AKAlaska Map
Alaska on the US map
Alaska sits in the West region of the United States — specifically the non contiguous subregion as defined by the US Census Bureau. With an area ranking of #1 of 50, Alaska is one of the largest US states by total area. The map above highlights Alaska in gold and color-codes the 49 other states by region.
Whether you're a student studying US geography, a traveler planning a road trip, a teacher building a lesson plan, or simply curious, the goal of this page is to give you a complete picture of where Alaska is and what surrounds it. Click any other state on the map above to navigate to its dedicated page.
Capital and largest city
The capital of Alaska is Juneau. The largest city by population, however, is Anchorage — not Juneau. This pattern (capital ≠ largest city) holds for about 33 of the 50 US states, including most of the famous mismatches like California (Sacramento, not LA), Florida (Tallahassee, not Miami), and New York (Albany, not NYC).
The historical reason for these mismatches dates to the late 18th and 19th centuries. When state founders chose capitals, they often deliberately picked smaller, more centrally located towns to avoid concentrating political and commercial power in the same place. They worried that a capital in a major port or commercial city would be too vulnerable to mob influence (a real concern at the time) and would skew political decisions toward commercial interests.
Borders and neighbors
Alaska shares no land border with any other US state — it is one of only two non-contiguous US states (the other being Hawaii). To travel from Alaska to the lower 48 by land, one must cross an international border.
Alaska also shares an international border with Canada — part of the 5,525-mile US-Canada border, the longest international border in the world.
Geographic features at a glance
- Total area rank: #1 of 50
- Population: under 1 million
- Coastline: pacific
- Mountain ranges: no major mountain ranges
- Time zone: alaska (spans multiple)
- Region: West — non contiguous subregion
Major highways and transportation
Alaska is connected to the rest of the country by the federal Interstate Highway System (planned by President Eisenhower in the 1950s). Major airports serve Anchorage and Juneau, with regional connections to the rest of the state. Amtrak rail service connects parts of Alaska to the national passenger rail network, though geographic isolation and population density vary.
Alaska notable firsts
- Largest US state by area (663,300 sq mi)
🌟 Alaska trivia
- Bought from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million — about 2 cents per acre. Critics called it "Seward's Folly" before gold and oil were discovered.
- The capital Juneau is not connected by road to the rest of the United States. You can only reach it by boat or plane.
- It has more coastline than all other US states combined (over 6,600 miles).
- The state has two time zones, but most of it runs on Alaska Time — making noon in Anchorage = 4 PM in New York.
Alaska vs similar states
How does Alaska compare with 3 other states in the same region and size category?
| State | Capital | Pop | Area rank | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Juneau | under 1 million | #1 | 1959 |
| Arizona | Phoenix | 5 to 10 million | #6 | 1912 |
| California | Sacramento | over 10 million | #3 | 1850 |
| Colorado | Denver | 5 to 10 million | #8 | 1876 |
Practice US geography daily — free
Statedoku is a 3×3 daily geography puzzle. Alaska appears as an answer or constraint clue on most days that match its region, borders, time zone, or quirks. Five minutes a day.
Play today's puzzle →Similar states to Alaska
If this page interested you, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture. These states share Alaska's region (West) and similar size category: