50 States and Capitals Quiz - Name All 50 (Free)

This 50 states and their capitals test helps you match each state to its capital under a timer. Play to see where you're strong, spot gaps before a test, and build speed with each round. If you want a warm‑up, try a quick practice quiz first, then come back and aim for a new high score.

Study Outcomes

Recall U.S. State Capitals -
Quickly and accurately name the capital city of each state to strengthen your mastery of American geography.
Navigate the 50 States and Their Capitals Test -
Become familiar with the quiz format to tackle the timed challenge confidently and efficiently.
Enhance Recall Speed Under Time Pressure -
Apply quick-thinking strategies to improve your response time during the timed quiz 50 states and capitals sessions.
Identify Regional Capital Clusters -
Recognize patterns and groupings of capital cities across different U.S. regions for deeper geographical insights.
Assess and Target Knowledge Gaps -
Analyze your quiz results to pinpoint states where you need extra practice in future capital cities of American states quiz attempts.
Boost Trivia Night Confidence -
Build assurance in your geography skills to impress friends and family with your state capital knowledge.

Cheat Sheet

Regional Chunking Strategy -
Divide the 50 states into four U.S. Census regions (Northeast, Midwest, South, West) and study each region's capitals as a group. Research from the National Geographic Society shows that chunking information into related categories boosts recall by up to 20%. For example, memorize New England capitals (Boston, Providence, Concord) together to reinforce regional patterns.
Mnemonic Phrases and Rhymes -
Create catchy sentences or rhymes that link a state to its capital (e.g., "Merry MONTGOMERY made ALABAMA merry" for Alabama - Montgomery). Studies at the University of Washington demonstrate that verbal mnemonics improve long-term memory retention. Try "Salty SAILS in Juneau's rain" to pair Alaska with Juneau in your mind.
Spaced-Repetition Flashcards -
Use digital tools like Anki or Quizlet, which incorporate spaced-repetition algorithms proven by research at the University of California to optimize review intervals. Create cards such as "State: Georgia - Capital?" on one side and "Atlanta" on the other, then schedule reviews based on recall performance. Over successive days, you'll lock in capitals more effectively than with massed practice.
Interactive Map Quizzes -
Practice with online map quizzes from the U.S. Census Bureau or National Geographic Education to engage visual and spatial memory systems. Clicking state outlines on a blank map and naming capitals taps into dual-coding theory, shown in journals like Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, enhancing recall. Aim for timed map sessions to simulate your 50 states and their capitals test environment.
Timed Self-Testing Routine -
Emulate a "quiz 50 states and capitals" challenge by setting a 10-minute timer to name as many state capitals as possible, then check against an official list from the Library of Congress's American Memory archive. Frequent timed drills build fluency and reduce test anxiety, according to studies in the Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology. Track your progress to see which capitals you recall instantly and which need extra review.