Can You Identify the U.S. State By the States That Border It?
Updated: Jul. 29, 2021
We'll give you the names of a few different U.S. states, and you try to guess the one state that touches all of them. (No peeking at a map!)
State #1
Which state borders both Massachusetts and Maine? Here’s a hint: You can take the words “both Massachusetts and” out of this question, and the answer remains the same!
Answer: New Hampshire
Maine is the only U.S. state that shares a border with only one other, and that state is New Hampshire. If you knew this bit of U.S. state trivia, this question was probably no sweat for you. And if you didn’t, now you do! Check out some more amazing facts about each of the 50 states.
State #2
Which of the 50 states shares a border with Delaware, Virginia, and Pennsylvania?
Answer: Maryland
Maryland shares the Delmarva Peninsula with tiny Delaware, and our nation’s capital sits on the border between Maryland and Virginia. Pennsylvania also borders Maryland, to the north.
State #3
Which state shares a border with these three states: Oregon, Montana, and Utah?
Answer: Idaho
Idaho is bordered by Oregon (and Washington) to the west, Montana to the northeast, and Utah to the southeast. It shares a border with Nevada and Wyoming as well. If you really want to test your deep-cut knowledge of state lore, see if you can identify the U.S. state from just its flag!
State #4
Which state borders Rhode Island and Vermont?
Answer: Massachusetts
Those teeny New England states can be tricky! But Massachusetts is the only one of them that directly borders both Vermont and Rhode Island. Massachusetts is also neighbors with Connecticut, New Hampshire, and New York.
State #5
What’s the only state to share a border with both Texas and Tennessee?
Answer: Arkansas
Tennessee borders eight states, but Arkansas is the only one of those that also shares a border with Texas!
State #6
Which state borders Kansas, South Dakota, and Colorado?
Answer: Nebraska
Nebraska is smack in the center of the contiguous 48 states—as a matter of fact, the exact geographical spot falls around 12 miles south of the Nebraska-Kansas border. Here are some more unusual roadside attractions from every state.
State #7
Can you figure out which state borders both Wisconsin and North Dakota?
Answer: Minnesota
Along the Canadian border, North Dakota is Minnesota’s neighbor to the west. But it’s trickier to remember that Minnesota also borders Wisconsin; the Badger State and Lake Superior border Minnesota to the east.
State #8
Which state shares a border with Nebraska, Utah, and Idaho?
Answer: Wyoming
This state—the one with the smallest population of all 50—gets its name from a Native American word, though historians are divided on exactly what it means (the most popular theory is “at the big plains”). Learn how every other state in America got its moniker!
State #9
Which state shares a border with Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio?
Answer: Kentucky
You may have thought this one was another Midwestern state like Iowa, but no! Kentucky is the only state that borders all three of these states; they all sit directly above it (in alphabetical order, no less).
State #10
Here’s a tricky one: Which state borders both Illinois and Oklahoma?
Answer: Missouri
Missouri might be the state people forget most often when naming all 50, but it’s actually the state that borders the most others! Well, it’s tied for that honor with Tennessee—they both touch a total of eight other states. Go ahead, count ’em!
State #11
Which state borders New York, Delaware, and Ohio?
Answer: Pennsylvania
The Keystone State borders six others. In addition to New York, Delaware, and, yes, Midwestern Ohio, Pennsylvania also borders Maryland and West Virginia. Test how well you know your state nicknames with our quiz.
State #12
Which state touches both Louisiana and New Mexico?
Answer: Texas
This one might stump you—how could this deep-South neighbor to Mississippi and the desert state of New Mexico share a neighbor?—until you remember that the largest state in the contiguous United States is down there with them. Despite its size, though, Texas only borders four U.S. states—it borders Oklahoma and Arkansas in addition to New Mexico and Louisiana.
State #13
One state borders Ohio, Maryland, and Kentucky. Which is it?
Answer: West Virginia
Did we get you with this one by leaving out Virginia itself? Of course, the Mountain State borders Virginia, too. Confused about why West Virginia, of all states, is nicknamed “the Mountain State”? Learn how every state in America got its nickname.
State #14
Which state is the only one to share a border with Colorado and Arkansas?
Answer: Oklahoma
Kansas also comes close, but it doesn’t quite reach the northwest corner of Arkansas!
State #15
Can you figure out which state borders South Dakota, Missouri, and Wisconsin?
Answer: Iowa
This little state is probably farther west than you think—it actually touches the Mount Rushmore State!
State #16
Which is the only state to share a border with both of the Carolinas?
Answer: Georgia
This might sound counter-intuitive—how can Georgia share a border with both if it’s south of South Carolina? But the western edge of North Carolina extends beyond the edge of its southern neighbor, far enough south to touch Georgia too! If you did well on this quiz, you’re probably ready to see how many states you can identify on a totally blank map!
Originally Published: April 29, 2019
