Noah Coughlan is on day 164 of his fifth solo cross-country run, aiming to finish on July 4, 2026

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - A man running across America stopped at the state Capitol Monday morning as part of a historic journey he hopes will take him through all 50 states on foot.

Noah Coughlan is on day 164 of his fifth solo cross-country run, aiming to finish on July 4, 2026, for America’s 250th anniversary.

He is running from Maine to Oregon, across Alaska, and will end in Hawaii.

Coughlan said he hopes to bring people together under the one thing we all have in common, the American flag.

Law enforcement officers and State Senator Michelle Axtman spoke with him and gave him patches, challenge coins and American flag pins to hand out to people he comes across on his journey.

He began this leg in October, and North Dakota marks his 47th state.

People have stopped to offer support, encouragement and warm wishes as he keeps pushing west.

“I just wish him the best of luck and stay warm out here,” said Destinee Hanson.

Coughlan said the colder weather has been a challenge, but after thousands of miles on the road, his body is ready for it.

“I am feeling pretty good, with about 3,300 miles in and 2,000 left to go,” Coughlan said. “Just really enjoy being out here in the west, fresh air, great people, and something special about North Dakota.”

It’s nine months without the usual routine or the people closest to him, but he said the challenge is part of the adventure.

“It’s a celebration of our very existence, and I am lucky enough to have done this on foot,” Coughlan said.

He would become just the third person ever to cross all 50 states on foot. He said the mission is bigger than mileage.

Coughlan continued west out of Bismarck shortly after his stop at the Capitol. He has made four other coast-to-coast runs in different parts of the country since 2011.