You’ve seen the maps. You know the ones—where Texas looks like a massive, looming titan in the center of the country and Alaska is tucked away in a tiny little box near Hawaii. Honestly, those maps have been lying to you for years. If you actually look at the numbers, Texas isn’t even close.
When people ask which state is the largest in the united states, the answer is Alaska. By a lot. We aren’t talking about a small lead here; we’re talking about a blowout. Alaska is so big that you could fit Texas inside of it two and a half times and still have enough room left over to toss in a few smaller states like Vermont or Rhode Island.
The Raw Numbers: Alaska is Massive
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Alaska spans a total area of about 665,384 square miles. To put that in perspective, the runner-up, Texas, comes in at 268,596 square miles.
It’s almost comical.
If you cut Alaska in half, Texas would become the third largest state. Alaskans love to tell that joke to tourists from the Lone Star State, and frankly, they’ve earned the right. California takes the third spot at 163,695 square miles, followed by Montana and New Mexico.
The gap between #1 and #2 is actually larger than the entire state of California.
Why the Maps Look So Weird
Ever heard of the Mercator projection? It’s basically a way of flattening the Earth’s curve onto a rectangular piece of paper. Because of how the math works, things near the North and South Poles get stretched out like crazy.
👉 See also: Flights from San Diego to New Jersey: What Most People Get Wrong
This makes Greenland look as big as Africa (it's not) and makes Alaska look like it's the size of the entire lower 48 states (it’s also not). While Alaska is definitely the king of which state is the largest in the united states, it covers about one-fifth of the total U.S. land area. It’s huge, but it doesn’t take up half the continent.
The "Seward’s Folly" That Paid Off
It’s wild to think that we almost didn't own this land. Back in 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William Seward bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. At the time, people lost their minds. They called it "Seward’s Icebox" and "Seward’s Folly."
They thought he’d spent millions of dollars on a giant, useless block of ice.
Then we found gold. Then we found oil. Suddenly, that two-cents-per-acre deal looked like the greatest real estate heist in human history. Alaska didn't even become a state until 1959, making it the 49th addition to the union. By the time it joined, it immediately bumped Texas off its "biggest state" throne, a spot Texas had held since 1845.
Land Area vs. Total Area
There’s always someone in the comments who wants to argue about "land area" versus "total area." Usually, it’s because their home state has a lot of lakes.
- Total Area: Includes every square inch of land and every drop of internal water (lakes, rivers, etc.).
- Land Area: Just the solid stuff.
Even if you strip away the water, Alaska still wins. Its land area alone is roughly 570,641 square miles. Texas has about 261,232 square miles of land. No matter how you slice the data, the crown stays in the north.
✨ Don't miss: Woman on a Plane: What the Viral Trends and Real Travel Stats Actually Tell Us
Interestingly, Alaska has more water area than many states have total area. It has over 94,000 square miles of water. That is more water than the entire state of Minnesota, which famously calls itself the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." Alaska actually has more than 3 million lakes. Take that, Minnesota.
The Density Problem
Size is one thing, but people are another. California is the third largest state by area but has the highest population by a mile. Alaska? It’s the largest state by area but sits near the very bottom for population.
As of the latest 2026 projections, Alaska has roughly 747,000 residents.
That means there is about one person for every square mile. In a place like New Jersey, you’ve got over 1,300 people per square mile. If you want elbow room, Alaska is the only logical choice.
The Top Five Heavyweights
If you’re curious how the rest of the leaderboard looks for which state is the largest in the united states, here is the breakdown of the top five in total square miles:
- Alaska: 665,384 sq. mi.
- Texas: 268,596 sq. mi.
- California: 163,695 sq. mi.
- Montana: 147,040 sq. mi.
- New Mexico: 121,590 sq. mi.
Notice the massive drop-off after Alaska. It’s a league of its own.
🔗 Read more: Where to Actually See a Space Shuttle: Your Air and Space Museum Reality Check
Why This Matters for Travelers
If you’re planning a trip to the largest state, you have to throw out your "road trip" logic. You cannot "see Alaska" in a week. Driving from Anchorage to Fairbanks takes about six hours, and that’s barely scratching the surface.
Most of the state isn't even accessible by car.
Juneau, the capital, can only be reached by plane or boat. There are no roads leading into it. When a state is this big, the geography dictates the lifestyle. You don't take a bus; you take a bush plane.
Actionable Tips for Navigating the Giant
If you are headed to Alaska to experience the scale for yourself, keep these steps in mind:
- Focus on one region: Don't try to do the Interior and the Southeast in one go unless you have three weeks. Stick to the Kenai Peninsula or the Denali area for your first trip.
- Check the Coastline: Alaska has more coastline than the rest of the United States combined. If you like the ocean, a cruise through the Inside Passage is the only way to see the massive glaciers that carvers out the landscape.
- Respect the Scale: Everything is further away than it looks on a map. Always add a "buffer" hour to any GPS estimate because of wildlife or road construction.
- Pack for "Micro-climates": Because the state is so huge, the weather in Ketchikan will be completely different from the weather in Nome. Layers are your best friend.
Alaska remains the undisputed champion of American geography. It’s a place where the scale is hard to wrap your head around until you’re standing at the base of Denali, realizing the mountain is so big it creates its own weather systems. Texas is great, sure, but in the battle of the borders, Alaska is the king.