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US state capitals quiz

We name a capital and you tap it on the map: its dot or the state it’s in both count. Play 10, 20 or all 50, practice the ones you miss and challenge your class with a link.

US state capitals

Tap the capital it asks for on the map.

US Census Bureau

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The 50 capitals in the quiz

They’re the capitals of all 50 states, each with its own dot. Tapping the dot or anywhere in its state both count.

How to play

In Point mode we name a capital and you tap it on the map; in Type mode one lights up and you type its name (accents don’t matter); and in Time trial you get 6 seconds per question. If you miss, we show you where it was, which way it lies and a hint drawn from the data: which state it belongs to.

Each game has 10, 20 or all the questions, and at the end you can practice just the ones you missed. Your best score for each mode is saved in this browser only: neither we nor anyone else can see it, and there’s no sign-up.

The hardest ones

48 of the 50 don’t share the name of their state, and that’s where it gets tricky: Albany (New York), Annapolis (Maryland), Atlanta (Georgia), Augusta (Maine), Austin (Texas), Baton Rouge (Louisiana), Bismarck (North Dakota), Boise (Idaho), Boston (Massachusetts), and Carson City (Nevada)….

And watch out for look-alike names: Columbia and Columbus.

Tips to learn them

  • Many capitals aren’t their state’s best-known city: Albany, not New York City; Sacramento, not Los Angeles; Springfield, not Chicago. Those are the classic traps, so practice them first.
  • 2 of the 50 share (or nearly share) their state’s name: those come for free.

Playing in class

Play the states first and their capitals afterward: that way each capital sticks to its place on the map.

With the Challenge your class link, everyone gets the same questions in the same order, with no accounts or passwords, and each student sees their own score, time and streak. To practice on paper, there’s a printable worksheet of the same map with an answer key.

List of all 50 capitals

  1. Albany New York
  2. Annapolis Maryland
  3. Atlanta Georgia
  4. Augusta Maine
  5. Austin Texas
  6. Baton Rouge Louisiana
  7. Bismarck North Dakota
  8. Boise Idaho
  9. Boston Massachusetts
  10. Carson City Nevada
  11. Charleston West Virginia
  12. Cheyenne Wyoming
  13. Columbia South Carolina
  14. Columbus Ohio
  15. Concord New Hampshire
  16. Denver Colorado
  17. Des Moines Iowa
  18. Dover Delaware
  19. Frankfort Kentucky
  20. Harrisburg Pennsylvania
  21. Hartford Connecticut
  22. Helena Montana
  23. Honolulu Hawaii
  24. Indianapolis Indiana
  25. Jackson Mississippi
  26. Jefferson City Missouri
  27. Juneau Alaska
  28. Lansing Michigan
  29. Lincoln Nebraska
  30. Little Rock Arkansas
  31. Madison Wisconsin
  32. Montgomery Alabama
  33. Montpelier Vermont
  34. Nashville Tennessee
  35. Oklahoma City Oklahoma
  36. Olympia Washington
  37. Phoenix Arizona
  38. Pierre South Dakota
  39. Providence Rhode Island
  40. Raleigh North Carolina
  41. Richmond Virginia
  42. Sacramento California
  43. Salem Oregon
  44. Salt Lake City Utah
  45. Santa Fe New Mexico
  46. Springfield Illinois
  47. St. Paul Minnesota
  48. Tallahassee Florida
  49. Topeka Kansas
  50. Trenton New Jersey

Frequently asked questions

Is Washington, D.C. a state capital?

No. It’s the nation’s capital and isn’t part of any state, so it isn’t asked. The 50 capitals in the quiz are those of the states.

Can I learn where each state is first?

Yes: “US states”, on its own page. The States button in the quiz panel takes you there.

Where is my best score saved?

In this browser: your best score for each mode and number of questions. Neither we nor anyone else can see it; if you clear your browser data, it’s gone.

Is there a printable worksheet of the United States?

Yes: a worksheet with the numbered map, three activities and an answer key. You’ll find it under Printable worksheets below, next to the blank map.

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