I’ve always been a huge fan of trivia, especially when it comes to learning more about our amazing country. There’s something so fun about testing your knowledge about all 50 states – their capitals, landmarks, quirky facts, and historical significance.
I remember playing state trivia on a family road trip last summer, and it turned a long drive through three states into an unforgettable adventure. My nephew actually beat all the adults with his random knowledge of state birds and mottos!
In this article, I’ve put together over 100 fantastic US states trivia questions and answers that are perfect for family game nights, road trips, classroom activities, or just impressing your friends with your geographic know-how.
Easy US States Trivia Questions
Let’s start with some straightforward questions that most people with basic US geography knowledge should be able to answer. These are perfect warm-up questions to get everyone feeling confident before moving to the more challenging ones.
- How many states are there in the United States? 50
- Which state is known as the “Sunshine State”? Florida
- Which state is home to the Grand Canyon? Arizona
- What’s the largest state by area? Alaska
- Which state is nicknamed the “Lone Star State”? Texas
- Which state is located farthest north? Alaska
- Which state has the nickname “The First State”? Delaware
- What’s the smallest US state by area? Rhode Island
- Which state is known for its maple syrup? Vermont
- Which state is known as the “Garden State”? New Jersey
- In which state would you find Mount Rushmore? South Dakota
- Which state is known as the “Peach State”? Georgia
- Which state’s name can be typed on a single row of a standard keyboard? Alaska
- Which state is home to Walt Disney World? Florida
- What’s the most populous US state? California
- Which state is nicknamed the “Volunteer State”? Tennessee
- Which state borders only one other US state? Maine
- What’s the only US state that begins with the letter P? Pennsylvania
- Which state has a flag that features a bear? California
- Which state is known as the “Cornhusker State”? Nebraska
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US State Capitals Trivia
State capitals can be tricky to remember! Some are obvious major cities, while others might surprise you. I’ve always found capital trivia to be a fun way to test my geographical knowledge – and honestly, I still get some of these wrong sometimes!
- What is the capital of California? Sacramento
- What is the capital of New York? Albany
- What’s the capital of Texas? Austin
- What is the capital of Florida? Tallahassee
- What is the capital of Alaska? Juneau
- Which state has Jefferson City as its capital? Missouri
- What is the capital of Colorado? Denver
- What is the capital of Hawaii? Honolulu
- What is the capital of Louisiana? Baton Rouge
- What is the capital of Michigan? Lansing
- What is the capital of Pennsylvania? Harrisburg
- Which state has Olympia as its capital? Washington
- What is the capital of Arizona? Phoenix
- What is the capital of Illinois? Springfield
- What is the capital of Massachusetts? Boston
- What’s the northernmost state capital in the continental US? Olympia, Washington
- What is the capital of Idaho? Boise
- Which state capital is named after a president? Lincoln, Nebraska
- What is the capital of North Carolina? Raleigh
- What is the capital of Montana? Helena
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US State Geography Trivia
Geography trivia helps us appreciate the incredible natural diversity across America. From coastal states to landlocked ones, mountain ranges to vast plains, the US has it all. My personal geography knowledge improved dramatically after taking a cross-country road trip a few years back!
- Which states make up the Four Corners? Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico
- Which two states are separated by the Delaware River? Pennsylvania and New Jersey
- Which state has the longest coastline? Alaska
- How many states border the Pacific Ocean? Five (California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii)
- Which state is home to the highest point in the US, Mount Denali? Alaska
- Which state shares a border with four of the five Great Lakes? Michigan
- Which state is home to Death Valley, the lowest point in North America? California
- Which states make up New England? Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut
- How many states border Mexico? Four (California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas)
- Which state has the most islands? Alaska (with over 2,600 islands)
- Which is the only US state that grows coffee commercially? Hawaii
- Which is the only state that borders just one other state? Maine (borders only New Hampshire)
- Which river forms the border between Kentucky and Indiana? The Ohio River
- Which mountain range runs through California, Oregon, and Washington? The Cascade Range
- Which state has the most freshwater lakes? Minnesota (with over 10,000 lakes)
- Which state has the most miles of rivers? Nebraska
- Which two states are separated by the Columbia River? Oregon and Washington
- Which state has both the highest and lowest points in the continental US? California
- Which state has the most land bordering Canada? Alaska
- Which state is known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”? Minnesota
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US State History Trivia
The history of how our states formed and developed is fascinating! I love learning about how each state joined the Union and the unique events that shaped their identity. These questions will test your knowledge of state history from colonial times to the present.
- Which state was the first to join the Union? Delaware (December 7, 1787)
- Which state was the last to join the Union? Hawaii (August 21, 1959)
- Which state was once an independent republic before joining the United States? Texas
- In which state did the Pilgrims land in 1620? Massachusetts
- Which state was purchased from Russia in 1867? Alaska
- Which state was named after a French king? Louisiana (after King Louis XIV)
- Which was the first state to grant women the right to vote? Wyoming (1869)
- Which state was divided into two during the Civil War? Virginia (creating West Virginia)
- Which state joined the Union during the Civil War? West Virginia (1863)
- Which state was the 49th to join the Union? Alaska
- Which state was named by Spanish explorers who thought they had discovered an island? Florida
- Which state was once known as Franklin? Tennessee (part of present-day eastern Tennessee)
- Which state was originally a Spanish territory called “Alta California”? California
- Which state’s name means “long river” in Algonquian? Connecticut
- Which state was formed from land that was once part of Massachusetts? Maine
- Which state was admitted to the Union on Valentine’s Day (February 14)? Arizona
- Which state was named after Queen Henrietta Maria, the wife of King Charles I? Maryland
- Which state was first explored by Hernando de Soto in 1541? Arkansas
- Which state was originally called the “Province of Freedom”? Pennsylvania
- Which state’s constitution was used as a model for the US Constitution? Massachusetts
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Fun Facts About US States
Every state has its quirky facts and interesting tidbits that make it unique. These are the kind of fun facts that always come in handy during trivia night! My family loves trying to stump each other with these lesser-known state facts.
- Which state’s official sport is jousting? Maryland
- Which state has an official state dinosaur called the Maiasaura? Montana
- In which state is it illegal to whisper in someone’s ear while they’re moose hunting? Alaska
- Which state has an official state cooking pot? Utah (the Dutch oven)
- Which state is the only one whose name can be typed on a single row of a QWERTY keyboard? Alaska
- Which state is home to the world’s largest ball of twine? Kansas
- Which state has the most ghost towns? Texas
- Which state’s name is the only state name that can be spelled using just one row on a standard keyboard? Alaska
- Which state is home to the world’s largest cave system? Kentucky (Mammoth Cave)
- Which state grows the most cranberries? Wisconsin
- Which state has a town called “Why”? Arizona
- In which state was the first American pizza restaurant opened? New York
- Which state produces the most potatoes? Idaho
- Which state has towns called both Christmas and Santa Claus? Indiana
- Which state produces the most maple syrup? Vermont
- Which state has the most tornadoes per square mile? Florida
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Challenging US States Trivia
For the true trivia experts out there, these questions will really test your knowledge about the states. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the answers – even geography teachers might struggle with some of these!
- Which state’s motto is “Esse Quam Videri” (To Be Rather Than To Seem)? North Carolina
- Which state was once its own independent nation for nearly 10 years? Vermont
- Which state has the only royal palace in the United States? Hawaii
- Which state has a law that prohibits animals from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship? Iowa
- Which state has never had an earthquake? North Dakota
- In which state would you find the geographic center of the contiguous United States? Kansas
- Which two states have “Commonwealth” in their official names? Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia
- Which state was originally going to be named Sequoyah? Oklahoma
- Which state has the oldest continually operating tavern in the US? Rhode Island (White Horse Tavern, established 1673)
- Which state has the highest average elevation? Colorado
- Which state’s constitution is the longest in the world? Alabama
- Which state was the first to make Christmas an official holiday? Alabama (1836)
- Which state was home to 8 different US presidents, more than any other state? Virginia
- In which state is the tallest church in the United States? Indiana (First Christian Church in Columbus)
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Why US States Trivia is Perfect for Any Gathering
Trivia about the United States isn’t just educational – it’s genuinely entertaining! I’ve found that state trivia brings people together regardless of age or background. Whether you’re a history buff who knows all about state admissions to the Union or someone who just enjoys learning cool facts about different parts of the country, there’s something for everyone.
Many roadside attractions across the US actually feature state trivia on billboards to keep drivers alert and engaged. My family started keeping score during our last cross-country drive, and it made the miles fly by! Plus, learning about our country’s geography, history, and culture helps us appreciate the incredible diversity across our nation.
Final Thoughts
I hope you’ve enjoyed testing your knowledge with these US states trivia questions! Whether you’re a geography enthusiast or just someone who enjoys learning fun facts about our diverse country, trivia is a great way to expand your knowledge while having fun.
My family keeps a running list of our favorite trivia questions for road trips, and I’m constantly amazed at how much there is to learn about each state’s unique history, geography, and quirks. These questions are perfect for your next game night, classroom activity, or just to challenge yourself.
How did you do? Were you able to answer all the questions, or did some surprise you? I’d love to know which questions you found most interesting or challenging!
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