America's Extreme Latitude Span: Kaena Point to Point Barrow

The United States stretches farther north–south than many realize. The straight-line distance between its southernmost and northernmost points is approximately 4,900 miles (7,900 km).

The Endpoints

• Southernmost: Kaena Point, Oahu, Hawaii (21.57°N, 158.28°W)
• Northernmost: Point Barrow (Utqiaġvik), Alaska (71.39°N, 156.47°W)

Context

This span exceeds the continental U.S. width (~2,800 mi) and underscores the vastness added by Alaska and Hawaii. The calculation assumes a great-circle path; actual travel distance would be longer due to routing constraints.

Fun Fact

The easternmost (West Quoddy Head, Maine) and westernmost (Amatignak Island, Alaska) points are also separated by ~2,500 miles, making the U.S. one of the world's most geographically dispersed nations.