California Map - Detailed Map of California

Written and Fact-checked by , Reviewed by | Last Updated On: May 01, 2026

Explore Map of California - a Golden State, the most populous and the third-largest U.S. state by area. It covers a total area of 163,696 sq mi (423,970 square kilometers). It is bordered by Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona on its three sides, the Pacific Ocean forms its western border, the state has 58 political subdivisions or counties.

Map of California (CA)

California Map (CA) showing the state boundary, capital, highways, rail network, and major rivers.

About Map: The California map shows the state boundary, the capital city, major highways, rail networks, rivers, and key geographic features of California in the western United States.

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About California

The California Map provides an overview of the state’s geographic location, diverse topography, and administrative divisions. California is located in the western part of the United States of America (USA). It is the third-largest state in the country by area and the most populous U.S. state, with a population of 39,538,223 according to the 2020 U.S. Census.

The State of California covers a total area of about 163,696 square miles. Of this, approximately 155,959 square miles is land area and about 7,737 square miles is water area. California shares its northern border with Oregon, its eastern border with Nevada, its southeastern border with Arizona, and its southern border with the Mexican state of Baja California. The Pacific Ocean lies along its western coast. Administratively, the state is divided into 58 counties, each governed from its respective county seat.

The California State Map also highlights Sacramento, the capital of the state. Several rivers and lakes are located across California, and much of the state drains into the Pacific Ocean watershed.

Some of the prominent rivers that can be identified on the California map include the San Joaquin, Eel, Salinas, Smith, Klamath, Salmon, Scott, Sacramento, Shasta, Lost, Mad, and Mattole rivers.

Important lakes in California include Mono Lake, Tulare Lake, Clear Lake, Owens Lake, Lake Havasu, and Lake Tahoe.

Interstate Highways in California

Major Interstate Highways in California include I-5, I-8, I-10, I-15, I-40, I-80, I-105, I-110, I-180, I-205, I-210, I-215, I-238, I-280, I-305, I-380, I-405, I-505, I-580, I-605, I-680, I-710, I-780, I-805, I-880, I-905, and I-980.

California State Facts

State NameCalifornia
CountryUnited States
ContinentNorth America
CapitalSacramento
Largest CityLos Angeles
AbbreviationCA, Calif., US-CA
StatehoodSeptember 9, 1850 (31st State)
NicknameThe Golden State
Total Area163,696 sq mi (423,970 sq km)
Land Area155,959 sq mi (403,466 sq km)
Water Area7,737 sq mi (20,504 sq km)
Population (2020 Census)39,538,223
Population Rank1st in the United States
Most Populous CountyLos Angeles County
Top 5 Most Populous CitiesLos Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno
Time ZonePacific Time Zone (UTC-08:00), observes Daylight Saving Time
Highest PointMount Whitney - 14,505 ft (4,421 m)
Lowest PointDeath Valley (Badwater Basin) – -282 ft (-86 m)
Number of Counties58
Official Websitehttps://www.ca.gov

Regions of California

Coastal CaliforniaNorthern CaliforniaCentral CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaEastern California
North CoastCascade RangeGreater SacramentoSouth CoastCentral Sierra
Greater Bay AreaKlamath MountainsSan Joaquin ValleyGreater Los AngelesInland Empire
Central CoastNorth CoastSacramento-San Joaquin River DeltaChannel Islands 
South CoastGreater SacramentoCentral CoastInland Empire 
Greater Los AngelesSacramento-San Joaquin River Delta Southern Border Region 
Greater San DiegoCentral California Greater San Diego-Tijuana 
Channel IslandsGreater Bay Area Greater El Centro 
 Northern Sierra  

Counties in California

There are 58 counties in the U.S. state of California that is home to more than 39 million people. San Bernardino County is the largest county and Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the california, United States.

Alameda CountyKings CountyPlacer CountyShasta County
Alpine CountyLake CountyPlumas CountySierra County
Amador CountyLassen CountyRiverside CountySiskiyou County
Butte CountyLos Angeles CountySacramento CountySolano County
Calaveras CountyMadera CountySan Benito CountySonoma County
Colusa CountyMarin CountySan Bernardino CountyStanislaus County
Contra Costa CountyMariposa CountySan Diego CountySutter County
Del Norte CountyMendocino CountySan FranciscoTehama County
El Dorado CountyMerced CountySan Joaquin CountyTrinity County
Fresno CountyModoc CountySan Luis Obispo CountyTulare County
Glenn CountyMono CountySan Mateo CountyTuolumne County
Humboldt CountyMonterey CountySanta Barbara CountyVentura County
Imperial CountyNapa CountySanta Clara CountyYolo County
Inyo CountyNevada CountySanta Cruz CountyYuba County
Kern CountyOrange County 

20 Largest Cities in California (by Population)

This is list of top 20 largest cities in California with populations above 100,000 as of 2020 census. California has 460 cities and 22 are towns.

NameCountyPopulationLat Long
Los AngelesLos Angeles3,898,74734.0522, -118.2437
San DiegoSan Diego1,386,93232.7157, -117.1611
San JoseSanta Clara1,013,24037.3382, -121.8863
San FranciscoSan Francisco873,96537.7749, -122.4194
FresnoFresno542,10736.7378, -119.7871
SacramentoSacramento524,94338.5816, -121.4944
Long BeachLos Angeles466,74233.7701, -118.1937
OaklandAlameda440,64637.8044, -122.2712
BakersfieldKern403,45535.3733, -119.0187
AnaheimOrange346,82433.8366, -117.9143
StocktonSan Joaquin320,80437.9577, -121.2908
RiversideRiverside314,99833.9806, -117.3755
Santa AnaOrange310,22733.7455, -117.8677
IrvineOrange307,67033.6846, -117.8265
Chula VistaSan Diego275,48732.6401, -117.0842
FremontAlameda230,50437.5483, -121.9886
Santa ClaritaLos Angeles228,67334.3917, -118.5426
San BernardinoSan Bernardino222,10134.1083, -117.2898
ModestoStanislaus218,46437.6391, -120.9969
Moreno ValleyRiverside208,63433.9425, -117.2297

Islands of California

Island Location Lat Long
AlamedaAlameda County, San Francisco Bay Area, California37.7652, -122.2416
AlcatrazSan Francisco Bay, California37.8267, -122.4230
Anacapa IslandChannel Islands, Ventura County, California34.0129, -119.4033
Angel IslandSan Francisco Bay, Marin County, California37.8603, -122.4324
Bay Farm IslandAlameda County, California37.7310, -122.2320
Channel IslandsSouthern California Coast, Pacific Ocean34.0069, -119.7785
Coast Guard IslandAlameda County, California37.7728, -122.3003
Mare IslandVallejo, Solano County, California38.1013, -122.2727
San Miguel IslandChannel Islands, Santa Barbara County, California34.0428, -120.3678
Santa Barbara IslandChannel Islands, California33.4769, -119.0318
Santa Cruz IslandChannel Islands, Santa Barbara County, California34.0069, -119.7785
Santa Rosa IslandChannel Islands, Santa Barbara County, California33.9631, -120.1293
San Clemente IslandChannel Islands, California32.9049, -118.4820
San Nicolas IslandChannel Islands, California33.2475, -119.4582
Yerba Buena IslandSan Francisco Bay, California37.8108, -122.3656

Best Places to Visit in California

Best Places to Visit in California are Yosemite, San Francisco, San Diego, Lake Tahoe, Monterey, Big Sur, Napa Valley, Sequoia National Parks, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Santa Monica, Fresno, Santa Catalina Island, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Death Valley, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Long Beach, Oakland and many more. This is list best things to do in California.

  • Yosemite National Park – Known for granite cliffs, giant sequoias, and Yosemite Valley scenery.
  • Golden Gate Bridge – Iconic suspension bridge and the most famous landmark of San Francisco.
  • Disneyland Park – The original Disney theme park located in Anaheim.
  • Disney California Adventure Park – Popular Disney theme park themed around California culture.
  • Universal Studios Hollywood – Film studio and theme park featuring movie-based attractions.
  • San Diego Zoo – One of the world’s most famous zoos with diverse wildlife exhibits.
  • San Diego Zoo Safari Park – Large wildlife park known for open-range animal habitats.
  • Alcatraz Island – Historic island prison and major San Francisco tourist attraction.
  • Griffith Observatory – Observatory offering city views and exhibits about space and astronomy.
  • Hollywood Walk of Fame – Famous sidewalk honoring entertainment industry stars.
  • Santa Monica Pier – Historic pier with amusement rides and oceanfront views.
  • Balboa Park – Cultural park in San Diego with museums, gardens, and attractions.
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium – World-renowned aquarium featuring marine life exhibits.
  • Joshua Tree National Park – Desert park known for Joshua trees and rock formations.
  • Sequoia National Park – Home to giant sequoia trees including the General Sherman Tree.
  • Kings Canyon National Park – Scenic park with deep canyons and mountainous landscapes.
  • Lassen Volcanic National Park – Known for volcanic peaks, hot springs, and geothermal features.
  • Pinnacles National Park – Unique rock formations and habitat for California condors.
  • Redwood National and State Parks – Famous for the tallest trees on Earth.
  • Muir Woods National Monument – Protected forest of ancient coastal redwood trees.
  • Big Sur – Scenic coastal region known for cliffs, ocean views, and Highway 1 drives.
  • Lake Tahoe – Alpine lake famous for skiing, beaches, and outdoor recreation.
  • Napa Valley – World-famous wine region known for vineyards and wineries.
  • Death Valley National Park – Hottest and lowest national park in North America.
  • Hearst Castle – Historic hilltop mansion and museum on the California coast.
  • Venice Beach – Popular beach known for boardwalk culture and street performers.
  • PIER 39 – Waterfront attraction in San Francisco famous for sea lions and shops.
  • California Academy of Sciences – Science museum, aquarium, and planetarium in San Francisco.
  • Palace of Fine Arts – Historic monument and architectural landmark in San Francisco.
  • USS Midway Museum – Historic aircraft carrier museum in San Diego Harbor.
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk – Classic seaside amusement park with historic rides.

National Parks in California

National Park Location Lat Long
Joshua Tree National ParkNear Twentynine Palms and Palm Springs, Southern California33.8734, -115.9010
Kings Canyon National ParkNear Fresno, Sierra Nevada, California36.8879, -118.5551
Channel Islands National ParkNear Ventura and Santa Barbara, California34.0069, -119.7785
Sequoia National ParkNear Visalia and Three Rivers, California36.4864, -118.5658
Pinnacles National ParkNear Soledad and Hollister, Central California36.4906, -121.1825
Yosemite National ParkNear Mariposa and Groveland, Sierra Nevada, California37.8651, -119.5383
Lassen Volcanic National ParkNear Redding and Susanville, Northern California40.4977, -121.4207
Redwood National ParkNear Crescent City and Eureka, Northern California Coast41.2132, -124.0046
Death Valley National ParkNear Furnace Creek and Lone Pine, Eastern California36.5054, -117.0794

Major Rivers in California

River Location Flows Through Length
Smith RiverNorthern CaliforniaDel Norte County25 mi (40 km)
Klamath RiverNorthern CaliforniaSiskiyou County and Del Norte County257 mi (414 km)
Trinity RiverNorthwestern CaliforniaTrinity County and Humboldt County165 mi (266 km)
Salmon RiverNorthern CaliforniaSiskiyou County87 mi (140 km)
Redwood CreekNorthern CaliforniaHumboldt County61 mi (98 km)
Mad RiverNorthwestern CaliforniaHumboldt County113 mi (182 km)
Eel RiverNorthern CaliforniaMendocino County and Humboldt County196 mi (315 km)
Russian RiverNorth Coast CaliforniaSonoma County and Mendocino County110 mi (177 km)
Sacramento RiverCentral and Northern CaliforniaSacramento Valley400 mi (640 km)
San Joaquin RiverCentral CaliforniaSan Joaquin Valley366 mi (589 km)
American RiverNorthern CaliforniaSacramento County119 mi (191 km)
Feather RiverNorthern CaliforniaButte County and Yuba County73 mi (117 km)
Yuba RiverNorthern CaliforniaYuba County and Nevada County40 mi (64 km)
Pit RiverNortheastern CaliforniaShasta County and Modoc County207 mi (333 km)
Mokelumne RiverCentral CaliforniaSan Joaquin County and Calaveras County95 mi (153 km)

Highest Mountain Peaks in California

Mountain Peak Location Elevation
Mount WhitneyInyo County, Sierra Nevada, California14,505 ft (4,421 m)
Mount WilliamsonInyo County, Sierra Nevada, California14,379 ft (4,383 m)
White Mountain PeakMono County and Inyo County, California14,252 ft (4,344 m)
North PalisadeFresno County and Inyo County, California14,248 ft (4,343 m)
Mount ShastaSiskiyou County, Northern California14,179 ft (4,322 m)
Mount HumphreysFresno County and Inyo County, California13,992 ft (4,265 m)
Mount KeithInyo County, Sierra Nevada, California13,982 ft (4,262 m)
Mount DarwinInyo County and Fresno County, California13,837 ft (4,218 m)
Mount KaweahTulare County, Sequoia National Park, California13,807 ft (4,209 m)
Mount MorganMono County, Eastern Sierra, California13,758 ft (4,193 m)
Mount GabbFresno County and Inyo County, California13,747 ft (4,190 m)
Mount TomInyo County, Eastern Sierra, California13,657 ft (4,163 m)
Mount DuboisInyo County, Sierra Nevada, California13,565 ft (4,135 m)
Mount PinchotFresno County and Inyo County, California13,500 ft (4,115 m)
Mount RitterMadera County, Sierra Nevada, California13,149 ft (4,008 m)

FAQs

What is the capital of California?

Sacramento is the capital city of California.

What is the largest city in California?

Los Angeles is the largest city in California by population, with more than 3.8 million residents according to U.S. Census data.

Where is California located?

California is located on the west coast of the United States along the Pacific Ocean.

What are the major national parks in California?

Major national parks in California include Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, and Redwood National Park.

What is the highest mountain in California?

Mount Whitney is the highest mountain in California, with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m).

How many counties are there in California?

California has 58 counties.

What is the largest county in California by area?

San Bernardino County is the largest county in California by area, covering more than 20,000 square miles.

What are some famous tourist attractions in California?

Some famous attractions in California include the Golden Gate Bridge, Disneyland, Yosemite National Park, Hollywood, Big Sur, Lake Tahoe, and Death Valley National Park.

Which ocean borders California?

California is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west.