Visiting the U.S. Capitols: A 50-State Travel Challenge

After reaching our goal of visiting all 50 U.S. states, we found ourselves asking the inevitable question: “What’s next?” While we love exploring international destinations, we also have a deep appreciation for the beauty, history, and diversity found right here at home. We wanted to keep discovering and to keep inspiring others to set out on their own adventures.

So we started brainstorming a new challenge, something meaningful, educational, and just a little off the beaten path.

That’s when the idea came to us:
Why not visit all 50 U.S. State Capitols?

We’re sharing this journey in hopes that you’ll be inspired to join the challenge, or if not physically going yourself, to enjoy the adventure through our eyes! Join us as we explore the architecture, history, and heart of every state Capitol in the United States.

Why We Chose to Visit the U.S. State Capitols

Each Capitol building represents more than just the center of state government. These landmarks are windows into American history, architecture, and civic pride. Some are grand and ornate, others are modern or minimalist, but all are worth seeing.

Here’s WHY Capitol visits became our next great challenge:

• 🎯 A New Goal with Purpose: Having a clear, specific goal keeps us motivated and focused. Visiting all 50 Capitols gives our travel direction and a sense of accomplishment with every stop.
• 🏙️ Discovering New Cities: This challenge takes us beyond major tourist spots and into cities we may have otherwise overlooked, offering a deeper, more diverse look at America.
• 📚 A Chance to Learn Something New: Every Capitol is a living history lesson. Walking the halls where laws are made, exploring each state’s unique political journey, and picking up fascinating facts along the way.
• 💸 Free and Accessible: Most Capitol buildings are free to visit and often offer guided tours. That makes this challenge both budget-friendly and welcoming.
• 🏛️ Incredible Architecture: From shimmering gold domes to sleek Art Deco designs to grand Greek Revival columns, each Capitol showcases its state’s personality through stunning design.
• 📸 A Photographer’s Dream: Capitol buildings are packed with photo-worthy details; rotundas, staircases, skylights, and towering chambers. Inside and out, the architecture makes for unforgettable shots.

Whether you’re a history buff, road tripper, architecture lover, or simply looking for a new travel goal, this challenge offers a deep dive into America’s diverse identity one Capitol at a time!

Fun Fact: Capitol vs. Capital

Did you know these two words aren’t interchangeable?

• Capitol (with an o) refers to the building where government leaders meet.
  👉 Example: The U.S. Capitol is in Washington, D.C.
• Capital (with an a) refers to the city that serves as the seat of government.
  👉 Example: Denver is the capital of Colorado.

🧠 Easy Tip: “CapitOl = Building” (think “Oval” dome!)

Our 50-State Capitol Journey

We’re sharing our experiences below from each of the 50 state Capitols. If we’ve already visited, you’ll see a photo and a link to our full story with detailed highlights, tips, and must-see features inside the building. For those still on our list, we’ll update this post as we go, so keep checking back!

How to Follow this Challenge:

We’ve organized all 50 U.S. State Capitols below in alphabetical order for easy browsing. For each Capitol, you’ll find:

• The city where the Capitol is located
• The year the state was admitted to the United States
• A photo of the Capitol (if we’ve visited it!)
• A📍Visited section with Yes if we have visited or Not Yet
• Linked stories 🔗for the Capitols we’ve explored

📸 Picture & 📍Visited Icon

If you see a photo next to a Capitol, that means we’ve been there! In the details, you’ll also see a clear “Yes” or “Not Yet” beside📍Visited.

🔗 Links to Our Capitol Adventures

As we visit each state, we’re writing detailed stories that bring the experience to life! Complete with photos, fun facts, and personal insights from our journey. Once a story is published, we’ll link it here so you can follow along and explore every unique Capitol with us!

State Capitol Checklist Tracker ✅

We use a green check mark ✅ to indicate that we’ve both visited the Capitol and published the full story about our experience. This simple visual cue helps us, and our readers, track our progress across all 50 states.

If a Capitol has been visited but the green check mark is not yet displayed, it likely means:

• We are still in the process of writing or publishing the related story.
• We may have visited the Capitol grounds but were unable to tour the inside.

This system allows us to stay organized while giving our audience a clear view of where we’ve been and which stories are still on the way!

Capitol Directory: Alphabetical Order

We’ve listed all 50 U.S. states below, with a special bonus at the end: the United States Capitol!

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

The United States

Tips for Starting Your Own Capitol Travel Challenge

Want to follow in our footsteps? Here’s how to get started:

✅ Make a Capitol Checklist

Create an alphabetical list like the one we’ve shared above, and use your own green check mark ✅ to track the Capitols you’ve visited.

Fun idea to try: We’ve also started ranking the Capitols based on our experiences and once we’ve visited them all, we’ll share our full ranking and reflections in a special story. You might want to start your own rankings too as you go!

🔍 Research Ahead

Capitol tours vary by state. Most allow self-guided tours, while some also provide official guided tours filled with fascinating stories and access to areas you might not see otherwise.

🏙️ Explore the Surrounding Area

Most Capitols are located in vibrant cities or historic districts. Take time to explore what makes each destination unique, as there’s often more than just the dome!

One of our favorite tools for discovering new experiences in capital cities is GetYourGuide. From guided tours to cultural excursions and local gems, it offers a curated selection that makes planning easy and fun. Make the most of your trip and explore what each capital has to offer!
👉 Check out GetYourGuide HERE

📸 Take Great Photos

Capture the rotunda, chambers, dome from the outside, and staircases. Take lots of pictures to remember your adventure. Hint: Zoom in on some of the pictures you take as you might be amazed by the intricate details you might have missed while visiting in person.

Final Thoughts: What This Journey Is Teaching Us

Visiting all 50 U.S. State Capitols is giving us a deeper appreciation for the diversity and unity of this country. Every building tells a different story, shaped by the people, cultures, and landscapes that define each state. It’s a journey through history, politics, art, and the American spirit.

We hope our adventure inspires you to explore more, dig deeper, and find joy in the places that make this nation great.

We hope our adventures inspire you to start your own Capitol Challenge!

Ready to plan your own Capitol adventure?
Visit our Travel Resources page to explore all the tools we use to make every trip smooth, fun, and unforgettable. We’ve got you covered!

Mind Set On Travel Disclaimer

Mind Set On Travel contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of our links, we may receive compensation from the company at no additional cost to you. Read our disclaimer here.

🗺️ Tip: Bookmark this page so you can check back to see if new Capitols have been explored and new links added!

Join us on the journey to all 50 U.S. State Capitols!

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🎁 As a thank-you, you’ll receive a FREE Capitol Travel Checklist to kickstart your own Capitol challenge!

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