Random State Generator
Pick a random US state, with its capital, nickname and region.
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Pick one of the 50 US states at random. Each result shows the state’s abbreviation, capital, nickname, region and the year it joined the Union, with a link to see it on a map.
How to use it
- Press Pick a state.
- Filter by region: Northeast, Midwest, South or West (the four US Census regions).
- Generate several states, or spin the state wheel.
Ideas
- Geography quizzes: name the capital before you look.
- Road trip planning: pick your next destination.
- School projects: assign each student a random state to research.
- License plate game: race to spot a plate from the state you picked.
Keep, copy and share your states
Every result has a lock button. Locked results stay put when you generate again, so you can keep the states you like and reroll the rest. The history panel keeps your earlier results, and the back arrow takes you to the previous set if you generated one time too many. Press Wheel to put the current results on a spinning wheel and pick one with a bit of drama.
Use Copy to copy the results as a plain list, CSV or JSON, or download them as a file. Share copies a link that shows exactly the same results to whoever opens it, which is handy for games, classes and group chats.
Ideas for a random state
Use a random state for a geography quiz, a road-trip daydream, a school project or a game of “name the capital”. Teachers can turn on “Exclude already shown” and work through all 50 states one at a time. Families on a long drive can play a license plate game with a random target state. You can also filter by region to focus on the Northeast, Midwest, South or West, or by first letter.
Each result shows the state’s capital, nickname, region and the year it became a state. Regions follow the four census regions used by the US Census Bureau.
Learning the states
Hide the capital column by covering the screen, call out the state, and ask everyone to name the capital before you reveal it. Generate states from one region at a time, then mix them all together once the group knows them well.
Frequently asked questions
Does it include Washington, D.C.?
No, only the 50 states. D.C. is a federal district, not a state.
Can I get states from one region?
Yes. Pick Northeast, Midwest, South or West under Region.
Can I pick several states without repeats?
Yes. Set "How many?" and keep "No duplicates" on.
Can I spin a wheel of states?
Yes. Press Wheel to put the states on a spinning wheel. Turn on "Remove winner" to take each state off once it is picked.
Can I copy the list of states?
Yes. Use Copy to copy the results as a list, CSV or JSON, or download them as a file.
Do I need to sign up?
No. The generator is free and runs in your browser with no account.