MEMaine Map
Maine on the US map
Maine sits in the Northeast region of the United States — specifically the new england subregion as defined by the US Census Bureau. With an area ranking of #39 of 50, Maine is mid-sized for the United States. The map above highlights Maine 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 Maine 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 Maine is Augusta. The largest city by population, however, is Portland — not Augusta. 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
Maine shares land borders with 1 other US states: New Hampshire. Each link goes to that state's dedicated page where you can see its own map, history, and facts.
Maine 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: #39 of 50
- Population: 1 to 5 million
- Coastline: atlantic
- Mountain ranges: appalachians
- Time zone: Eastern
- Region: Northeast — new england subregion
- Appalachian range: yes
Major highways and transportation
Maine is connected to the rest of the country by the federal Interstate Highway System (planned by President Eisenhower in the 1950s). Major airports serve Portland and Augusta, with regional connections to the rest of the state. Amtrak rail service connects parts of Maine to the national passenger rail network, though geographic isolation and population density vary.
Maine notable firsts
- Maine has a unique place among the 50 states — discoverable across its geography, history, and culture
🌟 Maine trivia
- Maine produces about 40% of all US lobster, with over 4,000 licensed lobster traps in operation.
- The state is so foggy that Eastport, ME is the easternmost city in the US — the first place to see sunrise.
- Stephen King is from Bangor and sets many of his novels in fictional Maine towns (Castle Rock, Derry, Salem's Lot).
- L.L. Bean's flagship store in Freeport is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — no locks on the doors.
Maine vs similar states
How does Maine compare with 3 other states in the same region and size category?
| State | Capital | Pop | Area rank | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | Augusta | 1 to 5 million | #39 | 1820 |
| Connecticut | Hartford | 1 to 5 million | #48 | 1788 |
| Delaware | Dover | 1 to 5 million | #49 | 1787 |
| Maryland | Annapolis | 5 to 10 million | #42 | 1788 |
Bordering states (1)
Maine shares borders with 1 other US state, listed alphabetically below. Each link goes to the dedicated state page.
Practice US geography daily — free
Statedoku is a 3×3 daily geography puzzle. Maine 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 Maine
If this page interested you, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture. These states share Maine's region (Northeast) and similar size category: