Jeff here, coming to you live from sunny Florida.
As a born-and-raised Floridian, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard the question “Is Florida part of California?”
The Answer is: No!
At first glance, I can see why some folks get confused.
We’ve both got thousands of miles of shoreline, warm weather and beaches galore.
But make no mistake –
Florida and California are entirely different states
!
Let’s dig into all the nitty gritty details on how these two sun-loving states differ.
Grab some fresh OJ and settle in, because class is in session.
Where Is Florida Located?
Florida is located in the southeastern United States.
It borders the states of Alabama and Georgia to the north.
The Gulf of Mexico lies to Florida’s west.
The Atlantic Ocean borders
Florida to the east
.
Florida also shares a water boundary with Cuba.
Within the U.
S.
, Florida is the southernmost contiguous state.
It stretches from roughly 24°N to 31°N latitude.
Florida spans from approximately 80°W to 88°W longitude.
With over 54,000 square miles of land, Florida is the 22nd largest state.
However, it ranks 3rd for population with over 21 million residents.
Some major cities in Florida include Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando and
Tallahassee (the capital)
.
The state has around 1,350 miles of coastline bordering the Atlantic and Gulf.
Florida shares over 1,197 miles of land border with Alabama and Georgia.
Part of this boundary is defined by the sprawling Okefenokee Swamp.
So in summary, Florida occupies the Southeastern tip of the continental United States.
Here is the rewritten section with more details and specific examples:
Are Florida and California Truly Separate States?
You betcha Florida and California are completely separate states!
At first glance, their sunny climates, miles of beaches and swaying palm trees may seem similar.
But when you look at the nitty-gritty details, these two powerhouse states couldn’t be more different.
For starters, they’re located on opposite coasts of the country.
Florida stretches along the southern Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico, while
California extends the entire length of the western coast along the Pacific
Ocean.
We’re talking over 2,700 miles between Miami and LA!
Climate-wise, Florida is hot and humid with an average year-round temperature of 70°F.
Being a peninsula surrounded by ocean results in consistent tropical humidity.
California, meanwhile, has more of a dry Mediterranean climate.
Temperatures vary widely across the state with averages ranging from the 40s to 70s.
Economically,
Florida’s top industries are tourism
and agriculture, especially citrus fruits.
California’s tech sector, entertainment industry and varied agriculture such as produce, nuts and wine grapes comprise its economic foundation.
Tourism plays a big role too, but Florida sees over 122 million visitors compared to California’s 80 million.
Iconic scenery differs as well.
Florida has the nationally renowned beaches of
Miami and Key West
, plus 1.
5 million acres of Everglades filled with gators and airboats.
California boasts the rugged natural wonders of Yosemite, Sequoia and Joshua Tree
National Parks
.
You won’t find anything like the
Florida Keys
or the redwoods of Muir Woods in the opposing state!
Culturally, Florida has a distinctive Southern vibe.
Spanish influence is heavy due to its proximity to Cuba and historic Spanish rule.
The laidback California lifestyle oozes
West Coast
vibes and Hollywood glamour.
Make no mistake, these states have wholly unique histories, attributes and identities!
So while the Sunshine and Golden States share sunny dispositions and Pacific/Atlantic beauty, Florida and California remain distinctly different places.
Their climates, geography, economies and cultures prove once and for all that these are absolutely separate states!
Location, Location, Location
The biggest difference between Florida and California is that they lie on opposite coasts of the United States.
Florida sits on the southeastern tip of the country, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and states of Alabama and Georgia.
The capital, Tallahassee, is approximately 700 miles away from Memphis, Tennessee.
Home to major cities like Jacksonville, Miami,
Tampa and Orlando
, Florida spans over 54,000 square miles.
California, on the other hand, stretches along the entire western coast of the U.
S.
, bordering the Pacific Ocean.
At over 163,000 square miles, you could fit nearly three Floridas inside California!
The capital city Sacramento lies around 2,700 miles away from Florida’s capital.
With major metro areas like Los Angeles,
San Francisco and San Diego
, it’s clear these states occupy their own distinct regions.
Scenery for Days
When it comes to natural landscapes, Florida and California couldn’t be more different.
Here in Florida, we’ve got 1,350 miles of sparkling white sand beaches along our two coasts.
I’m talking South
Beach and Panama City
Beach on the Gulf of Mexico, and Daytona Beach and Palm Beach on the Atlantic Ocean.
The
Keys alone boast over 60 different beach parks
!
Inland, we’ve got the vast, mystical Everglades spanning over 1.
5 million acres.
Airboat rides and alligator spotting are a must for any Florida trip!
Let’s not forget the tropical paradise of Dry Tortugas National Park, just 70 miles off
Key West
.
Picture seven small islands with lush coral reefs, shipwrecks and sea turtles galore.
Out west, California’s prime natural attractions include rugged
Yosemite National Park
, enormous Sequoia National Park with its towering trees, and the aptly named Death Valley.
You won’t find any beaches lined with swaying palms – instead, the Pacific Coast has breathtaking cliffs and redwood forests.
Two completely different flavors of nature’s beauty!
A Citrus Showdown
Now folks, get ready for some sweet citrus trash talk.
Florida produces a whopping 70% of citrus fruits grown in the U.
S.
In 2023 alone, we harvested over 2 million tons of oranges and half a million tons of grapefruit!
Our rich, fertile soil helps those groves thrive year after year.
We’ve even got an official state beverage: Florida orange juice, of course.
Meanwhile in California, the annual citrus harvest is only around 1 million tons total.
They stick mostly to growing lemons, tangerines and mandarins, but California citrus will never measure up to Florida’s dominance of oranges and grapefruit.
Our iconic groves are here to stay, so Cali can suck on a Sunshine State lemon!
Wildlife Wonderlands
From the skies to the seas, Florida and California each boast amazing wildlife that makes them special.
Here in Florida, keeping an eye out for gentle manatees in our springs and coastal waters is a favorite pastime.
We’ve also got over 1,000 species of fish, 500 types of birds like the vibrant roseate spoonbill, and of course, a healthy population of gators!
On the opposite coast, California sea lions love to lounge on the beaches and piers.
Whale watching yields sights of gray, blue and humpback whales during migration season.
And who could forget California’s famous redwood forests, home to Roosevelt elk, black
bears
and the majestic bald eagle?
Though our wildlife differs, nature lovers will find plenty to appreciate in both states.
Theme Park Smackdown
When it comes to
theme parks, Florida
and California have some epic bragging rights.
Here in Orlando, we’ve got the undisputed heavy hitters: Walt
Disney World’s
four massive parks and two water parks with Cinderella’s Castle as its crown jewel.
Plus Universal Orlando with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and brand new Epic Universe on the horizon.
California boasts Disneyland, the original Disney park, plus Disney California Adventure.
They’ve got Universal Studios Hollywood too, but with only one park it doesn’t stack up size-wise.
For pure theme park dominance, Florida takes the gold
!
No trip to the Sunshine State is complete without a visit to our legendary parks.
Retirement Bliss
With our tropical climate and endless amenities,
Florida has become America’s retirement paradise
.
Over 19% of
Florida’s population
is senior citizens, with hotspots like Orlando, Tampa and Miami being hugely popular.
Our state has no income tax and countless activities, from world-class golf courses to museums and theaters catering to retirees.
Meanwhile, California’s high cost of living and taxes make it less ideal for retirees.
Only 13% of Californians are over the age of 65.
The Golden State is better known for young trendsetters, startup culture and the Hollywood scene.
For the classic retiree lifestyle, Florida can’t be beat!
How Far Apart Are California and Florida?
California and Florida are located clear across the country from each other.
These states lie on completely opposite coasts of the United States.
By car, it’s over 2,700 miles driving between major cities in California and Florida.
For example, the drive from Los Angeles to Miami would take around 42 hours of nonstop driving.
San Francisco
to Orlando is also about 2,700 miles and 42 hours by car.
The capital cities of Sacramento, CA and Tallahassee, FL are separated by approximately 2,667 miles of highway.
That’s a 40 hour straight drive between capitals.
If you were to road trip from the northernmost point of California down to the Florida Keys, you’d rack up almost 3,000 miles and around 46 hours just for that leg of the journey.
By air, direct flights between cities in California and Florida average 4 to 6 hours depending on the departure and destination airports.
Of course, travelers have to drive to and from the airports on either end too.
The distance spanning the Golden State and Sunshine State is filled with the land mass of multiple other states.
Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana are just some of the states separating California and Florida.
The sheer width of the continental United States leaves thousands of miles between these iconic Western and Eastern states.
Here’s an overview of the travel time needed to traverse the California-Florida distance by different modes of transport:
Mode of Transport | Travel Time |
---|---|
Nonstop driving | 40-45 hours |
Nonstop flight | 5-6 hours |
Train | 4-5 days |
Bus | 3-4 days |
How Many Hours Is Florida From California?
Given their locations on opposite sides of the U.
S.
, getting between cities in California and Florida requires a lengthy journey of at least 40 hours driving or 5 hours flying.
Starting on the West Coast, here are some example travel times from major California cities to popular
Florida destinations:
Los Angeles to Miami – 45-hour drive, 5.
5-hour flight
Los Angeles to Orlando – 44 hours by car, 5-hour flight
San Francisco to Jacksonville – 43-hour drive, 6-hour flight
San Jose
to Tampa – 40+ hours driving, 6-hour flight
San Diego to
Fort Lauderdale
– 41 hours by car, 5.
5 hours by air
Heading the other direction from Florida to California:
Miami to Los Angeles – 45 hours driving, 5.
5 flight
Orlando to San Francisco – 44-hour drive, 6-hour flight
Tampa to
San Diego
– 41-hour drive, 6-hour flight
Jacksonville to Sacramento – 43 hours by car, 5.
5-hour flight
Fort Lauderdale to Anaheim – 42-hour drive, 6.
5 hours by air
Train and bus trips take multiple days with stops in between.
For example, NYC to Los Angeles by train is around 72 hours with stops.
No matter which cities you’re traveling between, the journey between Florida and California spans a good chunk of the country!
Driving nonstop would take about 2.
5 days, while flying provides the fastest direct airport-to-airport option.
Which State is Very Close to California?
Several states border California and can be considered very close:
Oregon – Borders California to the north
Nevada – Borders California to the east
Arizona – Borders California to the southeast
In addition, parts of the following states are a short drive from California cities near the border:
Nevada – Las Vegas is 4 hours from Los Angeles
Arizona – Phoenix is 7-8 hours from Los Angeles
Oregon – Portland is 10-11 hours from San Francisco
By plane, major airports in these border states are 1-3 hours from California:
Nevada – 50 minute flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas
Arizona – 2.
5 hour flight from San Francisco to Phoenix
Oregon – 1.
5 hour flight from San Francisco to Portland
Mexico also borders southern California very closely.
However, states further east like Utah, New Mexico and Idaho are too far to be considered very close.
In summary, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and portions of those states are the closest states to California given its geography.
Which States Are 3 Hours From California?
Given California’s geographic position along the U.
S.
West Coast, no states are a mere 3 hour drive or flight away.
However, parts of neighboring Western states are within 3 hours ground travel from California cities near the border.
Here are some examples of drive times from California metropolitan areas to cities in nearby states:
Los Angeles to Las Vegas, NV – 4 hour drive
San Francisco to Reno, NV – 4 hours by car
San Diego to Yuma, AZ – 2.
5 hour drive
Sacramento to Reno, NV – 2 hours by car
Eureka, CA to Medford, OR – 3 hour drive
Redding, CA to Klamath Falls, OR – 2.
5 hours by car
By air, some flights to major out-of-state airports take around 3 hours or less:
Los Angeles to Las Vegas – 50 minute flight
San Francisco to Phoenix, AZ – 2.
5 hours
San Diego to Albuquerque, NM – 2 hour flight
Sacramento to Reno, NV – 45 minute flight
LA to Salt Lake City, UT – 2 hours by air
However, the full states of Nevada, Arizona, Utah or Oregon are more than 3 hours away from California by air or ground transportation.
Essentially, portions of an adjoining state may be within 3 hours of California, but the state as a whole is farther away due to California’s West Coast location and large size.