Can You Guess the State If We Give You a Major Highway and the Capital?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Guess the State If We Give You a Major Highway and the Capital?
Image: Lightvision, LLC / Moment / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Geography is quite possibly the least lauded subject taught in school. It may not be glamorous, but knowing where things are and the general shape of the world is one of those necessary bits of adult knowledge for which others judge you as you get older. It may not be a big deal if you don't know the capital of Swaziland, but not knowing the capital of the state in which you live is the sort of thing that will raise an eyebrow or two. But things get complicated when it comes to your knowledge of the other states in the U.S., those with which you have little first-hand experience.


The United States is a vast country with rivers, mountains and deserts standing between cities. The first significant movement to link these places together was the First Transcontinental Railroad, which reigned until the postwar era and the construction of the interstate highway system. While there was a time when knowing the local railroad lines was the sign of being a local, today, most Americans can more easily name the highways that pass through their state. Of course, every state has a capital, but even many a local can't name them.

Can you combine your impressive but not-always practical knowledge of state capitals with your knowledge of the interstate highway system? Now is the time to find out with this quiz!

1 california
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Can you think of which state has I-80 and Sacramento?
New York
Wyoming
California
Utah
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sacramento, the state capital of California, is served by, among other roads, I-80. One key thing to keep in mind about the interstate highway system is that the even numbers are for east-west highways.

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2 oklahoma
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The Lee Highway connects through a state whose capital is Oklahoma City. To which state do we refer?
Arizona
Oklahoma
Georgia
Nevada
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of the early trans-continental highways, the Lee Highway — which came after the Lincoln Highway — runs through the south and includes a trip through the southernmost reaches of Oklahoma. Oklahoma City is one of those very easily remembered state capitals.

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3 arkansas
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Which state do you think has I-40 and Little Rock?
North Dakota
Pennsylvania
Nebraska
Arkansas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Arkansas's capital of Little Rock sits almost dead center in the state. Arkansas is bisected by I-40, running east to west.

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4 virginia
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What would I-95 and Richmond make you think of?
Minnesota
Arizona
Virginia
Rhode Island
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Richmond is the capital city of the state of Virginia. Interstate 95 runs through Virginia and is a major highway that connects the East Coast states, from the southern tip of Florida to the north of Maine.

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5 texas
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If you heard "Austin" and "I-35" in the same sentence, what state do you think you'd be hearing about?
Texas
Kentucky
New Mexico
Montana
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Texas has six interstate highways running through it, including I-35. The capital of Texas is Austin. Notice that the odd-numbered interstate highways run north to south.

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6 vermont
Walter Bibikow / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Which state includes I-89 and Montpelier?
Vermont
Maryland
Idaho
Washington
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The great state of Vermont, sitting just south of Canada, includes I-89 and the capital city of Montpelier. Interstate 89 continues north into Canada, where it becomes QC-133.

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7 utah
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What state would you be in if you were driving on I-15 or visiting Salt Lake City?
Colorado
Nevada
Iowa
Utah
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Utah is a sparsely populated state, and the beautifully situated city of Salt Lake is its capital. Other highways in Utah include I-15, I-80, I-70 and I-84.

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8 wyoming
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To what state do Cheyenne and I-80 correspond?
Wisconsin
South Dakota
Oregon
Wyoming
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wyoming, which has fewer U.S. House of Representatives members than U.S. Senators, has its seat of power in Cheyenne. Its roads include Interstates 80, 25 and 90.

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9 north dakota
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If you were getting busy in Bismarck and were going back and forth on I-94, where would you be?
Arizona
Louisiana
Indiana
North Dakota
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

North Dakota's capital is Bismarck, named after German chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Many of the state's early immigrants came from the Scandinavian countries. North Dakota just barely has two interstates: I-94 bisects the state and I-29 cuts along the eastern border.

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10 nebraska
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Lincoln never lived to be 80, but if you think of a state with I-80 and the capital Lincoln, where are you thinking of?
Michigan
Illinois
Nebraska
Hawaii
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sitting smack in the middle of the United States,, Nebraska is home to only one interstate, I-80, which bisects the state. It does have a few miles of I-76, which starts just over its border, but just barely.

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11 wisconsin
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If you tried to think of the state containing both I-43 and Madison, what state would you imagine?
New York
Idaho
Alabama
WIsconsin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wisconsin's capital may be Madison, but its major cities of Milwaukee and Green Bay get all the sports glory. It's interstates are I-41, I-43, I-90 and I-94.

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12 montana
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Where would you find Helena and I-15?
Montana
New Mexico
Oregon
Washington
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Helena is the capital of Montana, home of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, the Fort Belknap Reservation, the Crow Reservation and the Flathead Reservation. It's also home to parts of I-90, I-94, and I-15

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13 washington
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Think of I-5 and Olympia. In what state do they belong?
Hawaii
Michigan
New York
Washington
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Washington state contains I-5. The state's capital is Olympia, which is a pretty great name for a capital city. In addition to I-5, it's also has I-90.

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14 oregon
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Which state has I-84 and Salem?
Florida
Alaska
Oregon
Massachusetts
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Oregon, with its peculiar history, has several cities with names owing to the New England origins of the state's founders. Salem is one of them. The state contains portions of I-5 and I-84, which runs along its northern border.

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15 new mexico
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Which state includes Route 666 and Santa Fe?
New Hampshire
Louisiana
West Virginia
New Mexico
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Technically, Route 666 no longer exists, as the government officially changed its name to US-491, but its nickname, "The Devil's Highway," persists. The highway runs through New Mexico, whose capital is Santa Fe.

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16 new york
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Can you recall which state is blessed with both Albany and I-87?
Kansas
Maine
New York
Maryland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

New York state, whose capital is Albany and not New York City (as some people may think), is blessed with several interstate highways, including I-87, which runs from New York City to Albany. It also has a tiny piece of I-95, which runs through The Bronx, one of NYC's five boroughs.

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17 michigan
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Would you guess which state has Lansing and I-96?
Michigan
Colorado
Idaho
Pennsylvania
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When Michiganders travel, they have plenty of options, including I-96, I-75 and I-69. When they want a state capital however, they only have Lansing.

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18 hawaii
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There is a state containing Interstate H-1, and its capital is Honolulu. Can you guess which state that is?
Arizona
Colorado
Minnesota
Hawaii
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You read that correctly! Despite Hawaii's interstate highway not connecting to another state, it has one. This road's special designation is I-H-1.

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19 alaska
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One state has four interstate highways that don't connect to any other states, and its capital is Juneau. Which state is it?
Minnesota
Alaska
Missouri
New Jersey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Despite being quite separate from all the other U.S. states, Alaska — like Hawaii — has interstates of its own. Alaska, however, has four! Interstates A1, A2, A3 and A4 all belong to the state.

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20 louisiana
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Which state do you suppose has both Baton Rouge and I-10?
Louisiana
Iowa
South Dakota
Kentucky
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Louisiana may be synonymous with New Orleans, but it is a city to the north of New Orleans, Baton Rouge, which is the state capital. Interstate-10, I-20 and I-49 all serve the state,

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21 new hampshire
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Concord and I-93 are in one state, but do you know which one it is?
Georgia
Nevada
Arizona
New Hampshire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Situated far in the northeastern United States, New Hampshire includes its capital of Concord and I-93. This highway begins in Massachusetts, runs most of its distance through New Hampshire and finishes its journey in Vermont.

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22 kansas
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Topeka is this state's capital, and I-70 crosses the state. Do you have any clue which state it is?
Maryland
Idaho
Florida
Kansas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kansas, a vast plains state, is productive both in agriculture and transportation. The state has its fair share of train tracks and interstates, including I-70 and I-35.

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23 maine
Walter Bibikow / DigitalVision / Getty Images
This state includes the Aroostook Trail and Augusta, it's capital. Do you have any idea of what state it is?
New Jersey
Delaware
Maine
Indiana
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The U.S. is riddled with old roads and highways predating the interstate system, and the Aroostook Trail, which corresponds in part to U.S. Route 2 and Maine Route 100, is one of them. Today, some of this road is traversable by car, some by ATV and some by mountain bike, but there was a time it was considered a major local road.

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24 minnesota
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There is a state containing the Jefferson Highway and Saint Paul. Have you any idea what state it is?
Minnesota
Rhode Island
Ohio
South Carolina
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Minnesota's capital city of Saint Paul isn't along the route of the Jefferson Highway, one of the pre-interstate system highways in the U.S. Established in 1916, Jefferson Highway ran north through Minneapolis. It had a brief life and was completely gone by the 1950s, replaced by four numbered highways.

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25 missouri
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With the state capital of Jefferson City, this state is one terminus of the Ben Hur Highway! Which state do you think it is?
North Carolina
Arizona
Missouri
Iowa
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Missouri is home to Kansas City — which isn't in Kansas — and Jefferson City, which is the state's seat of power. The Ben Hur Highway — one of the old, named U.S. highways — is named for the home of General Lew Wallace, a Civil War general who wrote the book "Ben Hur," and who lived along the route.

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26 illinois
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In the U.S., there is a state with the capital of Springfield, and the state includes The Cannon Ball route. Have you any idea which state it is?
Nevada
Colorado
Kentucky
Illinois
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The great state of Illinois is most famous for Chicago, but it's not the state capital! Illinois also contains sections of The Cannon Ball route, which runs to Chicago from Kansas City.

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27 south dakota
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There's a state containing U.S. Route 14, and its capital city Pierre. Do you know what state it is?
South Dakota
Alabama
Delaware
Idaho
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

South Dakota is home to its capital city, Pierre, and also U.S. Route 14. Originally established to run from South Dakota to Yellowstone in Wyoming, US-14 was extended into Illinois. The route is also sometimes called the Black and Yellow Trail.

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28 pennsylvania
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What state do I-76 and Harrisburg have in common?
Colorado
New Jersey
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Penn's Woods" is one of the oldest U.S. states and is home to a section of I-76. Despite being the capital, Harrisburg is only the 15th most-populous city in the state.

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29 maryland
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The state capital is Annapolis, and the state is crossed by I-95. Can you name it?
West Virginia
Colorado
South Carolina
Maryland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Maryland's capital of Annapolis is perhaps best known as the home of the U.S. Naval Academy, alma mater of the likes of the late Sen. John McCain. Like many East Coast states, Maryland is connected to that automotive spine that is I-95.

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30 florida
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There is a U.S. State with both I-73 and Tallahassee. Do you know which state that is?
Iowa
Florida
Delaware
Georgia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Florida is a mostly flat state with three major interstates to speak of: I-10, I-75, and the mightly I-95, which runs all the way to the Florida Keys. Tallahassee is the state capital.

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31 indiana
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The state in this question includes a section of the Dixie Highway, and its capital is Indianapolis. We don't suppose you know which state it is, do you?
Kentucky
Arizona
Indiana
Alabama
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Indiana's participation in all things auto is famous, hosting the Indianapolis 500 at its state capital, but it's also a stop on the Dixie Highway. This highway is more of a network than a straight shot, running from Florida to Michigan.

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32 nevada
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Carson City and I-80 are both in which state?
Ohio
North Carolina
New Jersey
Nevada
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A famous tax refuge, gambling destination and vast desert, Nevada may be most famous for Las Vegas, but its state capital is Carson City. As with much of the country, Nevada is crossed by I-80.

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33 rhode island
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This state's 'Providence' is its proximity to I-95. Which state are we describing?
Georgia
Colorado
West Virginia
Rhode Island
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rhode Island may confuse people who aren't from the region, as it isn't really an island per se, and its capital is decidedly on the mainland. Like all of the East Coast, Rhode Island is a link in the chain that is I-95.

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34 idaho
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You could get to this state on I-90 and visit the state capital of Boise. Which state is it?
Idaho
Alabama
Tennessee
Delaware
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Idaho is experiencing a housing shortage as remote workers relocate there for the state's amazing natural beauty. Idaho's capital seems to derive its name from French word for "woods."

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35 iowa
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If you were in Des Moines, you wouldn't be far from the Great River Road. In which state would you be?
Iowa
Arizona
South Carolina
Wisconsin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Iowa is perhaps best known for its first-in-the-nation status voting in presidential primaries, meaning that Iowans get a big say in things. It's also the home of the Transcendental Meditation movement and a stop on The Great River Road, which runs along the Mississippi River.

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36 kentucky
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To get to Frankfort, you might take I-64. Which state would you be in?
Kentucky
Georgia
Ohio
Massachusetts
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kentucky is famed for being the home state of Muhammad Ali. It's also the home state of the manufacturer of the aptly named Louisville Slugger. Its capital is Frankfort. The state is bisected by I-64, which, among other things, connects Frankfort to Louisville.

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37 new jersey
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This state's capital is famous for the Battle of Trenton. It also contains I-76. Which state is it?
Wisconsin
Colorado
Tennessee
New Jersey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

New Jersey is overshadowed by some of its neighbors, with the likes of Philadelphia and New York nearby, but the Battle of Trenton was pivotal in the story of the American revolution. The state has many interstates, including I-76, and, of course, I-95.

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38 north carolina
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You don't need to wear a Raleigh cap to drive on I-95 in this state, but it helps! What state is it?
Delaware
Ohio
North Carolina
South Carolina
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

North Carolina's capital is Raleigh, but most people think of Raleigh and Durham as a single metropolitan area dominated by colleges. Like all East Coast states, I-95 threads its way through the state.

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39 west virginia
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Charleston isn't just pretty, it's the state capital of a state with I-79 in it. Of which state do we speak?
West Virginia
South Carolina
Georgia
Massachusetts
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are plenty of Charlestons in the USA, but only one that is the capital of West Virginia. This mountainous state has some of the best driving roads in America in terms of corners and scenery, but if it's interstates you like, it has I-79, I-64, I-64 and I-77.

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40 alabama
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Interstate 65 and I-85 would take you to Montgomery, the capital of this state. Which state is it?
Arizona
Delaware
Colorado
Alabama
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Montgomery is a state well served by interstate highways, despite being relatively small as metropolises go. The state of Alabama is famous for its short commute times (20 minutes by car), and if you go off an interstate, you'll find the back roads are fairly free of traffic.

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