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The United States is the world's fourth-largest country by landmass, and it's divided up into 50 states + Washington D.C. (this article will not consider the external territories like Puerto Rico). If one would be happy with just stepping foot into a state over the state line even for a minute, then it's actually surprisingly easy to visit all the states. This article will also not consider air travel - except for Alaska and Hawaii.
A similar ultimate road trip question is how long would it take to drive the Pan American Highway from Alaska to Argentina? While one may never actually embark on these challenging road trips, it is still fun to know and muse about. But one thing is for sure - it is not possible to see all 50 States in one day.
The Mad Dash Road Trip Through The Lower 48
A 6,813-mile drive is the minimum it would take to physically step foot in all the Lower 48 states and the District of Columbia. This route was figured out and calculated by data blogger Stephen Von Worley in 2012 - he called it the "Fifty, Swiftly" route.
- 6,813 Mile Road Trip: To See The Lower 48 States
- Begin/End: South Berwick, Maine - Taft, Montana
- Time: 124 Hours (Lower 48)
- Average: 2.6 Hours Per Contiguous State
If one can maintain an average speed of 55 mph, have the needed stops, and rotate fresh drivers, it is theoretically possible to visit all the contiguous states of the United States in just under 124 hours.
This route cuts as many corners as possible and starts at South Berwick in Maine and ends in Taft in Montana. In many places, it only just grazes the outer edges of states - like the panhandle of Florida and the Four Corners of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. At the Four Corners, one would just jump out of the car and walk around the Four Corners without even needing to drive into Arizona and New Mexico at all.
One can see the route planned out in steps in Google Maps - if the route doesn't display correctly, then go to Stephen Von Worley's Data Point website and see the original route there.
For those planning this trip, perhaps the most practical vehicle would be a small box truck outfitted with a bed and fridge for the team of drivers.
Getting To Hawaii And Alaska By Air
Of course, one can't drive to Hawaii, so one will need to fly there. If the aim is also to see all the states as fast as possible, then the quickest way to Alaska is by airplane. Flying to each of these states would add around 36 hours (depending on the layovers etc.) which would put the grand total at around 160 hours. In other words, theoretically, one could see all the states in a week (with something like 8 hours to spare).
- Time To See All The States: Around 160 Hours
- Week: Has 168 Hours
- Average: 3.2 Hours Per State
- Number of Days To Cross All 50 States: 7 Days
Getting To Alaska By Road
But if one would like to make as much as possible a road trip, then it is also possible to take a road trip up through Canada's British Columbia.
- Hyder: Tiny Alaskan Panhandle Settlement Only Accessible By Road From Canada
The trip wouldn't be as long as one might think as one wouldn't need to go all the way through British Columbia and the Yukon Territory into Canada. At the southern end of the Alaskan panhandle is the tiny American settlement of Hyder - that can only be accessed by road through Canada.
But still getting to Alaska by road will be a might detour. Continuing the Lower 48 route from where it left off in Taft, Montana it would be another 22 hours and 1,183 miles according to Google Maps. It would certainly be quicker to fly.
Drive To Alaska From Taft, Montana:
- Time: 22 Hours
- Distance: 1,183 Miles
While it is mathematically the quickest route by road, when Worley published it in 2012 he hadn't done it or known anyone else who had. Maybe someone has by now - or perhaps it's still waiting for someone crazy enough to dash across the states in record time.