Atlas Obscura Featured on ‘Good Morning America’ as It Launches a Community for People Questing to Reach All 50 States

NEW YORK — June 30, 2026 — Atlas Obscura, the definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders, today launched its 50 States Hub, creating a home for the small but growing community of travelers on the quest to set foot in all 50 U.S. states — and celebrating those who make it. The launch was featured this morning on ABC’s Good Morning America, where Atlas Obscura CEO and Publisher Louise Story shared the story behind the project. [Watch the full segment here.]

Reaching all 50 states is one of the great American travel milestones — and one that only an estimated 2% of Americans ever complete. The 50 States Hub is built for every stage of that journey: the traveler with 12 states checked off and a road trip in the works, the adventurer standing at the Alaska or North Dakota border ready to log number 50, and the accomplished 50-Stater looking back on decades of crossing state lines. It’s a place to track progress, swap the kind of off-the-map discoveries Atlas Obscura is known for, and be recognized when you complete the journey.

The Hub launches alongside two of the country’s most beloved 50-state communities as founding partners: the All Fifty Club and the Visit Fargo-Moorhead’s Best for Last Club.

The timing is personal for Atlas Obscura. The launch caps Story’s own 50-State Quest, her months-long trek to all 50 states ahead of America’s 250th birthday on July 4 — a journey she has chronicled in dispatches and on Instagram (@story_louise), finishing in Alaska as her 50th and final state.

“The one thing the internet can’t fake is wonder,” said Louise Story, CEO and Publisher of Atlas Obscura. “Getting to all 50 states isn’t about ticking a box. It’s about having a meaningful experience in each state, usually in the places no one tells you to look. We built the 50 States Hub to celebrate the people chasing that goal, and to give them a community that gets why it matters. Doing this quest myself, I felt the pull of that finish line, and the joy of the Atlas Obscura community that has been cheering me across it.”

The 50 States Hub draws on Atlas Obscura’s catalog of more than 31,000 curated places — including thousands of “AO Originals” found nowhere else online — to help travelers find the wondrous and overlooked in every state, not just the postcard stops.

“All Fifty Club has celebrated the accomplishment of visiting every state for the past 20 years, building a community of avid travelers who inspire others to visit all 50. Every state has something great! By partnering with Atlas Obscura, we’re giving travelers even more inspiration to turn a simple state visit into a memorable experience. All Fifty Club is thrilled to partner with Atlas Obscura to help our members and travelers around the world discover hidden gems and unforgettable experiences across America.”

 — Alicia Rovey, Founder & President, All Fifty Club

“We’re proud to see a program that began in Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo continue to grow and connect travelers across the country. By partnering with Atlas Obscura, we’re creating new opportunities for Best for Last Club members to celebrate their accomplishment, exchange travel experiences, and remain part of a vibrant community of explorers long after they’ve checked off their 50th state.”

 – Shirley Hughes, President & CEO of Visit Fargo-Moorhead.

“The 50 States Hub is like a clubhouse for travelers on a quest to find something unique in every corner of the country. Through our partnerships, I’ve met people who are doing it in such unique ways, from from running marathons in every state to visiting weird and wonderful roadside attractions or eating each state’s signature dish. I’ve been delighted to discover how many clubs and communities are devoted to celebrating the 50-state milestone, and can’t wait to welcome more of them to join the Atlas Obscura community.”

— Lauren Johnston, Head of Community Partnerships, Atlas Obscura

Travelers can explore the 50 States Hub at atlasobscura.com/50states

About Atlas Obscura

Atlas Obscura inspires wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we share. Home to a community-built catalog of more than 31,000 of the world’s most extraordinary places, Atlas Obscura reaches more than 30 million readers a year and is the sole Travel Expert partner powering recommendations in Apple Maps. Its latest book America Obscura arrives from Penguin Random House on November 10, 2026 and is currently available for pre-order.  

About the All Fifty Club

The All Fifty Club helps travelers track, share, and celebrate the achievement of visiting all 50 U.S. states. Its members span all 50 states and dozens of countries — students and retirees, campers and luxury travelers, solo adventurers and families — united by a love of the open American road.

About the Best for Last Club

Administered by Visit Fargo-Moorhead, the Best for Last Club recognizes travelers who have visited all 50 U.S. states, ending in North Dakota. Since its founding, the club has welcomed over 9 thousand members from across the country, creating a national community united by a shared passion for exploration and discovery.

Media Contact: Rebecca Cruz at Rebecca@AtlasObscura.com