Geography has always been one of my strongest subjects ever since I was in elementary school. I knew all the 50 U.S. states by the time I was in fifth grade, and then all the countries in high school. I’m an avid Geoguessr player, where you’re dropped into a random part of the world and it’s up to you to figure out where you are.
That being said, it’s a bucket list item of mine to go to all 50 states, and so far I’ve been to exactly half of them. Some of the state trips have been more substantial than others, but if I’m stepping on the state’s ground, then I count myself as having been to it.
After inspiration from Lanaya Oliver’s article, Ranking the States By Where I’d Live Post-Grad, I wanted to give my own opinion about my favorite states based on the one’s I’ve been to. This is my own and very subjective ranking:
25. Oklahoma
The one time I drove through Oklahoma and stopped for lunch was a very mundane experience. Dead grass, windy, and flat. I can’t imagine ever staying there for more than a few days. It seems like there’s nothing to do either. Sorry to all of those who live in Oklahoma.
24. New Jersey
New Jersey was just… weird. The ambiance I got from it when I stepped out to take a picture on the side of the road was stiffening, and it felt like run-down New York City. This was a difficult rating since I know a lot of friends from New Jersey who love the state, but I just wasn’t feeling the same positivity.
23. South Dakota
It’s been a while since I’ve been to South Dakota (about 17 years…), but from what I remember it wasn’t super special. They have Mount Rushmore, but that’s the only attraction that draws someone into the mediocre state.
22. Nebraska
Nebraska was one of the two states I drove out to with my dad just to say that I’ve been to Nebraska. I was in it for maybe 15 minutes and haven’t been back again. The only reason it’s higher than South Dakota is because I would rather live in Nebraska since it’s more centralized to bigger cities.
21. Wyoming
I’ve been to Wyoming so many times I can’t count. My family used to have a house up there and my sister was born in Gillette, so this state has been ingrained in me. However, I’ve never been a huge fan. It’s so windy and cold, and most of all: empty. That’s great for some, but intimidating for me. While it does have some amazing natural beauty, I can’t see myself ever living here.
20. Kansas
Kansas was the other state that I went to just to say I’ve been to it. Overall, I think that Kansas has more to offer than Nebraska and Wyoming, and it’s closer centrally to other larger populated states.
19. Idaho
Driving through Idaho was beautiful, but the state isn’t appealing to me after that. It was fine, but it doesn’t feel like a place I would enjoy being in.
18. Nevada
I’ve been to Las Vegas once, and the other times I’ve been in Nevada was to drive through. Driving through North Nevada is the most painful thing ever, since it’s just nothingness for hundreds and hundreds of miles. But because of Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe, it’s merely acceptable in my mind.
17. Maryland
I can’t even remember why I went to Maryland–it was during a Washington D.C. trip in 6th grade when I traveled there. The state doesn’t seem bad by any means. It’s pretty average.
16. North Carolina
Out of all the states, I’m probably not allowed to even say I’ve been here because I didn’t leave the airport. However, I’m still choosing to include it. The Charlotte Airport was pretty cool and I could see myself enjoying the state if I got to go out and explore.
15. Arizona
I went to Arizona in the dead of winter and absolutely loved it. However, I definitely can’t see myself going during the summer and enjoying myself because of the heat. Even in the winter it was too hot. Also, there’s not a lot of scenery unless you like cacti.
14. Virginia
Virginia was also another state we visited because of the Washington D.C. trip. I know a lot of people from Virginia who like it there, and I could see myself visiting their beaches on the coast.
13. New Mexico
One of the top places to travel right now are the White Sand Dunes in New Mexico, that’s partially why this state is so high. I think it has an awesome atmosphere and seems pretty down to Earth. It’s not my first place to live or spend a lot of time in, but it’s not the worst either.
12. Texas
I have very mixed thoughts about Texas. I’ve driven through the state, tip to tip, and hated my life during the process; on the other hand, I could seriously see myself living in San Antonio or Austin. It’s the cities that make it interesting, and everything else that I find unappealing.
11. Montana
During a road trip to Oregon, we spent a night in Montana on the way there and on the way back. Honestly, I loved it. The scenery was amazing and I really want to go back to explore their national parks. The only thing that lowers the rating is the distance that the state is from any large cities.
10. South Carolina
I spent a week in South Carolina in Charleston and it was an amazing vacation. Their beaches are to die for and it wasn’t too hot or cold when I went either. I’m not sure if South Carolina counts as the South, but this would be my state of choice to live in if so.
8. Massachusetts
I truly didn’t “see” Massachusetts, it was more of a drive through and get out type of situation for this state. It’s very similar to a lot of the Eastern coast states though, so that’s why I’m putting it up so high. I want to go back and visit Boston very badly.
9. Utah
The older I get, the more appreciation I have for Utah. Their national parks are incredible and they have a lot of amazing climbing spots that I want to go to. I do think that the mostly Mormon culture would be a little odd for me to live in, however.
7. New York
New York as a whole is a very cool state. It’s amazing to be in the city and then drive up a few hours to see the most luscious forests and corn fields upstate. I don’t think I could ever live in New York City, but it had an ambiance like no other place I’d been before.
6. Vermont
During my trip to New York, we drove into Vermont to check it out for a little bit of the day. This state is the perfect mix of being away from the big city hustle, but close enough to the resources that big cities provide. I’d love to visit Vermont again and see everything.
5. Oregon
I spent almost three weeks in Oregon going up its coast during the summer. Since then I can’t get the thought of living in Oregon out of mind, it’s likely that I might end up living there. I love being around water, and could easily see myself living in a house in Coos Bay at some point in my life.
4. Connecticut
If I were to live on the East coast, Connecticut would be it. It’s close enough to New York for a day trip or even commuting if necessary, but the state itself is more quiet and beautiful. From the trip for ice cream I took at 10pm at night, Connecticut was love at first sight.
3. California
Everyone in Colorado seems to talk bad about California, but this is the most realistic place I see myself moving to after college. Whether it be the Bay Area, L.A., or near San Diego, I feel like there’s a city in California I would love to be in. The only thing that scares me is all the natural disasters recently, which I would have to keep an eye on when it’s time to seriously consider where I’m heading after school.
2. Colorado
It’s so funny: when I was younger, the only thing I wanted was to get out of Colorado. Now, it’s hard for me to imagine moving out and not returning. The opportunities in Denver are so much more vast than I thought, along with the natural beauty of the mountains and familiarity to home. I’d like to move out of the state for a little while, but I do have every intention of moving back some time.
1. Washington
The first time I had been to Washington was in the Seattle airport on the way to China 10 years ago; now I’m planning my third trip within the year to head back. I have friends in Wasington, but Seattle and the natural beauty are what pulls me back to the state every time. I haven’t found a place in Washington that I’ve disliked so far, even though I’ve only been on the Western side. Still, this state easily deserves the number one spot. I could go over and over again and never get bored.
In Final
During my lifetime, I hope to go on a month-long road trip and hit as many of the states I haven’t been to yet. Though I realize that simply stepping into the state and calling it a day isn’t the best way to truly explore a state, I do plan to further explore the ones I’m interested in later on. San Francisco in California, Glacier National Park in Montana, and Hartford, Connecticut are my next top destinations.