Traveling is an inherent aspect of the United States presidency, facilitating face-to-face diplomacy and allowing leaders to engage with global issues firsthand. Some presidents, however, have traversed the globe more extensively than others.
Using data compiled by the US Department of State’s Office of the Historian and analysis from the Pew Research Center, Mindfully American has ranked the presidents who visited the most countries while in office since 1901. Here are eleven presidents who logged significant miles on Air Force One:
1. George W. Bush
Topping the list, George W. Bush visited an impressive 73 countries during his two terms. His first international trip was to Mexico, and he subsequently visited every continent except Antarctica.
Notably, he undertook the third round-the-world flight by a US president, with stops in Russia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
His commitment to international engagement was further demonstrated by two trips to sub-Saharan Africa, including a 2008 visit to Liberia, Rwanda, and Benin, three of the world’s poorest nations at the time.
2. Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton ranks second, having visited 72 countries across 54 trips. He made numerous journeys to continental Europe, actively participating in peace negotiations in the Balkans and the Middle East.
A significant trip for Clinton was his October 1994 visit to Jordan for the signing of the historic peace agreement between Israel and Jordan.
3. Barack Obama
Barack Obama holds the distinction of being the most-traveled US president during their first year in office, with the most trips (10), most countries visited (21), and most days spent abroad (37).
Over his eight years, he made 52 trips to 58 countries. A particularly noteworthy trip was his March 2016 visit to Cuba, marking the renewal of diplomatic relations after 54 years of tension and making him the first sitting US president to visit the island nation since Calvin Coolidge in 1928.
4. George H.W. Bush
Credited with establishing the expectation of frequent international travel for modern US presidents, George H.W.
Bush undertook 26 trips to 58 countries. He is also remembered for initiating the tradition of surprise Thanksgiving visits to troops stationed abroad.
A significant diplomatic mission was his summer 1991 trip to Moscow and Kyiv, where he signed the first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with the former Soviet Union.
5. Richard Nixon
Despite his abbreviated second term, Richard Nixon visited 31 countries on 15 international trips.
He made history by becoming the first US president to visit several communist nations, including Romania, Yugoslavia, Poland, and the Soviet Union.
However, his 1972 visit to China stands out as a pivotal moment, signaling the resumption of cordial relations between the two countries.
6. Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan made 25 trips to 26 countries. Beyond his travel, his administration is notable for ordering the two new military aircraft that became the modern Air Force One, equipped with amenities essential for a traveling head of state.
Reagan’s impassioned speech at the Berlin Wall in 1987 remains a powerful symbol of his foreign policy.
He also made memorable trips to Germany for the 40th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe and the country’s 750th-anniversary celebrations.
7. Jimmy Carter
During his single term, Jimmy Carter made 12 international trips to 25 countries. He dedicated significant effort to brokering peace in the Middle East, for which he was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
A significant early trip was his 1978 meeting with Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, marking the first presidential US State visit to sub-Saharan Africa.
8. Dwight D. Eisenhower
By the end of his presidency in 1961, Dwight D. Eisenhower had visited 26 countries on 16 international trips, including a pre-inauguration trip to South Korea.
His administration also saw the first plane officially designated with the call sign Air Force One. A remarkable journey was his 22,000-mile “Flight to Peace” tour in December 1959, which took him to 11 countries in just 19 days.
9. Donald Trump
Donald Trump undertook 19 trips to 24 countries during his four years in office, including a surprise Christmas visit to troops in Iraq in 2018.
His 2018 summit in Singapore was historic as he became the first sitting US president to meet with a North Korean leader.
He further made history by becoming the first sitting US president to enter North Korea in 2019.
10. Joe Biden
While having traveled less than some of his predecessors in his initial years, Joe Biden still made an impressive 17 trips to 19 countries during his first two years in office.
This count excludes a non-diplomatic visit to the UK for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. A notable trip was his surprise visit to Kyiv in February 2023 to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
11. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Serving for an extended period, Franklin D. Roosevelt made 20 international trips to 17 countries. Initially traveling by ship, he became the first sitting president to cross the Atlantic by plane in 1943.
This trans-Atlantic journey included a secret visit to Casablanca in North Africa, making him the first incumbent president to visit the region.
Alicia Richards