Can You Ace This U.S. State Capitals Quiz?
Updated: Apr. 12, 2024
We'll go easy on you—only 20 questions. See how you do!
Test your state capitals knowledge with this quiz
Who doesn’t love brain games that also boost your geography knowledge? If you’ve aced every geography quiz you’ve ever taken, it’s time to test your luck (and smarts) with this state capitals quiz. There are 20 questions in total—and we’ll be totally impressed if you answer them all correctly. Best of luck!
And don’t forget to guess the U.S. states with no outline and read up on the meaning behind all the state flags.
What’s the capital of Massachusetts?
A. Worcester
B. Boston
C. Salem
(P.S. Don’t forget to check out the official food of all 50 states.)
Answer: B. Boston
OK, that was an easy start to this state capitals quiz. Worcester may not be the capital of the Bay State, but it does win the award for its most difficult-to-pronounce city.
What’s the capital of Georgia?
A. Savannah
B. Alpharetta
C. Atlanta
After you answer this, can you guess which state name starts with two vowels?
Answer: C. Atlanta
Atlanta is Georgia’s capital and also its biggest city, which is only the case for 17 out of the 50 state capitals. Test your knowledge further by guessing which letter is not in any state name.
What’s the capital of Oklahoma?
A. Tulsa
B. Oklahoma City
C. Broken Arrow
By the way, this is how Oklahoma (and other states) got their nicknames.
Answer: B. Oklahoma City
Oklahoma is the only state where the capital is just the state name followed by “city” (though other states do have cities like that). Fun fact: Oklahoma City is one of the best Christmas towns to visit.
What’s the capital of New Mexico?
A. Albuquerque
B. Santa Fe
C. Las Cruces
Don’t forget to learn how the states got their names!
Answer: B. Santa Fe
Now you know! Increase your knowledge by learning about these things that are older than America.
What’s the capital of Florida?
A. Tallahassee
B. St. Augustine
C. Orlando (aka the home of Disney World)
Answer: A. Tallahassee
St. Augustine did spend a few years as the capital of Florida, though—and it’s actually the oldest city in America! See if you can answer these history trivia questions.
What’s the capital of Colorado?
A. Colorado Springs
B. Boulder
C. Denver
Answer: C. Denver
Denver, Colorado, is known as the “Mile High City” because it sits at 5,280 feet, or exactly one mile, above sea level.
What’s the capital of California?
A. San Francisco
B. Los Angeles
C. Sacramento
Answer: C. Sacramento
Sacramento is California’s sixth most populated city. Both of the other choices in this state capitals quiz far exceed it in terms of population. Do you know these geography facts that quite a few people get wrong?
What’s the capital of Texas?
A. Austin
B. Houston
C. Dallas
Answer: A. Austin
Remember this next time you drive through the Lone Star State. Here are the U.S. geography facts you didn’t learn in school.
What’s the capital of Louisiana?
A. Alexandria
B. Baton Rouge
C. New Orleans
Answer: B. Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge means “red stick” in French. The name comes from a red-painted pole that the Native American tribes stuck in the ground there to designate the borders between the hunting grounds of different tribes. Here is the most spectacular sunset from every state.
What’s the capital of Arkansas?
A. Little Rock
B. Jonesboro
C. Fort Smith
Answer: A. Little Rock
Did you know that it’s illegal in Arkansas to pronounce the state’s name wrong? These are the other dumbest laws in America.
What’s the capital of Illinois?
A. Rockford
B. Chicago
C. Springfield
Answer: C. Springfield
Did you know that 34 states contain a city named Springfield? (Only in Illinois is it the capital, though.)
What’s the capital of North Dakota?
A. Williston
B. Bismarck
C. Fargo
What’s the capital of Nevada?
A. Reno
B. Carson City
C. Las Vegas
Answer: B. Carson City
Did you know Nevada contains the spot in America that’s farthest from a McDonald’s? Well, now you do!
What’s the capital of Tennessee?
A. Nashville
B. Memphis
C. Sweet Lips
Answer: A. Nashville
Nashville is the capital of Tennessee. Sweet Lips will just have to be satisfied with having one of the weirdest state names in the country. Here are more funny town names from each of the 50 states.
What’s the capital of South Carolina?
A. Charleston
B. Myrtle Beach
C. Columbia
Answer: C. Columbia
We’d understand if this state capitals quiz question tripped you up—Charleston is the name of a state capital, just not South Carolina’s. It’s the capital of West Virginia. Find out which state everyone forgets when listing all 50.
What’s the capital of Arizona?
A. Tucson
B. Flagstaff
C. Phoenix
Answer: C. Phoenix
Arizona is the only state with a Z in its name. You never know when that piece of trivia will come in handy.
What’s the capital of Pennsylvania?
A. Harrisburg
B. Pittsburgh
C. Philadelphia
Answer: A. Harrisburg
Philadelphia gets a lot more press, but Harrisburg is actually the capital of the Keystone State. Did you know Philly was even the capital of America at one point?
What’s the capital of Vermont?
A. Montpelier
B. Burlington
C. Middlebury
Answer: A. Montpelier
Montpelier is America’s smallest state capital—and it’s also the only state capital without a McDonald’s.
What’s the capital of Alaska?
A. Fairbanks
B. Juneau
C. Anchorage
Answer: B. Juneau
Alaska is the largest state in the U.S., and Juneau is the largest capital city (by area). In fact, the entire state of Delaware could fit inside it.
What’s the capital of Hawaii?
A. Pearl City
B. Honolulu
C. Kailua
Answer: B. Honolulu
We’re finishing off this state capitals quiz is the last state to be added to the U.S. Did you get its capital right?
Now, it’s time to give your brain a break from capitals and learn some interesting states facts.
Originally Published: January 10, 2023
