50 States. 50 Welcome Pictures.

Exploring the US to get a picture with each "Welcome To ___" sign.

[welcometomystate]

Walked easily across the road with no one in sight to take the Arkansas picture. Perhaps one day I'll have more time to come back and actually explore/be in the state.

State 44/50. Arkansas. March 12th, 2026. 34 years old.

[welcometomystate]

Left the Gulf Coast this morning, took an interview from a coffee shop in Jackson, MS, then carried on just to hit the Arkansas state sign. Drove by a whooole lot of nothing for a few hours to get here. Based on where the shoulder was though to safely pull over, I actually got the Louisiana one first.

State 43/50.

Louisiana.

March 12th, 2026.

34 years old.

[welcometomystate]

Spent 3 nights exploring New Orleans and doing city life, and now I am onto the driving portion of my trip/state sign getting part. First up, driving out of Louisiana and into Mississippi for a night of exploring the Gulf Coast and spending time by the water!

State 42/50. Mississippi. March 11th, 2026. (I got my last state sign almost a year ago to the day!) 34 years old.

[welcometomystate]

So this means:

After this trip,

there will only be 2 states in the US I haven't been to: North Dakota and Oklahoma.

Pictures remaining: Alaska, Vermont, North Dakota, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Illinois

[welcometomystate]

Finally, after several years, I'm planning my Southern Hospitality trip.

Lost my job and have a bunch of interviews secured, so going to use what I think will be a small window of funemployment to go on a solo trip (ideally I'd go with others but people have jobs!)

It's March so still too cold to visit a lot of mountainous places I'd like to visit, so Im going to go to the Southern states I've never seen and bop around there before it gets too hot! I'm flying in and out of New Orleans and will get my state sign pictures for Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

I have no idea how I am going to spend my time yet but I am excited for this solo adventure!

Edit: Flying into NOLA where I'll spend a few days, explore the Gulf Coast in MS, drive through Jackson to hit the Arkansas state sign, then will complete the loop with my last night in Lafayette. Excited!

[welcometomystate]

States I have left

this was a pain to figure out…

1. Alaska - I’ve been, but no picture (this one is going to be the hardest to get).

2. Louisiana

3. Mississippi

4. Vermont - I’ve been, but no picture

5. Arkansas

6. North Dakota

7. Tennessee - I’ve been, but no picture

8. Oklahoma

9. Illinois - I’ve been, but no picture

[welcometomystate]

New state this weekend!

My fiance and I went to Pensacola, FL for the weekend to visit some of her (and now my) friends. Pensacola is only 15 minutes away from Alabama so we got the sign! Totally underwhelming, but the Florobama complex right on the state line was a total hoot.

State 41/50. 
Alabama. 
March 7th, 2025. 
33 years old.

[welcometomystate]

Was trying to figure out which states I have left

and I realized I never posted my New Jersey photo!

I have been so many times, too! We used to go on the weekends all the time as a kid.

Very late add, but here we go.

State 40/50. 
New Jersey. 
December 25, 2015. 
24 years old.

[welcometomystate]

It’s hard to believe it’s been so many years since I’ve gotten a state sign photo, but I guess that makes sense with only having relatively few left.

This is on the border of Texas and New Mexico on the road between Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Carlsbad, NM. I’m on a trip traveling through Texas and New Mexico to visit a bunch of national parks. I’ve been to Texas many times but this is the first time I’ve been able to get the photo! Feels great to scratch this one off and I’m looking forward to the remaining 11!

State 39/50. 
Texas. 
July 3rd, 2023. 
31 years old.

[welcometomystate]

Now that I live back east, it’s been easier to hit some new state signs. After delaware, I just have Vermont left before I knock out all of the east coast. This weekend, I drove to Philly to visit a friend in town from Seattle. On the way home, I ran some errands in delaware and pulled over to snag the shot. State 38/50. 
Delaware. 
April 15, 2018. 
26 years old.

[welcometomystate]

Spent my last day on this trip driving to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, which is super close to the border with Nevada. Drove the extra bit and grabbed the pic! State 37/50. February 22nd, 2018. 26 years old.

[welcometomystate]

New Mexico! One of the last stops on my trip was to see Four Corners (where Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado all meet). The New Mexico sign was right at the entrance of the monument. It’s such a bummer that people put so many stickers over it. State 36/50. February 21st, 2018. 26 years old.

[welcometomystate]

Came to bars alone in Durango, CO and I’m actually having a really good time.

[welcometomystate]

If there’s one state sign, there’s always another. Utah was gorgeous! Filled with lovely hikes and beautiful scenery. I’ll surely be back! February 20th, 2018. State 35/50. 26 years old.

[welcometomystate]

I recently left my job and before starting my new one, I took a week off to do some solo adventuring. I’m out hiking in Utah, with quick pit stops in Colorado and New Mexico. I’ve always wanted to come here, so I’m excited I’ve made it!

February 20th, 2018. State 34/50. 26 years old.

[welcometomystate]

KENTUCKY!

I started traveling to Cincinnati for work a few days ago, which I found is RIGHT across the river from Kentucky! You could literally walk. In my case, I run.

This sign has no doubt been the most difficult to get. There are several bridges that connect Kentucky to Cincinnati, but they are ALL overheard! One is on the side of the road on a major highway but there is no space to pull over. SO to get this one, I waited til rush hour was over, hopped over the side rail, ran into the road, snapped it, and ran back. AHH!

I can’t believe I have so many done. These next bunch will be the hardest to get. Looks like pretty mouth the South is missing and a few exceptions throughout the rest of the nation!

October 18th, 2017.

State 33/50.

26 years old.

[welcometomystate]

Aaaand the last state sign I was able to get on my trip, Ohio.

I have been to Ohio several times before, but never driving through. I stopped here to get an E Z Pass for my car and kept on going to make it to DC by the end of the night.

I still have a lot to cover, but pretty impressed I’ve been keeping up with this project and posting. Cheers to more adventures! Hoping to cross off Delaware and Vermont this year to clear off the East Coast, and then start adventuring to the South to see more of America.

Happy travels! 

State 32/50.

August 31st, 2017.

26 years old.