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Quizzes > Geography

US geography trivia: States, cities, and landmarks quiz

Quick, free quiz with USA geography questions. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Alena SindelarovaUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper cut style US map with landmark icons and capital markers on coral background for geography trivia quiz

This US geography trivia quiz helps you check what you know about states, cities, and landmarks, and spot gaps before your next trivia night. For more practice, try us geography trivia questions for a deeper mix, drill your recall with state capital trivia, or go broad with the 50 states quiz.

What is the capital of California?
Los Angeles
San Diego
Sacramento
San Francisco
Sacramento was selected as California's capital in 1854 due to its proximity to the gold fields and central location. It replaced Benicia after lawmakers deemed Sacramento more accessible. Today, Sacramento is the center of California's government, economy, and culture.
Which U.S. state is known as the 'Sunshine State'?
Arizona
Texas
Florida
California
Florida earned the nickname 'Sunshine State' due to its consistently warm and sunny climate, which draws millions of tourists each year. The moniker was officially adopted by license plate legislation in 1970. Florida's tourism industry heavily markets this sunny reputation.
Which river is the longest in the United States?
Yukon River
Missouri River
Mississippi River
Colorado River
The Missouri River, at approximately 2,340 miles long, is the longest river in the United States. It flows east and south from the Rocky Mountains and merges with the Mississippi River near St. Louis. Many resources group the Missouri-Mississippi system as the fourth-longest in the world.
Mount Rushmore features the faces of how many U.S. presidents?
Three
Four
Two
Five
Mount Rushmore displays the carved faces of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Sculpted by Gutzon Borglum between 1927 and 1941, it symbolizes the nation's birth, growth, development, and preservation. The site is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
What is the largest state by area in the U.S.?
California
Alaska
Montana
Texas
Alaska is the largest U.S. state by area, covering over 663,000 square miles. It is larger than the next three largest states - Texas, California, and Montana - combined. Alaska's vast wilderness includes tundra, mountains, and glaciers.
Which state is home to the Grand Canyon?
Utah
Nevada
Colorado
Arizona
The Grand Canyon, renowned for its immense size and intricate landscape, is located in northern Arizona. Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, it is one of the world's most famous natural landmarks. The area is protected as Grand Canyon National Park.
What is the capital of New York State?
Albany
Syracuse
Buffalo
New York City
Albany, founded in 1614, is the capital of New York State. It became the official state capital in 1797, chosen for its central location along the Hudson River. Albany is one of the oldest surviving European settlements from the original thirteen colonies.
Which U.S. state has the nickname 'The Lone Star State'?
New Mexico
Texas
Oklahoma
Arizona
Texas is known as 'The Lone Star State' as a reminder of its former status as an independent republic and its struggle for independence from Mexico. The single star symbolizes Texan unity and independence. This nickname appears on the Texas state flag and seal.
The Mississippi River empties into which body of water?
Atlantic Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Gulf of Mexico
Caribbean Sea
The Mississippi River flows southward and empties into the Gulf of Mexico via a complex delta in Louisiana. This drainage basin is one of the largest in the world. It plays a crucial role in commerce and ecosystem support in the region.
At the Four Corners, four states meet. Which one of the following does NOT touch the Four Corners?
California
Utah
New Mexico
Arizona
The Four Corners region is the only point in the U.S. where Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado meet. California does not touch this intersection. This unique landmark is a popular attraction for visitors who can stand in four states at once.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is primarily located on the border of Tennessee and which other state?
Kentucky
Virginia
Georgia
North Carolina
Great Smoky Mountains National Park spans the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. Established in 1934, it is the most visited national park in the United States. The park is renowned for its biodiversity and ancient mountains.
Which U.S. city is known as the 'Mile High City' due to its elevation being exactly one mile above sea level?
Colorado Springs
Albuquerque
Denver
Boulder
Denver, Colorado, sits at an elevation of 5,280 feet (one mile) above sea level, earning it the nickname 'Mile High City.' The city's elevation influences everything from sports performance to cooking times. There's even a step on the Colorado State Capitol marked exactly one mile high.
Which U.S. state is separated from the rest of the U.S. by only one other state?
Maine
Florida
Hawaii
Alaska
Maine is connected to the contiguous United States only by a border with New Hampshire. It is otherwise surrounded by Canada and the Atlantic Ocean. This makes Maine the only state separated from the others by a single state.
The Badlands National Park is located in which state?
South Dakota
Wyoming
North Dakota
Montana
Badlands National Park is in southwestern South Dakota, featuring rugged terrain and dramatically eroded buttes. Designated as a national park in 1978, it preserves a portion of the vast mixed grass prairie. The area is rich in fossils from the Oligocene epoch.
What is the smallest U.S. state by land area?
Connecticut
Delaware
Rhode Island
Hawaii
Rhode Island is the smallest U.S. state by land area, covering just over 1,000 square miles. Despite its size, it is densely populated and known for its coastal towns and maritime heritage. The state was one of the original thirteen colonies.
Which U.S. city is considered the easternmost by longitude?
Portland, Maine
Boston, Massachusetts
Eastport, Maine
Miami, Florida
Eastport, Maine, is the easternmost city in the United States by longitude, located at about 66°57?W. It lies just across from Canada's Campobello Island. Because Maine's coastline curves eastward, Eastport extends farther east than any other U.S. city.
Which U.S. state has the most national parks?
California
Colorado
Utah
Alaska
California is home to nine national parks, the most of any state, including Yosemite, Sequoia, and Joshua Tree. These parks protect diverse ecosystems from coastlines to deserts. Alaska ranks second with eight parks.
The Missouri River and the Mississippi River converge near which city?
Omaha
Minneapolis
Kansas City
St. Louis
The Missouri River joins the Mississippi River just north of St. Louis, Missouri. This confluence has been pivotal for trade and transportation since exploration in the 17th century. The area is marked by several parks and monuments commemorating Lewis and Clark's expedition.
What is the highest peak in the contiguous United States?
Mount Elbert
Mount Rainier
Denali
Mount Whitney
Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet, is the highest point in the contiguous United States. It lies on the boundary between California's Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Park. Denali in Alaska is the tallest in all U.S. states, but not in the contiguous 48.
Which U.S. state is the only one to have a one-syllable name?
Ohio
Utah
Texas
Maine
Maine is unique among U.S. states for having a one-syllable name. Its simplicity reflects early New England naming conventions. All other state names have at least two syllables.
Which body of water separates Florida and Cuba?
Gulf of Mexico
Straits of Florida
Florida Bay
Caribbean Sea
The Straits of Florida is the channel of water roughly 93 miles wide at its narrowest point between Florida and Cuba. This passage connects the Gulf of Mexico with the Atlantic Ocean. It is a major route for marine navigation.
Tennessee ties with which other state for bordering eight different states?
Ohio
Virginia
Kentucky
Missouri
Tennessee and Missouri each border eight states, the most of any U.S. state. Missouri touches Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. Tennessee shares borders with Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri.
Which U.S. state contains the geographic center of North America?
North Dakota
South Dakota
Montana
Colorado
The geographic center of North America is near Rugby, North Dakota. This point was determined by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1931. A monument in Rugby marks this unique geographic location.
What is the only U.S. state that grows coffee commercially?
California
Hawaii
Texas
Florida
Hawaii is the only U.S. state with a climate suitable for commercial coffee production, notably the Kona coffee region. Coffee cultivation began there in the early 19th century. Hawaii coffee is prized for its flavor and quality.
Which U.S. state's highest point is the lowest high point among all U.S. states?
Delaware
Louisiana
Florida
Mississippi
Florida's highest point, Britton Hill, rises only 345 feet above sea level, making it the lowest state high point in the U.S. by elevation. Britton Hill is located in the Florida Panhandle near the Alabama border. This contrasts with high peaks like Mount McKinley (Denali) in Alaska.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall U.S. State Capitals -

    By answering targeted quiz questions, you will be able to match each U.S. state to its correct capital city with confidence.

  2. Identify Famous Landmarks -

    Recognize and name iconic American landmarks and their locations across different states, from the Golden Gate Bridge to Mount Rushmore.

  3. Differentiate Geographic Regions -

    Distinguish between various U.S. regions such as the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West by their unique geographic and cultural features.

  4. Strengthen Map Reading Skills -

    Apply map interpretation techniques to pinpoint states and landmarks, enhancing your overall U.S. geography skills.

  5. Analyze State-by-State Facts -

    Evaluate key data points about each state, including population centers and notable physical features, to enrich your American geography knowledge.

  6. Boost U.S. Geography Trivia Proficiency -

    Leverage insights from quiz feedback to improve your score and deepen your understanding of American geographic trivia.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Regional Capital Clusters -

    Group U.S. state capitals by region (Northeast, South, Midwest, West) to reduce memorization load - e.g., the New England capitals (Boston, Providence, Concord, Montpelier, Augusta) can be learned as a bloc. This method, endorsed by National Geographic Education, helps you recall clusters instead of 50 isolated names. Try quizzing yourself region by region until each cluster sticks.

  2. Major River Mnemonics -

    Master the "MOM" rivers: Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri. Use "Mighty Mississippi Meets Our Missouri" to remember flow order and tributaries, as highlighted in U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) resources. Visualizing a map and tracing each river's path deepens retention.

  3. Mountain Range Highlights -

    Recognize the three principal ranges - Appalachians in the East, Rockies in the West, and Sierra Nevada - by linking their highest peaks: Mount Mitchell (Appalachians), Denali (Alaska's Rockies), and Mount Whitney (Sierra Nevada). The mnemonic "ARsS" (Appalachians, Rockies, Sierra) with peak names makes review speedy, per data from the U.S. Forest Service.

  4. Climate Zone Examples -

    Divide the U.S. into six Köppen climate zones: Tropical (Hawaii), Mediterranean (California coast), Desert (Arizona), Continental (Midwest), Oceanic (Pacific Northwest), and Humid Subtropical (Southeast). NOAA's climate maps provide clear state-by-state examples - linking a state to its zone helps cement facts.

  5. Great Lakes Order Trick -

    Use "Super Man Helps Every One" to recall Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario in clockwise order. The Great Lakes Information Network confirms this classic mnemonic, which pairs lake shapes with compass orientation. Sketching the lakes while reciting the phrase boosts confidence on trivia day.

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