Three States Make Up the U.S. West Coast

The contiguous U.S. West Coast comprises exactly three states with Pacific Ocean coastline:

1. Washington – 157 mi coastline; Seattle, Olympic Peninsula, Puget Sound
2. Oregon – 296 mi coastline; Portland, Columbia River, Cannon Beach
3. California – 840 mi coastline; SF, LA, SD, Big Sur, Redwoods

Total: ~1,293 miles of mainland Pacific coast.

Common Additions & Clarifications

• Alaska – 6,640 mi coastline (most in US); but not "contiguous West Coast"
• Hawaii – Pacific state; not on continental coast
• British Columbia (Canada) – Continues the coastal geography northward
• Baja California (Mexico) – Continues southward

West Coast vs. "Western States"

"Western US" (Census) = 13 states (adds MT, WY, CO, NM, ID, UT, AZ, NV). "West Coast" = strictly Pacific littoral.