# How many Canadian provinces and US states have you been? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 27, 2022, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615 "2022-11-27T03:57:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/21 "2022-11-27T12:54:30Z")
At one time I had the privilege of frequently flying all over Canada on business and getting to really know and love this country. Still, unless I’m misremembering I think I’ve missed out on PEI and Newfoundland. As for the US, it’s probably easier to name the states I’ve been to than those I haven’t. Have been to California and New York multiple times, Massachusetts and New Hampshire a huge number of times, Hawaii and Texas once; Colorado, Louisiana, and Washington once or twice. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/22 "2022-11-27T12:55:13Z")
I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve never been to Canada. I’ve been to a lot of states, though. Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Georgia Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Missouri Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Washington, DC West Virginia Wisconsin That’s 29. So, little over half. A few, like W. Va, I haven’t spent a night in, but I have driven through them numerous times on the way east from Indiana, that my cumulative time there adds up-- and yes, I got out of the car. I’ve eaten more meals there than I can count, went with my mother over and over to a crystal ware outlet she loved, and gone to other attractions there, like a place called The Train and Toy Museum when my son was 3. ---
**Author:** ![AdamF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/adamf/32/6246_2.png) [@AdamF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AdamF)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/23 "2022-11-27T13:04:03Z")
By earlier definition, I have spent at least 24 hours in all provinces and Northwest Territories. I have been in 21 states: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Michigan, Virginia, Maryland, New York and New Jersey, Massachusetts and Florida. Having driven coast to coast twice, I drove though a couple more. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/24 "2022-11-27T13:09:52Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > By my own definition, I’ve been to 25 states and 4 provinces. The OP didn’t ask, but I’ve also been to 12 U.S. National Parks. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/25 "2022-11-27T13:17:53Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > A few, like W. Va, I haven’t spent a night in, but I have driven through them numerous times on the way east from Indiana, that my cumulative time there adds up-- and yes, I got out of the car. That’s a decent alternative way to define it. Flying through airports doesn’t count, just driving through doesn’t count, but if you slept there or walked outdoors, you scored. By that more relaxed standard I’ve never been to 4 states: ID, MT, ND, and VT. In fact to the best of my knowledge I’ve never been to those 4 by any standard. Everywhere else I’ve either slept there or at a minimum walked around outdoors there while driving through. In addition to PR mentioned in my earlier post, by your relaxed standard I’ve also scored USVI but still am missing Guam, the Marianas, and American Samoa. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/26 "2022-11-27T13:42:54Z")
31 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the USVI, 6 Canadian provinces (YT, NWT, BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. Also, at least 25 national parks and 23 national monuments. Oh, and 38 countries. ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/27 "2022-11-27T13:43:49Z")
I’m 50 of 50 on US states, 9 of 13 on Canada’s provinces & territories, and 52 of 63 on US national parks. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/28 "2022-11-27T14:00:56Z")
Have never set foot in Canada. I’ve been to every U.S. state that is both east of the Mississippi River **and** south of the Great Lakes, save for South Carolina; as well as Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado, Nevada and California. I’ve also been to airports in both Portland (OR) and Phoenix (AZ) but was in and out in a few hours. I’ve also been to USVI and Puerto Rico for a few hours each (cruise ship). ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/29 "2022-11-27T14:00:57Z")
Twenty-seven states and five provinces, with the 24 hour rule. I’ve avoided the deep south and lower midwest and intend to keep doing that. Of them all, I really only want to see Cape Breton in Nova Scotia again. My traveling days are pretty much done. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/30 "2022-11-27T14:03:46Z")
I’ve been to Ontario, and these U.S. States: Alabama Alaska Arkansas California Colorado Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Missouri Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Primarily through work. Interestingly, I’ve never set foot in Arizona. I _might_ have driven through parts of Virginia. And technically I think I was in Maine when I visited the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/31 "2022-11-27T14:16:54Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > (I’m defining “been to” as actually spent more than 24 hours on the ground. Nope, the official qualification is leaving the airport to do something to get state or place recognition. Overnight in Montana, you’ve been to Montana. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/32 "2022-11-27T14:35:13Z")
Easier for me to list the states and provinces I’ve NOT been to: States I’ve missed: South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Hawaii. Provinces/territories I’ve missed: PEI, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, NWT, Nunavut. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/33 "2022-11-27T14:47:45Z")
One province (B.C.), and not counting the several evenings in Windsor, Ontario. Twenty-four states for me (resided in three). ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/34 "2022-11-27T15:02:06Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > States I’ve missed: …Wyoming I’ve been to Wyoming once. There was an incident at one of the MMIII silos, so my coworker and I had to visit F.E. Warren AFB for a week. We flew in to Denver then headed north. I will never forget driving up to the Wyoming border on Route 25… look left, look right, and “nothingness” as far as you could see. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/35 "2022-11-27T15:41:55Z")
Only Ontario for Canada. I have been in roughly 35 states. Some probably don’t count, like Delaware, because we visited it so we could spend a few hours with one of dad’s cousins back in about 1973. ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/36 "2022-11-27T15:48:54Z")
I’ve visited pretty much all of them. I’ve not visited the Canadian territories (Yukon, NWT, etc.), but I have been to PEI. All 50 states; the last two on my list were Georgia and Hawaii. For Georigia, I spent about 4 days in a hotel during wintertime–it was a biz. conference. For Hawaii, it was my honeymoon in 2003. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/37 "2022-11-27T15:55:50Z")
I used to drive around the country a lot. I also flew to several IT Conferences. My Navy time added a few extra states and Vancouver. I seem to have 40 total. Only British Columbia in Canada so far. I’ve missed the North West from the Dakotas over. The far North East and Arkansas. > **Summary** > > 1. Hawaii > 2. DC > 3. NJ > 4. NY > 5. Conn > 6. RI > 7. Mass > 8. Penn > 9. Del > 10. Maryland > 11. Virginia > 12. W. Virginia > 13. NC > 14. SC > 15. Georgia > 16. Florida > 17. Ohio > 18. Indiana > 19. Illinois > 20. Missouri > 21. Nebraska > 22. Texas > 23. Kansas > 24. Oklahoma > 25. New Mexico > 26. Arizona > 27. Nevada > 28. Utah > 29. Colorado > 30. Nevada > 31. California > 32. Alabama > 33. Mississippi > 34. Louisiana > 35. Tennessee > 36. Kentucky > 37. Wisconsin > 38. Minnesota > 39. Michigan > 40. Vancouver (British Columbia) ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/38 "2022-11-27T16:29:31Z")
By the OP’s standards I’ve been in BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland in Canada. In the US I’ve been in Oregon, Washington, California, Missouri, Georgia, Florida, New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/39 "2022-11-27T16:34:55Z")
I was thinking about this question a little more: there are two states on my “been there” list which barely qualify, as I was only in those states one time, for just about 24 hours (Oklahoma, and Rhode Island). Similarly, I’ve technically been in Nebraska, but that was for only about 8 hours, while on a train, and I never set foot on the ground there, so I don’t count that state. Then, I thought about which states I’ve been in for at least a month, in total. I came up with seven: - Illinois (have lived here for 43 years, over two stretches) - Wisconsin (lived there for 14 years) - California (lived there for 3 months, plus a fair number of visits) - Florida (numerous visits to my father-in-law, plus vacations and business trips) - Indiana (primarily gaming convention trips) - Ohio (primarily gaming convention trips) - Alabama (entirely business trips) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615/40 "2022-11-27T16:45:08Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Then, I thought about which states I’ve been in for at least a month, in total. By that test, I’ve got 6: Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Connecticut, New York and Nova Scotia. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-canadian-provinces-and-us-states-have-you-been/975615.md?page=3)