Which US State is Closest to Africa? The Answer Will Surprise you!
Are you looking for an unusual piece of trivia to impress your friends with? How about ‘which is the closest state to Africa’? It turns out that this state is Maine.
The distance across the Atlantic Ocean from the easternmost point of Maine. The African nation of Morocco is approximately 5,147 kilometres (3,198 miles).
This may come as a surprise! Maine is more often associated with lobster rolls and lighthouses than African geography.
Which US State is Closest to Africa?
To be more specific, the easternmost point of Maine is Quoddy Head State Park, in the town of Lubec. This makes it the closest point in the US to Africa.
If you haven’t heard of Lubec, it’s located about 210 kilometres (130 miles) east of Bangor, Maine.
Meanwhile, in Morocco, the closest major city to Quoddy Head State Park in Maine is Casablanca. Casablanca is Morocco’s chief port city and one of the largest man-made ports in the world.
It’s also an incredibly beautiful and exotic city. It’s high on my list of places I’d recommend everybody visit at least once.
So now we’ve discovered which US state is closest to Africa. To put the distance between these two cities in perspective, let’s compare it to the travel distance between Maine and other US locations.
The distance from Maine to California as the crow flies, for example, is about 4,306 kilometres(2,675 miles). The distance from Maine to Florida is around 2,160 kilometres(1,342 miles).
For comparison to the distance between Maine and Africa, here is the mileage between some US cities. Keep in mind, Maine to Africa is 5,147 kilometres (3,198 miles).
- New York City, New York and Anchorage, Alaska: New York City is located on the east coast of the United States, while Anchorage is in the northernmost state of Alaska. The distance between New York City and Anchorage is approximately 5,410 kilometres (3,362 miles).
- Los Angeles, California and Honolulu, Hawaii: Los Angeles is located on the west coast of the United States, while Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. The distance between Los Angeles and Honolulu is approximately 3,975 kilometres (2,470 miles).
- Miami, Florida and San Francisco, California: This is more surprising. Miami is located on the southeastern coast of the United States, while San Francisco is located on the west coast. The distance between Miami and San Francisco is approximately 4,168 kilometres (2,590 miles).
- Bangor, Maine and San Francisco, California: Bangor is in the northeast corner of the US and San Francisco is in the southwest. If you travel kitty-corner across the US from one to the other, you’ll cover about 5,166 kilometres (3,210 miles).
Africa may still seem incredibly far away from the US. But you can see that it is not that much farther away than some of your favourite American spots.
Similar distances travelled
To give you a little more perspective, here are a few examples of some international destinations. These are approximately the same distance apart as Maine, the US State closest to Africa, and Morocco:
- New York City and Dublin, Ireland The distance between New York City and Dublin, Ireland is approximately 5,115 kilometres (3,178 miles).
- Los Angeles and Tokyo, Japan The distance between Los Angeles and Tokyo, Japan is approximately 8,816 kilometres (5,478 miles).
- London, England and Boston, Massachusetts The distance between London, England and Boston, Massachusetts is approximately 5,264 kilometres (3,271 miles).
Thousands of travellers make their way between each of these cities every year. Considering the similar distance from the US to Africa, think about putting a few African destinations on your travel bucket list!
Do many people travel between Africa and its closest US state?
According to data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the number of travellers between Maine and Morocco is relatively small. In 2019, only 1,000 people travelled from Maine to Morocco, and 1,100 people travelled from Morocco to Maine.
This may be because there are no direct flights between Maine and Morocco. Travellers typically connect through other U.S., Canadian, or European cities.
This makes for a long trip for a traveller just to get to Morocco.
The number of travellers between Maine and Morocco is not large. But it’s interesting to note that the number of Americans travelling to Morocco from different US cities has been steadily increasing in recent years.
In 2019, Morocco welcomed a total of 456,000 American visitors. This represents a 4% increase from the previous year.
The number of travellers between Maine and Morocco is still small compared to other major travel routes.
However, the increasing number of Americans travelling to Morocco suggests that people in the US might be realizing that Africa is well worth the trip.
Is Morocco a good place to travel to?
Absolutely! Morocco offers dynamic markets, fascinating architecture, including the famous Kasbahs, and delicious cuisine. It’s an incredible cultural experience for travellers.
It’s absolutely one of my favourite countries in Africa. I highly suggest you take the same route as I did, and take the ferry from Tarifa, Spain to Tangier, Morocco.
It’s a great addition to a tour around Spain, and the ferry trip is full of great sights. And, at least on my trip, a lot of dolphins!
Morocco’s a land of really fascinating history and a lot of vibrant colours. And the surfing is out of this world.
It’s also home to several spectacular and well-known cities, like Marrakech, Fez, and Casablanca. Each of these cities has its own unique blend of history, modernity, and magic.
You’ll love the winding streets, fragrant spice stalls, and ancient medinas as much as I do. The souks are so interesting and full of everything you can imagine.
Morocco is also home to several natural wonders, like its beautiful beaches, the Sahara Desert and Agafay Deserts and the Atlas Mountains.
These places offer breathtaking landscapes and opportunities for outdoor capers. Downhill snow skiing in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains is a novel adventure for anyone!
Some additional must-see landmarks in Morocco? The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, the blue city of Chefchaouen, and the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis are unforgettable.
As they’re practically neighbours, Americans should definitely consider visiting Morocco. They can experience the unique blend of Arabic, Berber, and European cultures.
Morocco might have seemed impossibly far away, but as you can see, it’s closer than it seems. And it is certainly worthy of a spot on your bucket list, with its amazing culture, dynamic cities, and really awe-inspiring natural scenery.
What about Canada?
Canada is also located in North America and seems worlds away from Africa. However, let’s consider the actual distance between these two places.
The province of Newfoundland and its city of St. John’s are the closest to Africa. This closest point is also Casablanca, Morocco.
The distance between these two points is only about 3,932 kilometres (2,443 miles). But despite this proximity, there aren’t direct flights between St. John’s and African countries, as with Maine.
The majority of travellers between St. John’s and Casablanca typically connect through other cities in Canada or Europe. Flights can be anywhere from 19 to 36 hours.
So it follows that, according to Statistics Canada, the number of travellers between St. John’s and African countries is also relatively small.
In 2019, only 3,125 people travelled from St. John’s to African countries, and 3,005 people travelled from African countries to St. John’s.
But these numbers represent a small fraction of the overall travel between Canada and Africa. This number is primarily concentrated in bigger Canadian cities with major airport hubs like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
These numbers don’t seem to be rising like those for travellers between Maine and Africa, though.
Summing It Up – What US State is Closest to Africa?
The closest US state to Africa is Maine, at an approximate flight distance of 5,147 kilometres (3,198 miles) away from the African continent.
And Maine may seem like an unlikely candidate for such a distinction. But it is no farther from Maine to Africa than it is from Florida to California.
Taking a closer look at the geography of the world can change the way we view it. It can also open up a host of vacation destinations that might have seemed just too far away to consider. Time to start planning your trip to Africa!
Happy travels!
✔️ Read more about travelling in Africa:
☑︎ 15 Steps to Planning an Amazing Trip to Africa
☑︎ 10 Best Travel Apps for Africa 2022
☑︎ Travelling Alone for the First Time – Africa
☑︎ 40 Health & Safety Tips for Travel in Africa
☑︎ Travel Resources
