<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 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>
how many states are in the continental united states
how many states are in the continental united states
48
48