What Happens When You Visit 29 States in a Single Year
Most people dream about the ultimate American road trip. Fewer actually do it. Last year, one couple — taking full advantage of remote work flexibility — packed up and spent an entire year traveling across the United States, passing through 29 different states along the way. The experience was eye-opening, exhausting in the best possible way, and filled with discoveries that no travel guide could have fully prepared them for.
Not every state left the same impression. Some were so breathtaking, so full of character and hidden gems, that returning feels like a matter of when, not if. Others were perfectly enjoyable — great even — but checked all their boxes in a single visit. Here is a detailed look at the states that stole their hearts, the ones they feel satisfied leaving behind, and what any aspiring road tripper should take from the experience.
The 3 States They Can't Wait to Return To
1. Michigan: The Most Underrated State in America
Ask most Americans to name a must-visit US destination and Michigan rarely tops the list. That, according to this well-traveled couple, is a serious oversight. Michigan turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the entire year-long journey — a state with an almost unfair variety of landscapes, attractions, and experiences packed within its borders.
From the stunning tulip farms and Dutch-inspired architecture of Holland to the rugged beauty of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan offers something genuinely different from any other state in the Midwest. The Great Lakes coastline alone rivals beaches found anywhere in the country, with stretches of white sand dunes along Lake Michigan that feel more like the Caribbean than the heartland. Add in charming small towns, a thriving culinary scene in cities like Detroit and Grand Rapids, and some of the most affordable travel costs compared to coastal destinations, and you have a recipe for a state that rewards repeat visitors.
For remote workers and long-stay travelers in particular, Michigan's combination of natural beauty, strong Wi-Fi infrastructure in urban areas, and relatively low cost of living makes it an ideal base for an extended stay.
2. Vermont: Small State, Enormous Charm
Vermont is the kind of place that gets under your skin. One of the smallest states in the country by both area and population, it somehow manages to pack in more authentic character per square mile than almost anywhere else in the US. The couple fell in love with Vermont, and it is easy to understand why.
Whether you visit in the blazing colors of fall foliage season, the snow-draped quiet of winter, or the lush green warmth of summer, Vermont consistently delivers postcard-worthy scenery. But it is more than just pretty views. The state has a deeply rooted culture of local craftsmanship, farm-to-table food, independent bookstores, artisan cheese makers, and craft breweries that make every small town feel worth exploring at length.
Towns like Stowe, Woodstock, and Montpelier offer a pace of life that feels refreshingly human in an era of over-tourism and crowded hotspots. Vermont rewards slow travel — the kind where you linger over a maple latte, take a wrong turn, and stumble upon a covered bridge with nobody else around.
3. South Dakota: Where the American West Gets Epic
South Dakota may be one of the least-visited states in the US, but it arguably contains some of the country's most dramatic and historically significant landscapes. The couple found plenty to fill their days — and their camera rolls — during their time here.
The Badlands National Park alone is worth the trip. Its alien, layered rock formations shift color with the light throughout the day, creating a visual experience unlike anything else in North America. Then there is Mount Rushmore, which despite being one of the most photographed monuments in the world, still manages to impress in person. The Black Hills region offers hiking, wildlife spotting — particularly bison in Custer State Park — and a rugged western atmosphere that feels authentic rather than performed.
For travelers who want to feel the true scale and wildness of the American landscape, South Dakota delivers in a way that few states can match.
The 2 States They Probably Won't Revisit Soon
1. West Virginia: Seen the Best of It
West Virginia is genuinely beautiful — nobody is disputing that. The New River Gorge, recently elevated to national park status, is spectacular. The Appalachian scenery is rugged and authentic, and the state has a rich cultural heritage tied to Appalachian music, coal mining history, and outdoor adventure sports like whitewater rafting. The couple had a great time there. The thing is, they also feel like they saw the highlights. West Virginia is a state where the bucket-list experiences are relatively concentrated, and once you have ticked them off, the pull to return is not as strong as it might be for a state with a seemingly endless list of undiscovered corners.
2. Idaho: Beautiful, But Covered Ground
Idaho is another state that surprised them with its beauty — particularly the dramatic Snake River Canyon, the sand dunes of Bruneau Dunes State Park, and the outdoor recreation around Sun Valley. Still, much like West Virginia, Idaho felt like a destination where they genuinely saw what they came to see. With so many US states still on the list and limited travel days each year, returning to Idaho in the near future is unlikely to win out over somewhere entirely new.
What a Year of US Road Tripping Actually Teaches You
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from a year spent zigzagging across 29 states is this: the United States is far more varied, beautiful, and surprising than most of its residents give it credit for. States like Michigan and South Dakota sit quietly waiting for travelers who assume they need a passport to find something extraordinary.
Remote work has made extended domestic travel more accessible than ever before. For anyone considering a similar adventure, the advice from this couple is simple — go, stay longer than you think you need to, and keep an open mind. The states that surprise you most are rarely the ones you expected to love.