Home · States · California · Map
CACalifornia Map
California on the US map
California is located in the West region of the United States — specifically the pacific subregion. With an area ranking of #3 of 50, it is one of the largest US states. The map above highlights California in gold and color-codes the other 49 states by region.
Key cities
The capital of California is Sacramento. The largest city by population is Los Angeles. As is the case with most US states, the capital is not the largest city — this is by design, dating back to the late 18th and 19th centuries when state founders deliberately chose smaller, more centrally located towns to host state government and avoid concentrating political and commercial power in the same place.
Borders and neighbors
California shares land borders with 3 other US states: Oregon, Nevada, Arizona.
California also shares an international border with Mexico — one of only 4 US states to do so (the others are California, Arizona, and New Mexico if not this state itself).
Geographic features at a glance
- Total area rank: #3 of 50
- Population: over 10 million
- Coastline: pacific
- Mountain ranges: sierra, cascades
- Desert terrain: yes — significant desert areas
How to use this map
The map above is interactive — click any state to see its facts and history. California appears in gold to make it easy to find. The other states are colored by region: Northeast (blue), South (red), Midwest (orange), and West (green). This color coding follows the standard US Census Bureau region definitions and helps you build a mental map of US geography as you explore.
Bordering states
California shares borders with 3 other US states.
Practice US geography daily
Statedoku is a free 3×3 daily puzzle that quietly teaches US geography. California appears as the answer or as a constraint clue on most days that match its region, borders, or quirks.
Play today's puzzle →Common questions
Where is California located?
California is in the West region of the United States. Its capital is Sacramento and its largest city is Los Angeles. The state ranks #3 of 50 by total area.
What states border California?
California borders Oregon, Nevada, Arizona. That's 3 bordering states in total.
Is California on the coast?
Yes, California has coastline on the pacific.
What time zone is California in?
California observes Pacific Time.
Similar states
If you found this page useful, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture: