<P> The contiguous United States or officially the conterminous United States consists of the 48 adjoining U.S. states (plus Washington, D.C.) on the continent of North America . The terms exclude the non-contiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii, and all off - shore insular areas, These differ from the related term continental United States which includes Alaska (also on the North American continent but separated from the 48 states by British Columbia, Canada) but excludes Hawaii and insular territories . </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 not a part of the us's mainland
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