American State Capital Quiz: Can You Name All 50 Capitals? Take the Challenge Now!

I love a good quiz and i think you will love this one too. The american state capital quiz is a fun and easy way to test what you know about the USA. There are 50 states in America and each state has its own capital city. Some are easy like Boston for Massachusetts, but some are realy hard and most people get them wrong.
I made this quiz for you so you can learn all 50 state capitals while you play. You just see the name of the state and you type the capital. It is that simple. I play it with my kids too and they learn so fast with it.
In this post i will give you the quiz first, then i share the full list of all 50 state capitals, plus fun facts and stats that help you remember them for a long time. So lets start and see how many you can get right.
What Is The American State Capital Quiz?
The american state capital quiz is a simple typing quiz about the capitals of the 50 US states. It shows you a state name like Texas or Florida, and you have to type the right capital city. If you type Austin for Texas, you get it right. If you type Miami for Florida, you get it wrong because the capital of Florida is Tallahassee.
I like this quiz because it is not multiple choice. You have to realy know the answer, so you learn much faster. It covers all 50 states, from Alabama to Wyoming, so when you finish it you will know every single capital.
Many people use this state capital quiz to study for school, to get ready for a test, or just for fun with friends and family. You can play it again and again until you get a perfect score.
How To Play This State Capital Quiz
Playing is very easy and i will show you how it works step by step.
First you will see the name of a state in a big box. Under it there is a small box where you type your answer. Type the capital city and press enter or click check. The quiz tells you right away if you are right or wrong.
For example: Alabama -> you type Montgomery (correct). California -> you type Sacramento (correct). New York -> you type Albany (correct, not New York City).
The quiz is not case sensitive in a strict way, so you can type in small or big letters. But try to spell the name right. For names with two words like Salt Lake City or Saint Paul, you can type them with or without the space and it still counts.
You get 50 questions in total, one for each state. At the end you see your score. I got 44 out of 50 on my first try, can you beat me.
All 50 US State Capitals List In Order
Here is the full list of all 50 state capitals. I keep this list here so you can study before you play or check your answers after the quiz. If you learn this list by heart, you will ace any american state capital quiz.
| State | Capital |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Montgomery |
| Alaska | Juneau |
| Arizona | Phoenix |
| Arkansas | Little Rock |
| California | Sacramento |
| Colorado | Denver |
| Connecticut | Hartford |
| Delaware | Dover |
| Florida | Tallahassee |
| Georgia | Atlanta |
| Hawaii | Honolulu |
| Idaho | Boise |
| Illinois | Springfield |
| Indiana | Indianapolis |
| Iowa | Des Moines |
| Kansas | Topeka |
| Kentucky | Frankfort |
| Louisiana | Baton Rouge |
| Maine | Augusta |
| Maryland | Annapolis |
| Massachusetts | Boston |
| Michigan | Lansing |
| Minnesota | Saint Paul |
| Mississippi | Jackson |
| Missouri | Jefferson City |
| Montana | Helena |
| Nebraska | Lincoln |
| Nevada | Carson City |
| New Hampshire | Concord |
| New Jersey | Trenton |
| New Mexico | Santa Fe |
| New York | Albany |
| North Carolina | Raleigh |
| North Dakota | Bismarck |
| Ohio | Columbus |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma City |
| Oregon | Salem |
| Pennsylvania | Harrisburg |
| Rhode Island | Providence |
| South Carolina | Columbia |
| South Dakota | Pierre |
| Tennessee | Nashville |
| Texas | Austin |
| Utah | Salt Lake City |
| Vermont | Montpelier |
| Virginia | Richmond |
| Washington | Olympia |
| West Virginia | Charleston |
| Wisconsin | Madison |
| Wyoming | Cheyenne |
I suggest you read this list two or three times, then play the quiz again. You will see how fast your score goes up.
Fun Facts And Stats About US State Capitals
I want to share some fun facts with you because they make the capitals much easier to remember. I love facts like these and i think you will too.
Phoenix in Arizona is the biggest state capital by people. More than 1.6 million people live there. That is more than the whole state of Vermont. Montpelier in Vermont is the smallest capital, with only about 8,000 people. It is the only capital with less than 10,000 people.
Juneau in Alaska is the biggest capital by land. It covers about 3,255 square miles, which is bigger than the state of Delaware. Santa Fe in New Mexico is the oldest capital city. It was founded in 1610, more than 400 years ago, long before America was even a country.
Only 17 of the 50 capitals are also the biggest city in their state. Most people think the capital is always the biggest city, but that is wrong. For example the capital of New York is Albany, not New York City. The capital of California is Sacramento, not Los Angeles. This is why the quiz tricks so many people.
The most common capital name pattern is City. Four capitals have City in the name: Jefferson City, Carson City, Oklahoma City and Salt Lake City. The longest capital name is Salt Lake City with 13 letters plus spaces.
State Capital Vs Largest City
Many people mix up the state capital with the largest city, so i want to make it very clear for you.
A state capital is the city where the state government works. That is where the governor has his office and where new laws are made. The largest city is just the city with the most people. Most of the time they are not the same.
Here are some examples you should know: Texas: capital is Austin, largest city is Houston. Florida: capital is Tallahassee, largest city is Jacksonville. Illinois: capital is Springfield, largest city is Chicago. Washington: capital is Olympia, largest city is Seattle.
When you play the american state capital quiz, always think of the government city, not the famous big city. That one tip alone will raise your score a lot.
How To Remember State Capitals Fast
I get asked a lot how to learn all 50 capitals fast, so here is what works for me and for my kids.
First, learn them in small groups. Do 10 states at a time, not all 50 at once. Play the quiz with just what you learned, then add 10 more. In five days you will know them all.
Second, use word links in your mind. For example, Denver and Colorado both have the letter o in a fun spot. Frankfort sounds like frank, and Kentucky is famous for food. Silly links like this stick in your head.
Third, write them by hand once. I know it sounds old school, but when you write Montgomery for Alabama with your own hand, your brain keeps it much better than just reading it.
Fourth, play this quiz every day for one week. Each round takes only a few mins, and by day seven most people get over 45 right. I did it and it realy works.
Tips For Teachers, Kids And Quiz Lovers
If you are a teacher, this quiz is great for your class. You can let kids play it on a smart board and they will shout out answers. It turns a dull lesson into a fun game. I have seen kids who hate tests love this quiz.
If you are a parent, play it with your kids at home. Give a small prize for a perfect score. You will be shocked how fast a 8 year old can learn all 50 capitals when it feels like a game.
If you just love quizzes, try to beat your own best score. Play once now, note your score, study the list above for 10 mins, then play again. Most people jump by 10 points or more. Come back each week and try to keep your perfect streak.
Conclusion
The american state capital quiz is one of the best ways to learn US geography in a fun way. There are 50 states and 50 capitals, and now you have a free quiz plus the full list, fun facts and study tips all in one place.
I play it often and i still learn some thing new each time. Whether you are a student, a teacher, or just some one who loves to test their brain, this quiz is for you.
Play the quiz at the top of this page, check the list, read the facts, and come back tomorrow to try for a perfect 50 out of 50. I know you can do it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the american state capital quiz?
It is a free online quiz where you type the capital city for each of the 50 US states. You see the state name and you guess its capital, then you get your score at the end.
How many questions are in the state capital quiz?
There are 50 questions, one for each US state, from Alabama to Wyoming. You need to name all 50 capitals to get a perfect score.
What is the capital of California?
The capital of California is Sacramento. Many people think it is Los Angeles, but Los Angeles is just the biggest city. Sacramento is where the state government sits.
What is the capital of Texas?
The capital of Texas is Austin. Houston is bigger, but Austin is the capital city of the state.
What is the capital of Florida?
The capital of Florida is Tallahassee. Miami and Orlando are more famous, but Tallahassee is the real capital.
What is the smallest state capital in the US?
Montpelier, Vermont is the smallest state capital by population, with about 8,000 people. It is the only US capital with fewer than 10,000 residents.
What is the largest state capital in the US?
Phoenix, Arizona is the largest state capital by population, with over 1.6 million people. It is also the only capital with more than one million residents.
Is the capital always the biggest city in a state?
No, most of the time it is not. Only about 17 of the 50 capitals are also the largest city in their state. That is why this quiz is tricky for many people.
How can I memorize all 50 state capitals fast?
Learn 10 at a time, use the quiz daily for a week, write them by hand once, and use silly word links. Most people can learn all 50 in about five to seven days with this method.
