Two U.S. States That Are Peninsulas: California and Florida

Of the three U.S. states often considered peninsulas, California and Florida are the clearest examples.

• Florida: Classic peninsula — bordered by Atlantic (E), Gulf of Mexico (W), Florida Straits (S). Only land connection: north to Georgia/Alabama.
• California: The Baja California Peninsula is Mexican, but the state of California forms a functional peninsula for the U.S.: Pacific (W), Oregon (N), Nevada/Arizona (E — land), Mexico (S — land). The Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada create a geographic cul-de-sac.
• Alaska: The third candidate — a massive peninsula (Alaska Peninsula + mainland) but also connected to Canada. Often called a "peninsula state" despite vast interior.

Florida is the textbook peninsula; California is a geographic peninsula for the contiguous US; Alaska is a subcontinental peninsula.