Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states lies near Lebanon, Kansas, approximately 20 miles northwest of Wichita. The precise coordinates are 39°50'N, 98°35'W.
This point represents the center of mass of the contiguous U.S. land area—essentially where a flat, rigid map of the lower 48 would balance on a pin. Alaska and Hawaii are excluded because their inclusion would shift the center significantly northwest.
A small park and monument mark the spot, complete with a plaque and a tiny chapel. It's a quiet, rural location—a fitting representation of the vast plains that define America's heartland.