (5x7) x $1.49 = $11.92 <39 Small state (4x6) x $0.33 = $12.87 Total: $33.97 to print at Mpix.

Printing at Shutterfly (Full Price listed, but there are always sales)

3 Large States (8x10) x $3.95 = $11.85 8 Medium states (5x7) x $0.99 = $7.92 <39 Small state (4x6) x $0.18 = $7.02 Total: $26.79 to print at Shutterfly.

Obviously, it all depends on how many states you're printing, shipping costs, and if you want the convenience of same-day pickup or you're willing to wait. The beauty of it is you can make that decision each time you print states for your USA Picture Map!

Mpix or Shutterfly will give you cheaper prints if you have a lot of large states, so that might be a good option for your first order.

But if you're only printing a few at a time then Walgreens is quite convenient, especially since it's all connected inside the Map Maker system. You choose!

Thunder Bunny Labs now offers printed photo stickers of your photos! It's one of the options in the dropdown. These stickers are precut in the correct size and shape - just peel and stick, no cutting.

The only trick is that stickers change the cost of filling your map considerably. However, it might be worth it for the time and effort of cutting out the states yourself.

Your cost for stickers would be:

5 Large States x $5.00 = $25 35 Medium States x $2.50 = $87.50 10 Small State x $1.25 = $12.50 Total = $125 to fill your map with Thunder Bunny Labs Stickers

So it's 2-3x as expensive as printing photos and cutting them yourself. It's certainly convenient, so if you're not crafty, this might be a good option!

Once the photos were printed, we found it really easy to cut out our images. They are already perfectly sized, so it was just cutting them out on the line!

Since I had a ton of pictures to add at once, we just had a cutting party and got them all done in a few minutes.

One of the beauties of the multiple layers is that you didn't have to be perfect about all those crazy river boundaries! The photos will be sitting behind a die-cut inner "window" layer with all the states, which makes the finished product look super professional.

I didn't cut out individual Hawaii islands either, since the layers would cover that up too.

Then I just laid that bottom state layer on the floor, and used double-sided tape to attach all the photos ...It was way easier than making tape loops! Once your photos are all on the bottom layer, just stack up the layers and carefully slide them into your frame.

This frame is especially awesome because it's deep enough for 5 layers and is very durable, for taking things in and out a lot. Just flip it over and hang your USA picture map. Tada!

This 50 States Photo Map is 36x48 inches (3 ft by 4 ft). The 5 layers are all the same, and stacked together.

I chose to buy the frame directly from them, and it's high-quality. The included frame adds another two inches on every side, and it comes with heavy-duty hardware already attached. It also has cool clips that make it easy to access the back of the map, to slide your layers in and out.

The Thunder Bunny Labs frame is definitely the best option for a Personalized USA Photo Map. Even if I were to get a different frame on amazon, it's not likely it would be deep enough to handle their 5 different layers: (the cardboard back, the sheet you put the puts on, the cutouts of each state, the cutout of the entire US, and the clear plastic layer.) So I was very pleased with this frame.

Everything comes super well protected in a shipping box. We had no issues with chips, scratches, or anything.

Overall, we were incredibly impressed with our 50 States Photo Map .

We've filled it with photos, and now we're itching to go on a back east trip! Since we're missing a whole lot of states over there. And darn Oregon, for some reason?!

It's been a delight to go through old pictures and reminisce with the kids about all the places they've been (about 30 states for the oldest kids - the younger ones missed a few trips we took before they were born.).

I think a USA picture map like this is an excellent present for someone who loves to travel or WANTS to travel. It's the perfect way to display some adventures and a great conversation starter.

You can buy this USA Photo Map is from Thunder Bunny Labs, which is widely available on Amazon , Etsy , or their own website .

I also did a write-up about other maps I researched, so you can save yourself some time and check that post for two other photo map options are out there .

However, I do believe that the Thunder Bunny Labs US Photo Map is the best pick - you really can't go wrong with the quality and cost!

Reader Interactions

November 22, 2022 at 8:03 am

Thanks for the great write up Meg! We've put a ton of work into our photo map products over the years and it's wonderful to know it helped you create such an amazing photo map. We're always adding new features to the Map Maker and strive to keep making it the absolute best photo map product in the world.

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• Travel Products

Thunder Bunny Labs 50 States USA Photo Map

• Add your own photos to each of the 50 US states to capture a lifetime of memories and create a one-of-a-kind map showing where you’ve been or where you’re going.
• Use our free online Map Maker tool to crop the desired picture to the state of your choice. Send the pictures directly to Walgreens for pick up or print them yourself at home.
• Available with or without a frame. The 36″ x 24″ mats fit in most standard frames.
• The outer border comes in a variety of colors. You can see all of the color options in the product images.
• The USA Photo Map is comprised of 3 mat boards: An outer border cut in the shape of the United States, a white inner border which contains all the state cutouts and provides a good contrast for photos and beautiful background mat with the name of each state printed on it.

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• The USA Photo Map is comprised of 3 mat boards: An outer border cut in the shape of the United States, a white inner border which contains all the state cutouts and provides a good contrast for photos and beautiful background mat with the name of each state printed on it. 

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CAPTURE YOUR FAMILY TRAVELS WITH THIS 50 STATES TRAVEL PHOTO MAP

By: Author Agnes Hsu

Posted on Last updated: July 29, 2019

Categories Home , Latest , SHOP!

Photo credit: Thunder Bunny Labs

If your family has the travel bug and is looking for a fun way to show off all your adventures, you’re going to love this 50 States Travel Photo Map . It’s the perfect way to showcase your travels using real-life memories.

One of the best parts of traveling is getting to see the beauty of the states. But what happens when you lose track of just how many states you’ve been to? This is where this states photo map is really awesome.

The concept is wonderfully simple and it gives you the chance to showcase your favorite family photo from each state that you’ve been.

Simply print off your family photo, and place it in the allotted space of the state that it was taken in. Just like that, you’ve created a photo album that also shows your travels.

This 50 States Photo Map is also really helpful to use when planning your next adventure as well. You simply pick a state you haven’t visited before and know that right away by there not being a photo in that area.

Get your camera and smile ready because your next trip is certain to make it into your 50 States Photo Map!

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Disclosure:  Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive a small affiliate commission. Regardless, we give our promise that we only recommend products or services we would use personally and believe will add values to our readers.

Agnes Hsu is a mom of three and has been inspiring parents and kids to get creative with easy activities and family friendly recipes for over 10 years. She shares her love for creative play and kids food to her 2MM+ followers online. Agnes' commitment to playful learning and kindness has not only raised funds for charity but also earned features in prestigious nationwide publications.

• Agnes Hsu https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/author/timhsu/ Two Ingredients DIY Chalk Paint
• Agnes Hsu https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/author/timhsu/ Introducing My New Hello Wonderful Craft Kits!
• Agnes Hsu https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/author/timhsu/ Mother's Day Handprint Flower Craft
• Agnes Hsu https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/author/timhsu/ How To Make Rainbow Foil Art

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50 States / 10+ Countries #TravelGoals

50 State Travel Journal

Hello! Welcome to my chronical of my family of four’s (2 kids, 2 adults) mission to get to all fifty states before both of my kids graduate from High School. This means, we will be done in about 11 to 13 years… Our rule is that we all have to travel to the state together as a family for the state to count toward this goal.

So, far, we have focused our initial travels in the Midwest, where we are from, and are saving the more glorious trip for when my littlest one can remember most of experiences. (She will turn 4 in 2021, so we are getting there!)

While I hope you find my family’s personal journey entertaining and helpful, you will find more detailed (and less me focused) articles on the rest of the FiftyTenTravel website . I will link to these articles as helpful resources on this journal page.

How We are Keeping Track

Half the fun of having a goal of visiting all fifty states is finding creative ways to keep track and document your visits!

50 State Travel Journaling and Check-List Ideas

Here are a few of the creative ways to keep track of your 50 state goal.

• Fifty State Travel Photo Map – We have a giant photo map where we can put a photo in for each state. This is the most visual and fun way we keep track of all of our states visited. We have it displayed in our dining room in a frame that allows for easy access to adding new photos. When it is complete, we will find a more permanent frame. Our map is from Thunderbunny, and I would recommend it. I am very satisfied with their state printing app and options. Moreover, the map itself is beautiful.
• Travel Journal – Etsy has a few good printable options (digital downloads) for 50 States Travel Journal searches. You can also make your own easily. However, I prefer documenting our travel via…
• Family Photo Albums – I use Shutterfly to print off family photo albums for each season of the year. This seems to be the best way for me to journal about our fifty state travel.
• States Visited Apps – There are a few apps that are very basic that let you check off states. I have downloaded them, and then deleted them. Let me know if you have found something worth keeping!

Our 50 State Family Travel Chronical

From 2017 – 2020, we went to 13 states together as a family. Focusing on states close by that were easier to travel to with small children. Since we live in the Midwest, these are also states that we will most likely visit more than once, and more often.

However, we only document in our 50 states travel journal when we have been to them for the first time. So far, for 2021, we have four to five more states on our list. We will just have to see how the end of the Covid pandemic goes…

Our 50 States Travel Check-List Map 2017 – 2020

Our travel map with 2021 plans, state one: nebraska – “home state advantage”.

We live in the Eastern side of Nebraska. Our favorite places to visit in our home state include:

• The Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha
• Arbor Day Farm and Lied Lodge, Nebraska City
• Morrill Hall Museum, Lincoln
• Fontenelle Forrest, Bellevue
• Durham Museum, Omaha

State Two: Utah

Summer 2017. We have family in various parts of Salt Lake City, so we have been all around that area. However, our favorite memories come from Snowbird Ski Resort. Our girls have so far only been to Snowbird in the summer time, but they are getting old enough to ski – so we might be back there in the winter soon.

State Three: Kansas

Summer 2017. This is a bordering state for us, and Kansas City (which shares space with both Kansas and Missouri) is a great little get away for our family. (Or fun stop on the way home from somewhere south!)

The first time we ever went down with both children was for a family reunion, with a quick friend visit as well. The favorite activity was the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. It was a perfect farm experience for my then 3 year old and baby – from bottle feeding goats to ridding horses.

State Four: Minnesota

Fall 2017. We also have family up in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area of Minnesota, as well as in Stillwater. We went up there this time for a short film premier my cousin was hosting.

State Five: Wisconsin

Fall 2017. Visiting Wisconsin was a piggy-back off of our Minnesota trip! We have another cousin who owns a farm right on the Wisconsin border to Minnesota. We were able to bring our girls to their farm for an afternoon of farm play, feeding pigs and visiting with family.

State Six: Missouri

Fall 2018. We ended up revisiting some familiar places this year. As a result, the only new state we brought the girls to in 2018, was Missouri. We explored the Ozarks, Branson and Table Rock Lake. It was rainy, but fun. Our hotel had a great little indoor water park with some splash activities, a pool and a water slide.

The hit of our trip was going “Golf Cart Hiking” at Big Cedar Lodge on Table Rock Lake. It was a perfect way to bundle up and adventure through the caves, bridges and water features around the lake area.

State Seven: Iowa

Spring 2019. Iowa is another boarder state. We travel through it whenever we go east. We also have some family in this state! The first time we visited Iowa with both of our girls (not in utero – that doesn’t count!) we stayed in Des Moines. Our trip was a weekend excursion to swim at the hotel pool, visit the Science Museum, and most importantly, to eat our favorite barbeque at The Flying Mango. (We also have a hard time passing up Wedding Cake Shakes at Zombie Burger!)

State Eight: Colorado

Summer 2019. I remember our 2019 Colorado trip as the time I drove the 8 hour journey all by myself with both of my tiny girls in the back! We made it, but only after visiting every rest stop along the way. Either for my then 2 year old to pretend to potty-train at rest stop toilets or for me to get out of the car to fix someone’s tablet. My husband’s work flight was late getting back to town, so I drove and he flew into Denver to meet us!

In Denver, we visited friends that live there and visited breweries, museums and even braved La Casa Bonita for the girls.

State Nine: South Dakota

Winter 2019. We visited Sioux Falls, South Dakota right before the new year. It was great to see the Christmas Lights on the falls and to drive through the park with Christmas lights timed to music. The girls also enjoyed the Science Museum there. Our hotel was a perfect set-up for our family with a kid friendly pool and a suite style – separated bedroom area we weren’t even expecting!

State Ten: Wyoming

Summer 2020. And then . . . there was Covid. As did most everyone’s, our elaborate travel plans for 2020 went down the toilet. I did get a girls’ trip with my mom and sister to Estero Beach, FL in February, right before lock down. However, due to Covid, we are mourning the loss of trips to London, Maui, and Las Vegas.

When we couldn’t stand the cabin-fever any more, we packed up the girls (and my mother-in-law) and headed out on a 14 hour car trip to Utah. On the way, we broke up the trip with a stay close to Cheyenne, WY at Little America. This particular Little America hotel / resort is a very favorite among everyone in my in-law family. It is kitschy cute with an unrenovated charm.

I am sure we will be back this way to visit Yellowstone when the kids are older.

State Eleven: Florida

Summer 2020. Donning our masks and packing our sanitizer, we flew down to Destin, FL for our summer vacation – Covid Style. I personally had not been to Destin for 15 years or so, but I had remembered it a lot sleepier than it in fact was…

Even with busy beaches and elevator rides to the 23rd floor, where we looked over the ocean from our VRBO condo, we managed to avoid Covid. We socially distanced by ordering food to go, or sitting outside at a beachside restaurant.

We had the pools to ourselves each morning and watched the sunset over the ocean every night, and overall it was very low-key. Our favorite excursion was hiring a boat to drive just our family out into the gulf to see dolphins, and even sharks, swim up close to us.

State Twelve: Alabama

Summer 2020. We drove over to Orange Beach, AL from our Destin condo one sunny afternoon to visit the Warf. When I was planning this little day trip, it was pre-Covid times, so I imagined a hopping, fun time at the Warf. In reality, it was dead quiet. There was no one there, which was fine, since we could then park right beside the giant Ferris Wheel, pay for tickets and instantly ride.

Our Alabama trip ended with ice cream. It was all pretty fun, and the ride home along the coast introduced us to our next place in FL we wanted to stay – Navarre Beach. We booked a VRBO for April 2021 in Navarre – a very quite, socially distanced beach town. So looking forward to it…

State Thirteen: Oklahoma

Fall 2020. In another attempt to get away from it all which still socially distancing, we booked a short trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is about a 6 hour car ride from our hometown. We stayed on Skiatook Lake in a cute cabin for two nights and then two nights closer to the city at a sleepy hotel with a pool we could basically have to ourselves the whole time. Our favorite activity was Tulsa’s amazing outdoor park – The Gathering Place.

State Fourteen: Arkansas

Winter 2021. As of now, this is our next trip. We are still traveling with covid-precautions, so our plans include secluded stays and outdoor eating and activities. We are looking forward to the Crystal Bridges Museum’s North Forest Lights outdoor light experience.

Plans for 2021

As of now, our planned new states to visit for 2021 are as follows:

• Arkansas – Winter 2021
• Illinois – Summer 2021
• Indiana – Summer 2021
• Michigan – Summer 2021

We will also be visiting Florida again in the Spring of 2021, this time to Navarre Beach. Which should be much less crowded than Destin. We are being very flexible this year still as we wait for the world to catch up and open back up!

Matador Original Series

This Road Trip Expert’s Free Map of 429 National Park Sites Will Vastly Improve Your US Travels

J ason Barnette is a writer and photographer, but most importantly, he’s a road trip expert. Barnette spends between eight and nine months of the year on the road, touring the United States at a slow pace. And like every solo road tripper worth their salt, Barnette likes a good map. That’s why he created a map of all 429 National Park sites —and made it accessible to anyone.

Barnette is the man behind Road Trips & Coffee , a blog for all who, like him, think that driving is the best way to get an up close and personal view of the US. Whether that’s the mountains, the people, the beaches, the cities, the historic sites, or the remote roadside gas stations, Barnette wants to see it all on four wheels, and he wants to inspire others to do the same.

Barnette created the of map of all 429 National Park sites in 2022, when his plan was to drive to every state capital in the continental US in the span of eight months. His idea was to use the map so he could fill the days in between destinations by visiting nearby National Park sites. While his Capitals Road Trip never happened — he spent six months exploring South Carolina’s nook and crannies by car instead — he’s kept the map and has even made some changes to it so it’s more user friendly and up to date.

Out of the 429 National Park sites in the US, Barnette has only visited 46 so far (he went to the first one, Blue Ridge Parkway, in 2011). But bumping his National Park sites numbers isn’t Barnette’s goal. He doesn’t count countries obsessively, and he certainly has no interest in rushing to see every National Park site.

“I want to stay in every National Park site I visit long enough to experience it and write about it,” he tells Matador in a phone interview.

Barnette is actually the model slow traveler. Not only does he spend no more than 100 miles per day on the road, but his main road trip rule is to not use any interstate highways during his drives. While honorable and a lot of fun, this self-inflicted limitation has its downsides — his future Alaska road trip, for one. While not planned just yet, it’s Barnette’s ambition to ride as many of the routes as possible on the 3,5000-mile Alaska Marine Highways.

Photo: Jason Barnette

Barnette’s used to spending a very long time on the road. In 2017, he drove the path of the solar eclipse from Charleston, South Carolina, to Paducah, Kentucky, and it took him three months to complete the 1,000-mile trip. In 2018, he spent 30 days driving the 441-mile Natchez Trace Parkway. In 2021, he spent another 30 days on the road driving everywhere from the mountains to the beaches in North Carolina.

While Barnette’s health unfortunately forces him to stay put for most of 2024, he’s got big plans for 2025. He’ll return to the road with a series of road trips across the eastern half of the US, visiting every Revolutionary War site in the country. Along the way, he’ll write road trip itineraries, destination guides, and inspiration for how people can explore the country’s 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution that begins on April 19, 2025.

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County Road 26 to open Monday for local, critical trips

Limited travel for commuters using the lake city cutoff opens after state and county collaboration as bridge closure continues.

Montrose and Gunnison Counties — This weekend, CDOT and Gunnison County are working together to accelerate improvements to County Road 26 (Lake City Cutoff) so it can open Monday for local commuter travel between Montrose and Gunnison.  At the same time, engineers continue to conduct safety inspections of the US Highway 50 bridge crossing the Blue Mesa Reservoir at Dillon Pinnacles. This bridge, located west of Gunnison at Mile Point 136.3, closed Thursday in the interest of public safety after an inspection revealed a crack in one of the girders. The technical structure name for the bridge is K-07-B. 

Recognizing the US 50 closure creates a significant detour for commuters traveling between Montrose and Gunnison, CDOT and Gunnison County officials this weekend prioritized getting a shorter access route in place for local travel between the two communities. That collaboration will continue as officials work to further fortify the road with gravel and manage traffic to a level that the road can safely carry.

“We are starting slow in order to increase the chances we can go faster later. The impact on western Colorado cannot be understated and we are exhausting all opportunities and partnerships to mitigate the impacts of the bridge closure,” said Martin Schmidt, Assistant Gunnison County Manager for Public Works.

On Monday, April 22, pilot cars will lead  passenger vehicles through the access route two times a day in each direction. Because CR 26 is a high-mountain, unpaved road that is not intended to accommodate the traffic volumes of US 50, travel times will be limited and commercial vehicles exceeding a 16,001 gross vehicle weight rating are prohibited. The schedule for piloted travel is:

• 6 to 6:30 a.m. and 6 to 6:30 p.m. for westbound travel 
• 7 to 7:30 a.m. and 7 to 7:30 p.m. for eastbound travel 

The queue for westbound pilot car operations will start near the intersection of CO 149 and CR 26 and the queue for eastbound travel will start near the intersection of US 50 and CR 26. The travel time on the access route is expected to be 30 minutes or more.

County Road 26 will only be open for local, essential travel during these timeframes. The road will remain closed at all other times for the ongoing restoration work needed to ensure the road remains safe for travel.

A hotline and email continue to be in place to assist customers with questions about the closure. Anyone with questions can reach out via 970-648-4423 or [email protected] . Calls will be closely monitored and will receive a prompt reply. Information is also available on the project website at bit.ly/us50bridge . Travelers should refer to COtrip.org or the smartphone COtrip Planner app to plan an alternate route.

“CDOT appreciates Gunnison county’s dedication and hard work as we cooperate to offer more options to help the western slope manage this safety closure.  CDOT will continue to support the county as we focus on the opening of County Road 26 to serve the critical needs of residents,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “County Road 26 is an important local route that is up to five hours more efficient than detouring via state highways. However, this road currently has a natural roadbed and can only accommodate limited traffic - so it is important that we help Gunnison County focus this capacity on the needs of local communities most impacted by the closure.”

There are two recommended detours for through travel via Interstate 70 to the north or US 160 to the south and these detours add six to eight hours of travel time. CDOT is coordinating with emergency service providers to ensure emergency response is unaffected.

Travel Impacts  

• US 50 is closed between Montrose and Gunnison
• Recommended alternate routes are I-70 to the north or US 160 to the south
• A limited, local detour is in place for travel at specific times

Project Contact Information 

For additional information about this project, contact the project team.  

• Webpage: bit.ly/us50bridge
• Information hotline: 970-648-4423 
• Email: [email protected]  
• Fact Sheet: County 26 Local Access
• Hoja informativa del proyecto:  Ruta de acceso local en la County Road 26

Download the COtrip App!

The new free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!

U.S. 50 bridge failure shows fragile state of Colorado infrastructure, Axios analysis finds

Data: National Bridge Inventory; Map: Thomas Oide/Axios

Each day in Colorado, an average of 281,000 vehicles travel on bridges in "poor" condition, a new Axios analysis finds.

Why it matters: Last week's closure of a critical bridge over the Blue Mesa reservoir — along with the bridge collapse in Baltimore last month — is directing attention to the state of America's infrastructure .

Threat level: Colorado counts 32 bridges in "poor" condition and is directing millions a year toward their repair, faring better than most states , our analysis of the National Bridge Inventory found.

• That's a fraction of the 3,000-plus bridges the Colorado Department of Transportation oversees.
• But roughly 60% are in "fair" condition, just a measure better and at risk of further deterioration, according to federal data.
• 35% of the state's bridges are rated "good."

Zoom in: The U.S. 50 bridge that closed at the reservoir was listed as "fair" in the federal data and wasn't on a separate list for state repairs. But a recent safety inspection found a 3-inch crack developed in a steel support beam.

• The timeline for reopening is unclear and the state transportation department is vowing to give it all resources possible.
• The detour is so long that students are taking a boat across the reservoir to get to class.

Between the lines: Colorado's dedicated money for bridge repair comes from a series of fees on motorists dating back to the 2009 FASTER program . The effort received an additional boost from fees on delivery services put in place in 2021, agency reports show.

• The bridge repair account is $159 million, or about 8% of the transportation department's budget.
• This year's state budget will infuse an additional $5.8 million.

Data: Federal Highway Administration ; Map: Will Chase and Kavya Beheraj/Axios

Yes, but: Even as the money grows, so does the problem . 162 structures are in the queue for repairs, agency documents show , which is the most in at least six years.

• Another 33 structures are in design phases while 33 are currently under construction.

How it works: A bridge in "poor" condition is not at risk of imminent collapse. The National Bridge Inventory has three grades below poor which indicate structural issues may necessitate bridge closures.

• Few bridges are currently rated in "serious" or "critical" condition. Bridges that reach those levels are typically fixed or closed.

By the numbers: The average year of the "poor" bridges built in Colorado is 1953, and the vast majority have been labeled as such for more than 10 years.

• The county with the worst bridges is El Paso, the state's largest, with six in "poor" condition. Adams, Eagle, Larimer and Park counties all have three, the latest data shows.

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