A state capitals game the whole class can play
The state capitals game tests the 50 states and capitals of the United States. The wheel picks the state, so nobody sticks to the easy ones: name the capital of the state, name the state a capital belongs to, or mix both. Start with one region, add answer choices as the class improves, and save your class list to turn the quiz into a competition.
How to play the state capitals game
- Choose the question: name the capital, name the state, or both.
- Pick how many answers to choose from: 2, 4 or 8.
- Keep all 50 states on the wheel or choose a region, such as the West.
- Spin, answer and watch the score. Add your class to play turns, knockout or points.
Ways to use the state capitals game
- A social studies warm-up at the start of class.
- One region a week until the class knows all 50 capitals.
- A knockout final on Friday, with the winner at the board.
- Practice before a states and capitals test.
- A road trip game in the car, one state at a time.
The 50 states and capitals
Every state the game asks about, with its capital, by US Census region.
Northeast
| State | Capital |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | Hartford |
| Maine | Augusta |
| Massachusetts | Boston |
| New Hampshire | Concord |
| New Jersey | Trenton |
| New York | Albany |
| Pennsylvania | Harrisburg |
| Rhode Island | Providence |
| Vermont | Montpelier |
Midwest
| State | Capital |
|---|---|
| Illinois | Springfield |
| Indiana | Indianapolis |
| Iowa | Des Moines |
| Kansas | Topeka |
| Michigan | Lansing |
| Minnesota | Saint Paul |
| Missouri | Jefferson City |
| Nebraska | Lincoln |
| North Dakota | Bismarck |
| Ohio | Columbus |
| South Dakota | Pierre |
| Wisconsin | Madison |
South
| State | Capital |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Montgomery |
| Arkansas | Little Rock |
| Delaware | Dover |
| Florida | Tallahassee |
| Georgia | Atlanta |
| Kentucky | Frankfort |
| Louisiana | Baton Rouge |
| Maryland | Annapolis |
| Mississippi | Jackson |
| North Carolina | Raleigh |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma City |
| South Carolina | Columbia |
| Tennessee | Nashville |
| Texas | Austin |
| Virginia | Richmond |
| West Virginia | Charleston |
West
| State | Capital |
|---|---|
| Alaska | Juneau |
| Arizona | Phoenix |
| California | Sacramento |
| Colorado | Denver |
| Hawaii | Honolulu |
| Idaho | Boise |
| Montana | Helena |
| Nevada | Carson City |
| New Mexico | Santa Fe |
| Oregon | Salem |
| Utah | Salt Lake City |
| Washington | Olympia |
| Wyoming | Cheyenne |
More geography games
- Capitals quiz: the capital cities of the world’s countries, one continent at a time.
- Random state generator: spin for a random state, with its capital.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many state capitals are there?
There are 50 state capitals, one for each of the 50 US states. Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States and is not a state, so the SpinnerWheel state capitals game asks about the 50 states only.
Which state capitals are not the largest city in their state?
Many state capitals are smaller than the state’s biggest city. Albany is the capital of New York, not New York City; Sacramento is the capital of California, not Los Angeles; Springfield is the capital of Illinois, not Chicago; Tallahassee is the capital of Florida, not Jacksonville; and Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania, not Philadelphia.
What is the easiest way to learn the 50 states and capitals?
Learn one region at a time. Start with the 9 states of the Northeast and two answer choices, move up to eight choices, and take each state off the wheel once the class knows its capital, so the questions keep coming back to the ones still missed.
Can a whole class play the state capitals game together?
Save the class list once and the wheel picks who answers each question. Everyone gets a turn, a wrong answer can knock a player out, or the class plays for points, and a report shows which capitals to go over again. It is free, and the names stay on the device.
What is the difference between naming the capital and naming the state?
Naming the capital shows a state and asks for its capital city. Naming the state shows a capital, such as Boise, and asks which state it belongs to. The mixed mode switches between the two at random.