I’ve been to all 50 states. I’m not in a rush to return to these 5, even though I liked visiting them.

In my opinion, North Dakota is one of the country’s most otherworldly and beautiful states. Although I consider it worth a visit for anyone who appreciates plains, prairies, badlands, and wildlife, it is — to me — the sort of place that’s a once-in-a-lifetime visit.

The state’s remoteness and lack of larger cities (only Fargo has more than 100,000 residents) make it a place that isn’t necessarily as easy to visit on a quick weekend trip.

Since things are more spread out, this trip requires more planning than others. So, although I’d love to go back eventually, I probably won’t find myself there again soon.

Even though I haven’t visited every corner of Indiana — and enjoyed my previous visits — I don’t see myself returning anytime soon.

I prefer visiting many of the states around Indiana and am constantly working to get back to them. For example, Michigan and Wisconsin are two of my favorite places to visit

Though Indiana has a major national park, Indiana Dunes, I’d rather visit the sand dunes in Michigan or simply head to Chicago, which is less than an hour from the park.

Because of its proximity to my home in Colorado, I find myself traveling through Nebraska quite often. I’ve visited the state dozens of times and have traveled to many outdoor recreation opportunities, parks, and unique destinations throughout the state.

Though I’ve had a blast exploring Omaha’s vibrant art scene, and Scotts Bluff National Monument is simply stunning, the landscape isn’t one I would choose over the surrounding areas in South Dakota or Wyoming.

Kansas has more to offer than the traditional plains many people think of, but I still find the landscape to be somewhat monotonous.

I did love exploring hidden gems like Monument Rocks’ giant chalk formations, which rise dramatically from the plains.

But although the state’s mostly rural and agricultural nature is charming, I’d rather be in nearby Colorado or Missouri for more diverse landscapes.

This one is tough because I think Nevada’s state parks are some of the most amazing in the country. I even have fun on an occasional trip to Las Vegas. The only problem I have with Nevada is the remoteness of some of the highways.

The state is home to what Life magazine dubbed the “Loneliest Road in America” in 1986. The stretch of US Route 50 that crosses the state is remote, isolated, and vast.

I’ve enjoyed driving the road and other areas of the state more than once. But lately, I’ve felt more comfortable knowing that others are nearby when I’m traveling solo.

Correction: June 18, 2024 — An earlier version of this story mistakenly included Illinois rather than Kansas in the summary bullets as one of the states the author wouldn’t return to.

Correction: June 20, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated that the author has family in Nebraska.

This story was originally published on June 20, 2024, and most recently updated on September 29, 2026.