FLFlorida Map
Florida on the US map
Florida sits in the South region of the United States — specifically the deep south subregion as defined by the US Census Bureau. With an area ranking of #22 of 50, Florida is mid-sized for the United States. The map above highlights Florida 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 Florida 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 Florida is Tallahassee. The largest city by population, however, is Jacksonville — not Tallahassee. 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
Florida shares land borders with 2 other US states: Georgia, Alabama. 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: #22 of 50
- Population: over 10 million
- Coastline: atlantic, gulf
- Mountain ranges: no major mountain ranges
- Time zone: Eastern (spans multiple)
- Region: South — deep south subregion
Major highways and transportation
Florida is connected to the rest of the country by the federal Interstate Highway System (planned by President Eisenhower in the 1950s). Major airports serve Jacksonville and Tallahassee, with regional connections to the rest of the state. Amtrak rail service connects parts of Florida to the national passenger rail network, though geographic isolation and population density vary.
Florida notable firsts
- Florida has a unique place among the 50 states — discoverable across its geography, history, and culture
🌟 Florida trivia
- Florida is the only US state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
- Disney World in Orlando is larger than the city of San Francisco (40+ square miles).
- The state is home to over 1.5 million alligators — about one for every 14 humans.
- Florida grows more oranges than any other state, accounting for 70% of US orange production.
Florida vs similar states
How does Florida compare with 3 other states in the same region and size category?
| State | Capital | Pop | Area rank | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | Tallahassee | over 10 million | #22 | 1845 |
| Alabama | Montgomery | 1 to 5 million | #30 | 1819 |
| Arkansas | Little Rock | 1 to 5 million | #29 | 1836 |
| Georgia | Atlanta | over 10 million | #24 | 1788 |
Bordering states (2)
Florida shares borders with 2 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. Florida 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 Florida
If this page interested you, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture. These states share Florida's region (South) and similar size category: