IDIdaho Map
Idaho on the US map
Idaho 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 #14 of 50, Idaho is mid-sized for the United States. The map above highlights Idaho 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 Idaho 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 Idaho is Boise — which is also the largest city in the state. About 17 of the 50 US state capitals also hold the title of largest city; Idaho 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
Idaho shares land borders with 6 other US states: Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Montana. Each link goes to that state's dedicated page where you can see its own map, history, and facts.
Idaho 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: #14 of 50
- Population: 1 to 5 million
- Coastline: landlocked (no ocean access)
- Mountain ranges: rockies
- Time zone: Mountain (spans multiple)
- Region: West — mountain subregion
- Yellowstone: contains part of the national park
Major highways and transportation
Idaho is connected to the rest of the country by the federal Interstate Highway System (planned by President Eisenhower in the 1950s). Major airports serve Boise, with regional connections to the rest of the state. Amtrak rail service connects parts of Idaho to the national passenger rail network, though geographic isolation and population density vary.
Idaho notable firsts
- Contains part of Yellowstone, the world's first national park (1872)
🌟 Idaho trivia
- Idaho produces about 30% of all US potatoes — most fast-food fries come from here.
- The state has more whitewater rapids miles than any other US state.
- Hells Canyon, on the Idaho-Oregon border, is deeper than the Grand Canyon (7,993 ft vs 6,093 ft).
- The name "Idaho" was made up by lobbyist George M. Willing, who claimed it meant "gem of the mountains" in Shoshone. It doesn't mean anything in any Native language.
Idaho vs similar states
How does Idaho compare with 3 other states in the same region and size category?
| State | Capital | Pop | Area rank | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | Boise | 1 to 5 million | #14 | 1890 |
| 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)
Idaho 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. Idaho 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 Idaho
If this page interested you, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture. These states share Idaho's region (West) and similar size category: