Randal S. Olson · Optimal road trips
An optimized road trip to 23 U.S. state capitols
Restored in 2026 with open data. Originally published June 5, 2016. Read the original post . Routes are recomputed on OpenStreetMap, so distances can differ from the original.
Stops 23round trip
Distance 4,143 mi6,667 km
Time driving 83.7 hours3.5 days nonstop
Legs 23all by road
Take the route with you
Google Maps Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Apple Maps Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Stops in order
1 State House 116 mi (186 km), 2 h 19 min driving to 2. Vermont State House 2 Vermont State House 170 mi (273 km), 3 h 55 min driving to 3. New York State Capitol 3 New York State Capitol 291 mi (469 km), 5 h 51 min driving to 4. Pennsylvania State Capitol Building 4 Pennsylvania State Capitol Building 361 mi (581 km), 6 h 51 min driving to 5. West Virginia State Capitol 5 West Virginia State Capitol 164 mi (263 km), 3 h 21 min driving to 6. Ohio State Capitol 6 Ohio State Capitol 187 mi (301 km), 3 h 40 min driving to 7. Kentucky State Capitol Building 7 Kentucky State Capitol Building 163 mi (263 km), 3 h 8 min driving to 8. Indiana State Capitol 8 Indiana State Capitol 209 mi (336 km), 3 h 59 min driving to 9. Illinois State Capitol 9 Illinois State Capitol 206 mi (331 km), 4 h 2 min driving to 10. Missouri State Capitol 10 Missouri State Capitol 337 mi (542 km), 7 h 3 min driving to 11. Arkansas State Capitol 11 Arkansas State Capitol 256 mi (412 km), 5 h 21 min driving to 12. 400-498 N West St 12 400-498 N West St 248 mi (399 km), 4 h 51 min driving to 13. Alabama State Capitol 13 Alabama State Capitol 161 mi (259 km), 2 h 59 min driving to 14. Georgia State Capitol 14 Georgia State Capitol 212 mi (342 km), 3 h 57 min driving to 15. South Carolina State House 15 South Carolina State House 225 mi (363 km), 4 h 17 min driving to 16. North Carolina State Capitol 16 North Carolina State Capitol 154 mi (248 km), 3 h 11 min driving to 17. Virginia State Capitol 17 Virginia State Capitol 140 mi (225 km), 2 h 51 min driving to 18. Maryland State House 18 Maryland State House 66 mi (106 km), 1 h 34 min driving to 19. Legislative Hall: The State Capitol 19 Legislative Hall: The State Capitol 113 mi (182 km), 2 h 22 min driving to 20. New Jersey State House 20 New Jersey State House 171 mi (276 km), 3 h 56 min driving to 21. Connecticut State Capitol 21 Connecticut State Capitol 76 mi (122 km), 1 h 42 min driving to 22. Rhode Island State House 22 Rhode Island State House 49 mi (79 km), 1 h 8 min driving to 23. Massachusetts State House 23 Massachusetts State House 68 mi (110 km), 1 h 24 min driving to 1. State House