Which of the 48 Contiguous States Is Largest? (Hint: It's Not Alaska)

Which of the 48 Contiguous States Is Largest? (Hint: It's Not Alaska)

Trick question alert: Alaska is not one of the 48 contiguous states. It's separated from the "Lower 48" by Canada. So while Alaska is by far the largest U.S. state overall (1.7M km² / 665,000 sq mi), the title for the contiguous U.S. goes to the Lone Star State.

The Winner: Texas

• Area: ~695,662 km² (268,596 sq mi).
• Percentage of Contiguous US: ~7.4%.
• Fun Comparison: Texas is larger than France, Spain, or Germany. You could fit 15 of the smallest states (Rhode Island) inside it.

The Runner-Up: California

• Area: ~423,967 km² (163,695 sq mi).
• Only 61% the size of Texas.

Top 5 Contiguous States by Land Area

1. Texas – 268,596 sq mi
2. California – 163,695 sq mi
3. Montana – 147,040 sq mi
4. New Mexico – 121,590 sq mi
5. Arizona – 113,990 sq mi

Why the Confusion?

People often conflate "largest state" with "largest contiguous state." Alaska is 2.5x the size of Texas. But "contiguous" means sharing borders—Alaska and Hawaii don't. The 48 contiguous states + D.C. form the "conterminous United States."

So next time someone asks, you can confidently say: Texas. And if they say Alaska, you can smile and say, "Alaska's in a league of its own—literally not connected."