Growing up in the United States, one of my dreams has been to see as much of the country as I can. While I have only been to 33 of the 50 states and 3 of the 62 national parks, I did complete one of my goals earlier this year before travel restrictions started. I completed the four corners of the continental US. This means that I went to the four farthest corners of the lower 48 states, but it isn’t exactly the easiest thing to do. Only one of the four is a popular tourist site while the others are kinda out of the way. Below I’ll discuss each of the four corners and give advice on how to visit them.
Madawaska, Maine (Northeast)
I first came to Madawaska in 2001 when I was six years old. My family had taken a long road trip across the eastern states, ultimately visiting family in Madawaska and Edmundston, right across the border. I actually remember that trip very well for being so young, but I don’t have vivid memories of crossing the border, so I never count that as my first corner. I returned in 2010 when my family stayed in a cabin on Long Lake. We spent some time in Madawaska and also crossed the border into Edmundston visiting family on both sides. I do clearly remember the border crossing on this trip, which allows me to count this one. I didn’t visit the actual Four Corners Park until I came back again in 2015, but the border crossing is the actual corner, so it doesn’t really matter except it’s a good photo opportunity.
It was here that I learned that the Four Corners is a popular motorcycle trip. Bikers will try to circle the country, hitting the four corners along the way, and while I have seen stories about it online, Madawaska is the only one I actually remember seeing bikers at. If you don’t have family in Madawaska, it may not be the most attractive place for tourists, but it is a very friendly town located in a beautiful area. One thing that makes this town unique is the fact that almost everyone is bilingual. Since a French Canadian town is literally nextdoor, everyone has learned to speak French. If you do decide to visit, you’ll have to be willing to drive to get there as there are no nearby airports. The nearest airport is in Presque Isle, which is an hour and a half away, but finding flights here can be challenging. My recommendation is to either take a road trip through all of Maine or visit during a Canadian road trip. It’s only a few hours from Quebec City, a city that I really loved. And if you do go, make sure to stop at Pirate de la Mer in Edmundston for their lobster rolls and poutine!
Key West, Florida (Southeast)
My second corner of the country was Key West, Florida. This is by far the easiest to reach of the four. I visited in 2012 when it was a stop on my first cruise. My family rented golf carts and drove them around the island visiting many of the more popular sites. One of the stops we made was at the Southernmost Point in the continental United States. Here, there’s a monument that everyone has to get a picture with. It’s kinda cheesy, but you can’t miss it either! At this point, you’re actually closer to Cuba than you are to Miami, and it kinda shows in the culture. It feels more like a different country than it does Florida. (It actually used to be a different country called the Conch Republic and was also owned by the Bahamas at one point). If you want to visit Key West, there are several different options. You could visit by cruise ship like I did, which is the easiest way. You could fly in as Key West has its own airport. Or you could drive there from Miami. This third option is the one I’d recommend, and it’s a trip I’d love to take someday. The drive from Miami to Key West is only three hours, but it passes through some beautiful areas, so it’s definitely worth doing. Of the four corners, this is the one I’m most interested in returning to.
Blaine, Washington (Northwest)
My third corner was Blaine, Washington, in 2018. It’s a very small town that sees very few visitors. Those that do stop here are only visiting to claim the northwest corner of the country. There’s really not much else to see or do here, and there are very few public restrooms (learned from experience). While spending a week in Seattle, I had to make it to Blaine, so I convinced my family to take a day trip to Vancouver with a stop in Blaine on the way. Blaine itself is a two-hour drive from Seattle, but it is a scenic drive at least. It’s one of those small towns where it seems like everyone knows each other, so tourists really stick out. There’s no actual sign stating that this is the northwest corner, and we heard the whole story about how the city wanted permission to put up a sign from the visitor center lady. What else would a visitor center worker do in Blaine, Washington?! But there is a Peace Arch on the border with British Columbia. The arch is meant to represent the friendship and cooperation between the United States and Canada, and as long as the gate stays open, the two countries will remain friends. If you plan to visit Blaine, I’d recommend doing exactly what I did. Either visit Vancouver from Seattle or the other way around with a stop in Blaine on the way. There’s no reason to plan an entire trip to Blaine, so just make it a quick stop on the way to somewhere more interesting.
San Ysidro, California (Southwest)
When visiting San Diego in 2008, my family actually had plans to drive down to the border, but our plans changed when violence erupted in Tijuana, just across the border during the Drug Wars. If we had visited, this actually would’ve been the first of the four corners I visited. But it ultimately ended up being last. Ever since visiting Blaine in 2018, it bothered me that I had only been to three of the four corners, so I had been planning my trip to the fourth for a while. Then in early 2020, I saw I had a long weekend for Presidents Day coming up and saw the potential travel restrictions coming, and I knew this would be the perfect time for me to go. I flew to San Diego with a friend and planned to visit San Ysidro the next morning, specifically the Friendship Park right on the border along the Pacific coast. I took a trolley to the border, which took about an hour and then grabbed an Uber to visit the park on the other side of the city. The drive went through farmland and mountains, and when we finally reached the park, we saw it was closed due to a sewage leak in Tijuana.
This was so frustrating because I planned this whole trip around visiting the southwest corner. When my Uber driver offered to take me to the other side for free, I had no other options, so I hopped in, and he drove for probably another hour through the most dangerous city in Mexico before we reached Playas de Tijuana. We visited the beach where the border wall cuts across, and I was able to stick my foot through the wall to officially claim corner number four! It was such a relief to finally reach all four corners, and I had finally accomplished one of my many travel goals. It may not have happened the way I had planned, but I got there either way- this was just much more adventurous. If you plan to visit San Ysidro, I’d recommend getting a rental car and driving down from San Diego. Don’t trust Google, as I found that the border park can close without warning. The trolley is a good option if you don’t have a vehicle, but then taking an Uber or taxi to the park will be a little expensive. Another thing to consider is that the park is pretty remote, so finding another Uber to pick you up way out there would be difficult unless you make an agreement with your first driver to pick you back up later. Cell phone signal is very weak too… I’d definitely recommend driving yourself, and that’s what I’d do if I ever returned. If you do drive though and want to visit Tijuana after, I’d recommend parking in San Ysidro and then walking across the border or hitch a ride like I did. Traffic is crazy in Tijuana, so it’s best not to drive yourself.
I’m so glad I was able to complete the four corners of the country earlier this year before everything shut down! It’s cool to say I’ve been to every corner of the country, and the accomplishment of completing a travel goal is nice. If you’re interested in trying to visit all four, hopefully the information I included is helpful. Or if you’re really adventurous, you could attempt that motorcycle trip, but that’s not for me! The United States is a beautiful country to explore, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of it in the future. Thanks for reading!
Tyler's Travels 