Which U.S. States Have Desert Landscapes? A Complete Guide

When people think of American deserts, Arizona and California immediately come to mind—but the reality is far more expansive. Eleven U.S. states contain recognized desert regions, spanning the Southwest, Great Basin, and even parts of the Pacific Northwest.

The Desert States

• Arizona – Home to the Sonoran Desert (including the iconic saguaro cactus) and parts of the Mojave.
• California – Hosts the Mojave Desert, Death Valley (lowest point in North America), and Colorado Desert.
• Nevada – Dominated by the Great Basin Desert, the largest U.S. desert entirely within one state.
• Utah – Features the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau deserts, including Arches and Canyonlands.
• New Mexico – Contains the Chihuahuan Desert's northern reaches and high desert plains.
• Texas – The Chihuahuan Desert extends into West Texas (Big Bend region).
• Colorado – High desert ecosystems in the western canyonlands and San Luis Valley.
• Idaho – The Owyhee Desert and sagebrush steppe in the southwest.
• Oregon – The High Desert (Great Basin) covers much of the state's southeast.
• Washington – Rain shadow deserts east of the Cascades (Columbia Basin).
• Wyoming – Red Desert and Great Basin extensions in the southwest.

Desert Diversity

These aren't all classic "hot sandy" deserts. The Great Basin is a cold desert with winter snow, while the Sonoran is subtropical with two rainy seasons. Elevation, rain shadows, and latitude create remarkable variety across these 11 states.