Randal S. Olson · Optimal road trips
An optimized road trip to 36 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 36round trip
Distance 7,965 mi12,818 km
Time driving 156 hours6.5 days nonstop
Legs 36all by road
Take the route with you
Google Maps Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
Apple Maps Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
Stops in order
1 State House 164 mi (264 km), 3 h 14 min driving to 2. Maine State House 2 Maine State House 181 mi (291 km), 4 h 26 min driving to 3. Vermont State House 3 Vermont State House 170 mi (273 km), 3 h 55 min driving to 4. New York State Capitol 4 New York State Capitol 197 mi (318 km), 4 h 9 min driving to 5. New Jersey State House 5 New Jersey State House 125 mi (202 km), 2 h 27 min driving to 6. Pennsylvania State Capitol Building 6 Pennsylvania State Capitol Building 361 mi (581 km), 6 h 51 min driving to 7. West Virginia State Capitol 7 West Virginia State Capitol 164 mi (263 km), 3 h 21 min driving to 8. Ohio State Capitol 8 Ohio State Capitol 187 mi (301 km), 3 h 40 min driving to 9. Kentucky State Capitol Building 9 Kentucky State Capitol Building 207 mi (334 km), 3 h 55 min driving to 10. Tennessee State Capitol 10 Tennessee State Capitol 287 mi (462 km), 5 h 23 min driving to 11. Indiana State Capitol 11 Indiana State Capitol 209 mi (336 km), 3 h 59 min driving to 12. Illinois State Capitol 12 Illinois State Capitol 269 mi (433 km), 5 h 9 min driving to 13. 2 E Main St 13 2 E Main St 260 mi (418 km), 4 h 53 min driving to 14. Minnesota State Capitol 14 Minnesota State Capitol 437 mi (703 km), 7 h 37 min driving to 15. North Dakota State Capitol 15 North Dakota State Capitol 210 mi (337 km), 4 h 1 min driving to 16. 500 E Capitol Ave 16 500 E Capitol Ave 423 mi (680 km), 8 h 7 min driving to 17. Wyoming State Capitol 17 Wyoming State Capitol 101 mi (162 km), 1 h 52 min driving to 18. 200 E Colfax Ave 18 200 E Colfax Ave 541 mi (870 km), 9 h 13 min driving to 19. 300 SW 10th Ave 19 300 SW 10th Ave 168 mi (270 km), 3 h 24 min driving to 20. Nebraska State Capitol 20 Nebraska State Capitol 191 mi (307 km), 3 h 32 min driving to 21. Iowa State Capitol 21 Iowa State Capitol 273 mi (439 km), 5 h 21 min driving to 22. Missouri State Capitol 22 Missouri State Capitol 337 mi (542 km), 7 h 3 min driving to 23. Arkansas State Capitol 23 Arkansas State Capitol 343 mi (551 km), 6 h 56 min driving to 24. Louisiana State Capitol 24 Louisiana State Capitol 176 mi (283 km), 3 h 15 min driving to 25. 400-498 N West St 25 400-498 N West St 248 mi (399 km), 4 h 51 min driving to 26. Alabama State Capitol 26 Alabama State Capitol 207 mi (333 km), 4 h 23 min driving to 27. 402 S Monroe St 27 402 S Monroe St 264 mi (425 km), 5 h 27 min driving to 28. Georgia State Capitol 28 Georgia State Capitol 212 mi (342 km), 3 h 57 min driving to 29. South Carolina State House 29 South Carolina State House 225 mi (363 km), 4 h 17 min driving to 30. North Carolina State Capitol 30 North Carolina State Capitol 154 mi (248 km), 3 h 11 min driving to 31. Virginia State Capitol 31 Virginia State Capitol 140 mi (225 km), 2 h 51 min driving to 32. Maryland State House 32 Maryland State House 66 mi (106 km), 1 h 34 min driving to 33. Legislative Hall: The State Capitol 33 Legislative Hall: The State Capitol 276 mi (445 km), 5 h 54 min driving to 34. Connecticut State Capitol 34 Connecticut State Capitol 76 mi (122 km), 1 h 42 min driving to 35. Rhode Island State House 35 Rhode Island State House 49 mi (79 km), 1 h 8 min driving to 36. Massachusetts State House 36 Massachusetts State House 68 mi (110 km), 1 h 24 min driving to 1. State House