I've been to 42 so far. All but two them occurred in "real travel" rather than intentionally visiting a state just to check it off the list.
(Driving from Maine to Massachusetts, we made a stop in New Hampshire to check it off. Made a side trip from Northern VA to WV to check it off.)

A lot of states came from business travel and since I'm now retired that isn't happening anymore.
Hitting some of the remaining 8 will require trips (or side trips) specifically to check them off. (AR, CT, DE, MS, NE, ND, RI, SD still to go.)