This US state capitals quiz gives you 20 multiple-choice questions, from familiar pairs to capitals that are easy to confuse with other cities. Choose an answer, check it, and use the short explanation to remember the state–capital connection.
This is a fixed practice round covering 20 of the 50 states, not a complete 50-state test. There is no timer. Washington, D.C., the national capital, is not an answer in this state-capitals round.
Match the state to its capital.
20 questions · No timer · One point per correct answer
Easy, Medium and Hard are editorial difficulty estimates for general learners, not standardized ratings. Every correct answer earns one point.
Choose an answer, then open “Show answer” to check it yourself. Interactive scoring appears when JavaScript is available.
JavaScript is off. All 20 questions and their answers remain available below.
Choose one answer, select Check answer, then continue to the next question.
Your US state capitals quiz result
Easy
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Correct answer: Sacramento.
Sacramento is the state capital of California. If you chose Los Angeles, remember this pair: California — Sacramento.
Medium
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Correct answer: Albany.
Albany is the state capital of New York. If you chose New York City, remember this pair: New York — Albany.
Easy
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Correct answer: Austin.
Austin is the state capital of Texas. If you chose Dallas, remember this pair: Texas — Austin.
Medium
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Correct answer: Tallahassee.
Tallahassee is the state capital of Florida. If you chose Miami, remember this pair: Florida — Tallahassee.
Easy
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Correct answer: Boston.
Boston is the state capital of Massachusetts. If you chose Worcester, remember this pair: Massachusetts — Boston.
Easy
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Correct answer: Denver.
Denver is the state capital of Colorado. If you chose Boulder, remember this pair: Colorado — Denver.
Easy
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Correct answer: Honolulu.
Honolulu is the state capital of Hawaii. If you chose Hilo, remember this pair: Hawaii — Honolulu.
Medium
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Correct answer: Springfield.
Springfield is the state capital of Illinois. If you chose Chicago, remember this pair: Illinois — Springfield.
Medium
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Correct answer: Harrisburg.
Harrisburg is the state capital of Pennsylvania. If you chose Philadelphia, remember this pair: Pennsylvania — Harrisburg.
Medium
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Correct answer: Olympia.
Olympia is the state capital of Washington. If you chose Seattle, remember this pair: Washington — Olympia.
Medium
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Correct answer: Salem.
Salem is the state capital of Oregon. If you chose Portland, remember this pair: Oregon — Salem.
Medium
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Correct answer: Baton Rouge.
Baton Rouge is the state capital of Louisiana. If you chose New Orleans, remember this pair: Louisiana — Baton Rouge.
Medium
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Correct answer: Raleigh.
Raleigh is the state capital of North Carolina. If you chose Charlotte, remember this pair: North Carolina — Raleigh.
Medium
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Correct answer: Carson City.
Carson City is the state capital of Nevada. If you chose Las Vegas, remember this pair: Nevada — Carson City.
Medium
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Correct answer: Santa Fe.
Santa Fe is the state capital of New Mexico. If you chose Albuquerque, remember this pair: New Mexico — Santa Fe.
Medium
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Correct answer: Juneau.
Juneau is the state capital of Alaska. If you chose Anchorage, remember this pair: Alaska — Juneau.
Hard
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Correct answer: Montpelier.
Montpelier is the state capital of Vermont. If you chose Burlington, remember this pair: Vermont — Montpelier.
Hard
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Correct answer: Augusta.
Augusta is the state capital of Maine. If you chose Portland, remember this pair: Maine — Augusta.
Hard
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Correct answer: Frankfort.
Frankfort is the state capital of Kentucky. If you chose Louisville, remember this pair: Kentucky — Frankfort.
Hard
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Correct answer: Pierre.
Pierre is the state capital of South Dakota. If you chose Sioux Falls, remember this pair: South Dakota — Pierre.
1. Use your score to choose what to practice
Each correct answer earns one point, with no penalty for a wrong answer. Select Review answers at the end to see all 20 questions and explanations together. Try again resets your choices and score and replays the same questions in the same order.
The result describes this short round, not your knowledge of every US capital. A perfect score is a useful checkpoint; it is not a claim that you have tested all 50 states.
- Read the state name first. A recognizable city is not necessarily the capital being asked for.
- Study the pair, not the option position. Say the state and its capital together before replaying.
- Connect recall to a map. Find the state on our US states map, then return to the capital you missed.
For a different challenge, try the North America geography quiz, which mixes countries, capitals and physical features, or the world geography quiz for a broader round.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this quiz cover all 50 state capitals?
No. It covers 20 selected states. The same set appears when you restart, making it useful for practicing the pairs you missed.
Will my score be saved?
No. This quiz does not save your score between visits. Restarting or reloading begins a new round.
Can I use the quiz without JavaScript?
Yes, as a self-check exercise. All questions and their “Show answer” explanations remain readable, but automatic scoring and one-question-at-a-time navigation require JavaScript.
What Did We Learn Today?
State-capital recall works best when the two names stay connected. Use the explanations to replace a guessed city with the correct pair, then locate the state on a map. Reviewing missed answers is more useful than memorizing where the correct option appeared in this round.
Sources & Data Notes
The questions test current state–capital pairs, not population rankings, dates of selection or the locations of historic capitals. Difficulty labels are editorial judgments, and all answers receive equal weight. The cover is an original symbolic illustration, not a photograph of a particular state capitol.
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2007 Census of Governments map — state and capital labels; used only to verify the stable capital pairs, not present-day population or government counts.
- Minnesota Legislative Reference Library: state capitals reference table — supplementary state–capital cross-check.
