LDR is never easy. There is no right or wrong approach to it. Id say, if you are placing your career first, relationship second, then you must be ready to face many many fights later on in life.

When kids come to the picture, different story all together. If you both want to focus on career, my advise, stay apart and meet whenever you can. Maybe one day one of you will budge or have the luck to work in same state. but till then, not easy.