Three closest states that you have not driven in

[StogieGuy7]

OK, enough arguing here please.

The term "flyover states" goes back at least 40 years and was always a bit elitist while being descriptive as well. Basically coastal people (most, but not all, elites) refering to all those states they never visited as they jet their way from coast to coast. In 1975 or 1980, that's often the way they traveled and few actually ever visited places like Iowa or Kansas or even Wisconsin.

Nowadays, the meaning is still literal but also more of a perjorative than in the past. This is why some people may see it as simply descriptive while others see it as insulting.

[NWI_Irish96]

OK, enough arguing here please.

The term "flyover states" goes back at least 40 years and was always a bit elitist while being descriptive as well. Basically coastal people (most, but not all, elites) refering to all those states they never visited as they jet their way from coast to coast. In 1975 or 1980, that's often the way they traveled and few actually ever visited places like Iowa or Kansas or even Wisconsin.

Nowadays, the meaning is still literal but also more of a perjorative than in the past. This is why some people may see it as simply descriptive while others see it as insulting.

I prefer not to educate the ignorant on their usage of terms like flyover states, lest they move here and drive up my cost of living.

[Dough4872]

Considering that I don't drive, that would be Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware

[jeffandnicole]

For the record, I never threated violence on anyone.  It's the ol "I don't care what you say, but you go over to them boys over there and say that and they may send you to the hospital."  Take it as advice when you sling around "flyover state" to the wrong person, just sayin.

I don't even know why I care.  I don't live in one of those states, so it doesn't offend me personally.  I guess I just don't like people saying to other people "I use your back yard to take a crap in." 

Maybe just think about it next time you call them "flyover states".  It comes off very "east and west coast is all that matters", aka pompous and arrogant, and I just can't stand arrogance. 

I was somewhat listening to your argument...until here.  Now I completely disagree with it.  Just thinking of the assumption that saying Flyover State would result in a punch to the mouth, when you don't even live in such a state, is more pompous and arrogant than the actual phrase.

It goes along the lines of a few other things that I am bothered by: 

• People that wonder if the colorblind can't understand certain conditions, like a bi-modal traffic light, even though they've been in use for about 4 or 5 decades and there's no record, study or crash history whatsoever of the colorblind actually having an issue.


• People that see a sign or condition, often on a GSV find, and have a negative thought of it.  Locals who may be much more familiar with the sign or condition explain it and try to explain that it doesn't cause issues, are thus vehemently disagreed with, mostly by others that are defending the OP's position and who also have no experience with the sign/condition, making the local knowledge and explanation useless.

[ethanhopkin14]

For the record, I never threated violence on anyone.  It's the ol "I don't care what you say, but you go over to them boys over there and say that and they may send you to the hospital."  Take it as advice when you sling around "flyover state" to the wrong person, just sayin.

I don't even know why I care.  I don't live in one of those states, so it doesn't offend me personally.  I guess I just don't like people saying to other people "I use your back yard to take a crap in." 

Maybe just think about it next time you call them "flyover states".  It comes off very "east and west coast is all that matters", aka pompous and arrogant, and I just can't stand arrogance. 

I was somewhat listening to your argument...until here.  Now I completely disagree with it.  Just thinking of the assumption that saying Flyover State would result in a punch to the mouth, when you don't even live in such a state, is more pompous and arrogant than the actual phrase.

It goes along the lines of a few other things that I am bothered by: 

• People that wonder if the colorblind can't understand certain conditions, like a bi-modal traffic light, even though they've been in use for about 4 or 5 decades and there's no record, study or crash history whatsoever of the colorblind actually having an issue.


• People that see a sign or condition, often on a GSV find, and have a negative thought of it.  Locals who may be much more familiar with the sign or condition explain it and try to explain that it doesn't cause issues, are thus vehemently disagreed with, mostly by others that are defending the OP's position and who also have no experience with the sign/condition, making the local knowledge and explanation useless.

It's not like I haven't visited those states.  I have and they are wonderful.  I even actually have family in Oklahoma.  So, you are saying I can't have an opinion that calling someone's state a means to get to somewhere else much more important is insulting and condescending, all because I don't live there?  You make it seem like I have never been there or don't know how people would react to their home treated like that.

I guess I can't put words in their mouth, but calling the portion of this country that produces food for the entire country and actually keeps the economy going a wasteland is just wrong. 

Sorry I used "punch in the mouth" as my reference.  Shoulda said "a stern talking to".  I forget how sensitive this forum is. 

[gonealookin]

I guess I can't put words in their mouth, but calling the portion of this country that produces food for the entire country and actually keeps the economy going a wasteland is just wrong. 

Oh good effing grief.  I used the term, and I apologize to the OP for knocking his legitimate thread off course.  I don't make a lot of comments that upset people, usually let them call me "ignorant" or "dumb" or whatever and leave it at that, but saying you "can't put words in my mouth" and then suggesting I called some states a "wasteland" is too much even for me.

The general notion of the thread is to ask for a list of some states one hasn't been to as a visitor, and I mentioned the states I did because I have never seen any specific reason to visit them.  It does not suggest in a tiny bit that they are somehow bad places to live or that the people who live there are basically incarcerated and can't escape to someplace better.  I bet most people in those states love living there for numerous reasons, and I absolutely appreciate that they "produce food for the entire country and keep the economy going".

I know you said you don't care about statistics, but I presented some quick numerical evidence (hotel bookings) that suggests than ND down through OK are pretty low on the list of places that people from elsewhere find reason to visit.  Stop claiming that use of that specific phrase denigrates the residents and says one thinks those places objectively suck, because that is absolutely not my opinion. 

[JayhawkCO]

Your state sucks. You know I'm talking to you. (Not you, gonealookin)

[Rothman]

But the Spirit of Massachusetts is the Spirit of America, so all you other states suck.

[tmoore952]

Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska

I have not been to 8 states.
Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming  (have been in Texas (DFW) airport but not outside of security so I don't count that)

I do intend to visit all these other states at some point, when life allows. They all have things I want to see.
But the opportunity hasn't presented itself yet, either business-wise or pleasure-wise. I still have a few years to work.
And even the ones I have been to once, several, or many times, there is always more to see.

In all the states I have been to, I have also driven, so that just leaves the 8 states listed above as possible choices.

EDIT -I did not interpret the question in the first post as anything other than "what states have you not driven in that are closest to your house".

[TheHighwayMan3561]

In the words of Minneapolis's Atmosphere, "it sucks where you think I'm from is wack, but as long as that's enough to keep your ass from coming back." I'm OK that people don't exactly want to come visit Minnesota like it's NYC or Disney. Duluth and the rest of the North Shore has become insane as it is.

[Rothman]

In the words of Minneapolis's Atmosphere, "it sucks where you think I'm from is wack, but as long as that's enough to keep your ass from coming back." I'm OK that people don't exactly want to come visit Minnesota like it's NYC or Disney. Duluth and the rest of the North Shore has become insane as it is.

You can say that again.  I can't believe how tourism has boomed up there.  I'm sure the state parks are just being trampled to death.

[US 89]

Nobody really wants to move to Tallahassee... and I honestly don't really blame them.

[bassoon1986]

Mine was surprising. From central Louisiana:

1. Indiana
2. Nebraska
3. South Carolina


iPhone

[bing101]

Utah, Oregon and Washington (State) are ones I never driven in.

[froggie]

Just going to mention that the 3 closest jurisdictions for me are all Canadian provinces.

[doglover44]

Wisconson Missouri and Mississippi

[PNWRoadgeek]

Wyoming, Montana, and Arizona. I've driven in a bunch of other places though.

[tmoore952]

To answer the Canadian Province question -

Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba
(assuming SE corner of Manitoba is closer to DC area than the province of Newfoundland and Labrador)

I have driven in Quebec, Ontario, and a short distance in New Brunswick (went through SW corner of it when driving from Fort Kent ME (northern end of US 1) to Quebec City).
All of this was before 9/11, when it was a lot easier to drive across the international border.
Ironically, I had intended to go to Nova Scotia and PEI on one of those '90s drives but didn't, figured I'd be back but then things changed.

I also have driven within 5 feet of British Columbia but didn't enter -- was going west on a local road in Blaine Washington with the border fence immediately to my right. I remember there also being another road on the Canadian side. Don't see this on Google Maps though (I did this in the early 2010s. I have wondered if Google Maps accurately shows the border area).

That same hour I walked into Canada at the Peace Arch in the median of the road that becomes I-5 in the US. Would have loved to continue to Vancouver, but I had to get back to Seattle to fly out.

[JayhawkCO]

(assuming SE corner of Manitoba is closer to DC area than the province of Newfoundland and Labrador)

Looks like Labrador is about 100 miles closer.

[rlb2024]

I live in southeast Louisiana, so for me it's Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota.  We are planning a trip to all three of those states for later this month (plus North Dakota and a couple others), and after that trip I will have driven in all of the lower 48 states.  That would leave only Alaska and Hawaii.

In Canada I've driven in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and New Brunswick, so the closest that I haven't driven in would be Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Quebec.

[CNGL-Leudimin]

And I already have to update, after having legally driven 130 km/h (81 mph)...

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont .

Occitania, Andorra, Madrid, Balearic Islands.

[PColumbus73]

Closest states I have not personally driven through:

Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky

[Brandon]

US States:
1. New Mexico (last time there was 1984).
2. Alaska (not been yet).
3. N/A.

Canadian Provinces:
1. Quebec (not been yet).
2. Saskatchewan (not been yet).
3. New Brunswick (not been yet).

[7/8]

States/Provinces I haven't been a driver in:

1) West Virginia
2) Massachusetts - Haven't visited
3) Connecticut - Haven't visited
A) New Brunswick
B) Nova Scotia
C) PEI

[robbones]

For me it's Colorado, North Dakota and Arizona