A landlocked state has no ocean coastline. Some definitions also exclude states bordering the Great Lakes; this guide uses the stricter definition: no ocean AND no Great Lake.
All 20 landlocked states
| State | Code | Capital | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | AZ | Phoenix | West |
| Arkansas | AR | Little Rock | South |
| Colorado | CO | Denver | West |
| Idaho | ID | Boise | West |
| Iowa | IA | Des Moines | Midwest |
| Kansas | KS | Topeka | Midwest |
| Kentucky | KY | Frankfort | South |
| Missouri | MO | Jefferson City | Midwest |
| Montana | MT | Helena | West |
| Nebraska | NE | Lincoln | Midwest |
| Nevada | NV | Carson City | West |
| New Mexico | NM | Santa Fe | West |
| North Dakota | ND | Bismarck | Midwest |
| Oklahoma | OK | Oklahoma City | South |
| South Dakota | SD | Pierre | Midwest |
| Tennessee | TN | Nashville | South |
| Utah | UT | Salt Lake City | West |
| Vermont | VT | Montpelier | Northeast |
| West Virginia | WV | Charleston | South |
| Wyoming | WY | Cheyenne | West |
The one "doubly landlocked" state
Nebraska is the only US state that is doubly landlocked, every state that borders it (South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming) is also landlocked. To reach the ocean from Lincoln, NE, you have to cross at least two state lines. This makes Nebraska unique on the US map.
What "landlocked" means in practice
- Historical isolation. Pre-rail, landlocked states couldn't move bulk goods cheaply. This shaped their economies toward livestock, grain, and minerals, things that travel well by rail.
- Lower population growth. No port = no immigration hub. Most landlocked states have less than 5 million people.
- Continental climate. No moderating ocean influence. Hot summers, very cold winters, more weather extremes (tornadoes, blizzards, droughts).
- Less in pop culture. Movies and TV are set in coastal states 80%+ of the time. Landlocked states have a real cultural identity gap to fill.
Common confusion: is Pennsylvania landlocked?
Sort of. PA has a small Lake Erie coastline near the city of Erie, PA, about 50 miles of shoreline. If you count Great Lakes shore as "coastline" (most sources do), PA is not landlocked. If you require ocean access, PA is functionally landlocked. Same debate applies to Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New York.
Spot landlocked states in the daily puzzle
"Landlocked" is one of the most common Statedoku constraints. After a week, you'll see them at a glance.
Play today's puzzle →