Are Any U.S. States Located South of the Equator? The Geographic Answer

No U.S. State Crosses the Equator

The entire United States—including all 50 states and the District of Columbia—lies in the Northern Hemisphere. The equator, at 0° latitude, passes through South America (Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil), Africa (Gabon, Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia), and Asia (Indonesia), but it does not touch any U.S. territory.

Hawaii: The Southernmost State, Still Far North

Hawaii is the U.S. state closest to the equator. Its southernmost point, Ka Lae (South Point) on the Big Island, sits at approximately 18°55′ N latitude—roughly 1,300 nautical miles (2,400 km) north of the equator. The often-cited "2,000 miles" figure is a rounded approximation; the precise distance is closer to 1,300–1,400 miles depending on the reference point.

Other Southern Extremes

• Continental U.S.: Ballast Key, Florida (24°31′ N)
• Texas: Rio Grande at the border (25°50′ N)
• Territories: American Samoa (14° S) and Jarvis Island (0°22′ S) are south of the equator, but they are unincorporated territories, not states.

Why This Matters

Hemisphere location determines seasons (summer in June–August), daylight patterns, Coriolis effect on weather systems, and even satellite coverage. All U.S. states experience the same seasonal cycle as Europe and Asia.