Of course, I haven’t been everywhere, and it would be impossible to literally go everywhere in your lifetime. But let’s narrow “everywhere” down to those places listed in the Johnny Cash song, “I’ve Been Everywhere.” I love that song, and it’s fun to play on road trips!

“I’ve Been Everywhere” was originally written by Geoff Mack about Australian towns, and was later adapted by him for release in North America, by changing the locations to those in the United States and Canada, with some exceptions in Central and South America (Tocopilla, Chile; Costa Rica; Argentina; Barranquilla and Padilla, Colombia; Salvador and Diamantina, Brazil).

As I listened to the song this morning on my way to work, I wondered to how many places in the song I have been? Then I thought it would be cool to try to visit every place referenced in the song. So, as a travel goal, we are going to work toward visiting (or at least passing through) each United States town or state in this song. While its very unlikely that I will ever go to Central or South America, Canada is always a possibility.

The lyrics to the North American version of the song are below, with the states included in parentheses and italicized (not in the song lyrics). Multiple states are listed when more than one state has a city/town with the same name. If I have been to a place listed in the song, it is bold. I used the criteria that I have been in anyplace bearing a name in the song, regardless of the state. If I have been in multiple cities with the same name, the city name and each state are bold.

So check back for our progress!!

I’ve Been Everywhere

I was totin’ my pack along the long dusty Winnemucca road
When along came a semi with a high canvas covered load
If you’re goin’ to Winnemucca (Nevada), Mack, with me you can ride
And so I climbed into the cab and then I settled down inside
He asked me if I’d seen a road with so much dust and sand
And I said, “Listen! I’ve traveled every road in this here land!”

I’ve been everywhere, man
I’ve been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I’ve breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I’ve had my share, man
I’ve been everywhere

I’ve been to:

• Reno (Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota)
• Chicago (Illinois)
• Fargo (Arkansas, California, Georgia, North Dakota, Oklahoma)
• Minnesota (State)
• Buffalo (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, Wyoming)
• Toronto (Canada; also U.S. cities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota)
• Winslow (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Nebraska, Washington)
• Sarasota (Florida)
• Wichita (Kansas)
• Tulsa (Oklahoma)
• Ottawa(Canada; also cities in Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, Wisconsin)
• Oklahoma
• Tampa (Florida, Kansas)
• Panama (California, Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma, Nebraska; also Panama City and Panama City Beach, Florida)
• Mattawa (Canada; also a city in Washington)
• LaPaloma (Texas)
• Bangor (Alabama, California, Maine, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin)
• Baltimore (Maryland, Ohio, Vermont)
• Salvador (Brazil)
• Amarillo (Texas)
• Tocapillo (Chile)
• Barranquilla (Colombia) and
• Padilla (Colombia)

I’m a killer
I’ve been everywhere, man
I’ve been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I’ve breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I’ve had my share, man
I’ve been everywhere

I’ve been to:

• Boston (Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Texas)
• Charleston (South Carolina, West Virginia)
• Dayton (Alabama, California, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming)
• Louisiana (State; also, Louisiana, Missouri)
• Washington (State; also, Washington, D.C., and cities in Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin)
• Houston (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas)
• Kingston (California, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington)
• Texarkana (Arkansas, Texas)
• Monterey (California, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, Virginia)
• Ferriday (Louisiana)
• Santa Fe (Florida, Indiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas)
• Tallapoosa (Georgia, Missouri)
• Glen Rock (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia)
• Black Rock (Arkansas, Arizona, California)
• Little Rock (Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota)
• Oskaloosa (Iowa, Kansas)
• Tennessee (State)
• Hennessee (Oklahoma)
• Chicopee (Kansas, Massachusetts)
• Spirit Lake (Idaho, Iowa)
• Grand Lake (Colorado, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma)
• Devil’s Lake (Michigan, North Dakota)
• Crater Lake (Oregon)

For Pete’s Sake
I’ve been everywhere, man
I’ve been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I’ve breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I’ve had my share, man
I’ve been everywhere

I’ve been to:

• Louisville (Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Tennessee)
• Nashville (Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin)
• Knoxville (Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee)
• Ombabika (Canada)
• Schefferville (Canada)
• Jacksonville (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia)
• Waterville (Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin)
• Costa Rica
• Pittsfield (Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wisconsin)
• Springfield (California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia)
• Bakersfield (California, Missouri, Texas, Vermont)
• Shreveport (Louisiana)
• Hackensack (Minnesota, New Jersey)
• Cadillac (Michigan)
• Fond du Lac (Wisconsin)
• Davenport (California, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Washington)
• Idaho (State)
• Jellico (California, Tennessee)
• Argentina
• Diamantina (Brazil)
• Pasadena (California, Maryland, Texas)
• Catalina (Arizona)

See what I mean
I’ve been everywhere, man
I’ve been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I’ve breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I’ve had my share, man
I’ve been everywhere

I’ve been to:

• Pittsburgh / Pittsburg (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah)
• Parkersburg (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, West Virginia)
• Gravelbourg (Canada)
• Colorado
• Ellensburg (Washington)
• Rexburg (Idaho)
• Vicksburg (Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Pennsylvania)
• Eldorado / El Dorado (Arkansas, California, Kansas, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin)
• Larimore (North Dakota)
• Atmore (Alabama)
• Haverstraw (New York)
• Chatanika (Alaska)
• Chaska (Minnesota)
• Nebraska (State; also, incorporated place in Indiana)
• Alaska (State; also, cities in Michigan and Wisconsin)
• Opelika (Alabama)
• Baraboo (Wisconsin)
• Waterloo (Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin)
• Kalamazoo (Michigan, West Virginia)
• Kansas City (Kansas, Missouri)
• Sioux City (Iowa)
• Cedar City (Utah)
• Dodge City (Kansas)

What a pity
I’ve been everywhere, man
I’ve been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I’ve breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I’ve had my share, man
I’ve been everywhere

I’ve been everywhere

I’ve been to 35 of the 91 locations mentioned in this song: UPDATED: 05/05/2017