I've traveled to all 50 states. Here are 6 mistakes I made while trying to see each one.
- After visiting all 50 states solo, there are some things I wish I'd done differently.
- I should've considered the downsides of traveling to certain places during the offseason.
I started traveling solo nearly a decade ago when I turned 30. In the beginning, I didn't have any grand plans to visit all 50 states or every national park — I just knew I wanted to experience new places.
However, as I traveled more, my goals changed, and nearly two years ago, I visited my 50th state. However, that's not to say I didn't make some — or a lot of — mistakes along the way.
Although I don't like to have regrets, there are some things I'd recommend other travelers consider before embarking on a similar quest.
Here are six mistakes I made on my journey to see all 50 states.
I didn’t always take advantage of geographic neighbors.
Although this may seem like common sense, I didn't always consider visiting neighboring states together when planning my travels. For example, despite visiting the Northeast — specifically, Maine — several times, Vermont was the 50th state I visited.
I loved my trip to visit Vermont exclusively, but it would've been much easier and cheaper to have planned a side trip to see the state while I was already in the Northeast.
I often skipped certain places I wanted to visit, thinking I’d go on my next trip to the state.
Conversely, I wish I'd spent more time in certain states instead of prioritizing getting to the next place.
Knowing I set out to see all 50 states, I sometimes felt rushed to get to the next one. Often, that meant skipping over attractions in the state I was in and telling myself I'd visit next time.
However, I can only take so many trips in a year, so it's hard to know when the next time will be.
For example, I wish I had made time to see more spots in Maine outside the coastal areas.
I should've considered the downsides of traveling during the offseason.
Although traveling during the offseason means better rates and fewer crowds, doing so has prevented me from experiencing some states to their full potential. Weather, especially in the North and higher-altitude locations, can often result in road and business closures.
Weather conditions have also impacted how much I was able to explore a state. For instance, I first visited Arizona in August, and the heat was so extreme that I could only spend the mornings and evenings outdoors.
I sometimes ended up spending way too much time driving.
The West is huge, and although a day spent driving is a great way to experience gorgeous views, I prefer making frequent stops.
When I first started on my adventure to see all 50 states, I'd sometimes spend four to six hours a day driving. Looking back, though, I wish I'd spent more time exploring what was along the road.
I've spent many subsequent trips returning to places in the West that I had previously driven by and wished I had made time for while I was there.
I wish I had documented each state in a more uniform and organized way.
When I started solo traveling, I didn't have the goal to visit all 50 states, so there are several states that I only have one or two photos of — some of which I'm not even in.
Traveling isn't just about taking pictures, of course, but I wish I had chosen a more uniform way to document each state. Even a simple selfie can be a great way to remember a place and the memories there.
I also wish I had spent more time journaling on trips or recording the places I visited each day to remember what I did and easily relay my recommendations to others.
I should've joined rewards programs sooner.
When I first started traveling, I looked for flights, hotels, and rental cars that worked within my budget and didn't consider joining travel rewards programs.
For frequent travelers like me, I believe the advantages of airline status and travel credit cards cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, I missed out on many benefits during the years I didn't take advantage of these programs.
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