The Continental United States: 48 States, Not 50

"Continental" vs. "Contiguous" vs. "Lower 48"

There are 48 states in the continental United States. These are the states on the North American continent, excluding Alaska (also on the continent but separated by Canada) and Hawaii (in the Pacific).

Terminology Precision

• Continental US: 49 states (includes Alaska, excludes Hawaii). Geologically correct.
• Contiguous US / Conterminous US / "Lower 48": 48 states + D.C. — all touching each other. This is what people usually mean.
• Lower 48: Colloquial for contiguous.

Why It Matters

• Shipping/Logistics: "CONUS" rates = contiguous 48. Alaska/Hawaii = "OCONUS" (outside CONUS) — different pricing.
• Military: CONUS assignments vs. OCONUS (includes Alaska, Hawaii, overseas).
• Ecology/Climate: Continental = North American landmass biomes. Alaska shares boreal forest; Hawaii is tropical oceanic.
• Law/Policy: Some federal statutes distinguish "continental" (49) from "contiguous" (48).

The 48 Contiguous States

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. + District of Columbia.

Alaska = continental but not contiguous. Hawaii = neither. 48 is the number for the connected block.