Widest State East-to-West: Pennsylvania Beats Oregon & New York
Among Oregon, Pennsylvania, and New York, Pennsylvania is the widest east-to-west.
Approximate East-West Spans
| State | Max East-West Distance | Key Longitude Points |
|---|
| Pennsylvania | ~170 miles (274 km) | 79°43' W (SW corner, WV border) → 74°41' W (DE border, Philadelphia) |
| Oregon | ~120 miles (193 km) | 124°34' W (Pacific) → 116°28' W (ID border, Snake River) |
| New York | ~100 miles (161 km) | 79°46' W (Lake Erie, PA border) → 71°51' W (Long Island Sound, CT/RI) |
Why Pennsylvania Wins
- Its northern latitude means degrees of longitude are closer together (~53 mi/deg at 40°N vs ~69 mi/deg at equator)—yet it still spans ~5° of longitude.
- Oregon appears wider on maps (Mercator distortion), but its northern latitude compresses longitudinal miles.
- New York's width is constrained by Lake Erie (west) and Long Island Sound (east).
Visual Check
- PA: Erie → Philadelphia = 300+ mi driving (not straight-line); the state's *irregular* shape includes the "panhandle" to Erie.
- OR: Coast → Idaho border = straight shot across Cascades/High Desert.
- NY: Buffalo → Montauk = 375 mi driving, but straight-line east-west is shorter.
So while driving distances favor New York (long diagonal), the pure east-west geographic span belongs to Pennsylvania.
Wanderlust World