US States and Capitals Quiz

All 50 states and their capitals in one mixed drill.

Both halves in one game: name the state, then its capital. All 50 pairs, free, no signup, and a full miss list at the end.

How the states and capitals quiz works

Each round pairs a state with its capital, so you practise the exact recall a class test asks for. Missed pairs are listed at the end, which turns the quiz into a study plan rather than just a score.

Capitals that are not the obvious city

This is where nearly every point is lost. In many states the capital is not the largest or best-known city:

New York — Albany, not New York City
California — Sacramento, not Los Angeles
Illinois — Springfield, not Chicago
Florida — Tallahassee, not Miami
Texas — Austin, not Houston or Dallas
Pennsylvania — Harrisburg, not Philadelphia
Washington — Olympia, not Seattle
Nevada — Carson City, not Las Vegas
Missouri — Jefferson City, not Kansas City or St. Louis
Oregon — Salem, not Portland
Alaska — Juneau, not Anchorage
Maryland — Annapolis, not Baltimore

Learn those twelve first. They account for most wrong answers on any states-and-capitals test.

Easy wins

Some states hand you the answer: Oklahoma City (Oklahoma), Indianapolis (Indiana). Others are near-matches worth grouping: Columbus (Ohio), Columbia (South Carolina), Charleston (West Virginia) and Charlotte — which is *not* a capital at all, and a favourite trick question.

A two-week plan

Days 1–3: all 50 state names using Name All 50 US States
Days 4–7: capitals in blocks of ten with Name US State Capitals
Days 8–10: pairs in both directions — State to Capital and Capital to State
Days 11–14: this combined quiz, plus US State Abbreviations

Keep reading

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of New York?

Albany. New York City is far larger but has never been the state capital in the modern era.

How many state capitals are also the largest city in their state?

Fewer than half. Many states chose a central or smaller city as capital, which is why capitals like Sacramento, Albany and Tallahassee catch people out.

How long does it take to learn all 50 states and capitals?

About two weeks of short daily sessions if you learn the state names first and add capitals in blocks of ten.

Is this quiz free for classroom use?

Yes — no accounts, no ads-based signup, and it works on school Chromebooks and phones.