Home · States · Colorado · Map
COColorado Map
Colorado on the US map
Colorado sits in the West region of the United States — specifically the mountain subregion as defined by the US Census Bureau. With an area ranking of #8 of 50, Colorado is one of the largest US states by total area. The map above highlights Colorado 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 Colorado 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 Colorado is Denver — which is also the largest city in the state. About 17 of the 50 US state capitals also hold the title of largest city; Colorado is one of them.
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
Colorado shares land borders with 6 other US states: Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah. Each link goes to that state's dedicated page where you can see its own map, history, and facts.
Geographic features at a glance
- Total area rank: #8 of 50
- Population: 5 to 10 million
- Coastline: landlocked (no ocean access)
- Mountain ranges: rockies
- Time zone: Mountain
- Region: West — mountain subregion
- Great Plains: yes
- Four Corners: one of the four states meeting at the Four Corners point
Major highways and transportation
Colorado is connected to the rest of the country by the federal Interstate Highway System (planned by President Eisenhower in the 1950s). Major airports serve Denver, with regional connections to the rest of the state. Amtrak rail service connects parts of Colorado to the national passenger rail network, though geographic isolation and population density vary.
Colorado notable firsts
- Colorado has a unique place among the 50 states — discoverable across its geography, history, and culture
🌟 Colorado trivia
- Denver, the "Mile High City," is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level — one mile.
- Colorado has 58 peaks over 14,000 feet — more than any other state. Climbers call them "fourteeners."
- It was the first state to legalize recreational marijuana (2014).
- The cheeseburger was invented here in 1935, at the Humpty Dumpty Drive-In in Denver.
Colorado vs similar states
How does Colorado compare with 3 other states in the same region and size category?
| State | Capital | Pop | Area rank | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Denver | 5 to 10 million | #8 | 1876 |
| Alaska | Juneau | under 1 million | #1 | 1959 |
| Arizona | Phoenix | 5 to 10 million | #6 | 1912 |
| California | Sacramento | over 10 million | #3 | 1850 |
Bordering states (6)
Colorado shares borders with 6 other US states, listed alphabetically below. Each link goes to the dedicated state page.
Practice US geography daily — free
Statedoku is a 3×3 daily geography puzzle. Colorado 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 Colorado
If this page interested you, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture. These states share Colorado's region (West) and similar size category: