Capitals of the US States
Every US state has its own capital city — and famously, the capital is often not the biggest or best-known city in the state. In this map you fly to all 50 state capitals and learn which city governs each state.
Plenty of surprises await: the capital of California is Sacramento (not Los Angeles), New York's capital is Albany (not New York City), Illinois is run from Springfield (not Chicago) and Texas from Austin (not Houston or Dallas). A few are easier — Denver (Colorado), Boston (Massachusetts) and Honolulu (Hawaii) are both the capital and the main city.
Learn them by flying straight to each one and pinning it on the map — the playful, free way to remember all fifty.
▶︎ Play nowFrequently asked questions
What is the capital of California?
Sacramento is the capital of California, not Los Angeles or San Francisco. Like many US states, California chose a more central, administrative city as its capital rather than its largest metropolis — a pattern that makes state capitals genuinely tricky to learn.
What is the capital of Texas?
Austin is the capital of Texas. It sits near the centre of the state and is known for music and technology, while the bigger cities of Houston, San Antonio and Dallas are not the capital — another case of the capital not being the largest city.
What is the capital of New York State?
Albany is the capital of New York State, not New York City. Albany lies upstate on the Hudson River and has been the capital since 1797, while New York City is the state's huge economic centre but not its seat of government.
Is Washington, D.C. a state capital?
No. Washington, D.C. is the national capital of the United States and is not part of any state — D.C. stands for District of Columbia. This map covers the 50 state capitals, such as Sacramento, Austin and Albany, not the federal capital.