<P> The contiguous United States consists of the 48 adjoining U.S. states plus Washington, D.C. (federal district), on the continent of North America . The term excludes the non-contiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii and all off - shore United States territories and possessions, which are American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands . </P> <P> The greatest distance (on a great circle route) entirely within the 48 contiguous states is 2,802 miles (4,509 km, between Florida and the state of Washington); the greatest north - south line is 1,650 miles (2,660 km). </P>

How many states are in the continental united states