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Quiz: Can You Guess Your State Just by Viewing Its License Plate?

Meet the most advanced version of the license-plate game you'll ever play.

Growing up, you probably played some version of the license plate game. You know, the one where you stare out the window and try to find as many different state plates as possible. And for the most part, you probably did pretty well—especially if you lived in a state with lots of neighbor states or in one with tons of transplants. Because when it comes down to it, all that game takes is a bit of concentration and luck.

So if you're ready to take things up a notch, try our license plate game. To make this quiz, we rounded up every state license plate and made each state's name disappear. Can you identify your state? What about all 50? Whether you aced the car game you played as a kid or not, we're guessing you'll struggle with at least a few of these (and we promise, they're as close to up-to-date as we could find).

Which license plate features this Douglas fir?

oregon license plate photoshopped

Hint: The Douglas fir is this state's official state tree, but redwoods, ponderosa pine, and red cedar are also common here.

Oregon

oregon license plate

That's Oregon, where around 60 percent of the state is covered in forest!

Which license plate features this enormous diamond?

arkansas license plate photoshopped

Hint: The world's "most perfect" diamond, the Strawn-Wagner Diamond, was found in this state.

Arkansas

arkansas state license plate

That's Arkansas, where you can search for diamonds yourself at the very park where the Strawn-Wagner was discovered.

Which license plate reads "Life Elevated"?

Utah license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state also claims to have "The Greatest Snow On Earth."

Utah

utah license plate

That's Utah, where you'll find both the Great Basin Desert and some of the best skiing in the country.

Which state is the "Constitution State?"

connecticut license plate photoshopped

Hint: It's also called the "Nutmeg State."

Connecticut

connecticut license plate

That's Connecticut, the state whose Fundamental Orders of 1638 was the first written constitution in history.

Which state has this very orange license plate?

florida license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state's official state drink is orange juice; its official state flower is the orange blossom.

Florida

florida state license plate

That's Florida, which produces more than 70 percent of the country's supply of citrus.

Which state is the "Garden State?"

new jersey license plate

Hint: The first reference to the "Garden State" nickname was in 1876, more than a century after this state became the third to ratify the Constitution.

New Jersey

new jersey license plate

That's New Jersey, a state that still has no idea how it got its nickname, according to its official website.

Which state is the "Land of Enchantment?"

new mexico license plate photoshopped

Hint: One of the most enchanting events in this state might be its annual hot-air balloon festival.

New Mexico

new mexico license plate

That's New Mexico, home to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which takes place every October.

Which state is "Vacationland?"

maine license plate photoshopped

Hint: The state flower is a pinecone and the state bird is a black-capped chickadee (as seen here on its license plate).

Maine

maine license plate

That's Maine, the only state to select an official state flower that isn't a flower!

Which license plate features this mountain scene?

alabama license plate photoshopped

Hint: About 67 percent of this state is covered in forests.

Alabama

alabama license plate

That's Alabama, a state whose license plate was designed to be reflective of the scenery in north Alabama.

Which state has this cheery rainbow license plate?

hawaii license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state sees only minor changes in temperature throughout the year, but you're most likely to catch a rainbow between October and April, its rainy "winter" season.

Hawaii

hawaii state license plate

That's Hawaii, home to perpetual beautiful weather!

Which state has "Famous Potatoes?"

idaho license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state produces nearly a third of all potatoes grown in the United States.

Idaho

idaho state license plate

That's our own private Idaho, the potato oasis!

Which state is "Wild" and "Wonderful?"

west virginia license plate photoshopped

Hint: The state motto is "Montani Semper Liberi" or "Mountaineers are always free."

West Virginia

west virginia license plate

That's West Virginia, or the "Mountain State," which has the highest average elevation above sea level of any state east of the Mississippi River.

Which license plate features this black and white mountain scene?

colorado license plate photoshopped

Hint: The 1976 Winter Olympics was almost held in this winter wonderland of a state, but residents voted against it.

Colorado

colorado state license plate

That's Colorado, which is home to Longs Peak, the highest point in the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Which state was "First in Flight"?

north carolina license plate photoshopped

Hint: The Wright brothers made the first controlled aircraft flights in this state.

North Carolina

north carolina license plate

That's North Carolina, and the first flight took place in Kill Devil Hills, on December 17, 1903.

Which license plate features this idyllic bridge scene?

indiana license plate photoshopped

Hint: The covered bridge illustrated on this license plate is this state's most famous covered bridge; the town it's in considers itself "The Covered Bridge Capital of the World."

Indiana

indiana license plate

That's Indiana, and the "Covered Bridge Capital of the World" is Parke County.

Which license plate features this Western scene?

wyoming license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state is also known as the "Cowboy State."

Wyoming

wyoming license plate

That's Wyoming, where the official state sport is rodeo.

Which license plate features this barnyard sketch?

iowa license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state produces the most corn in the United States.

Iowa

iowa state license plate

That's Iowa, a state that produces some 18 percent of the country's corn.

Which state is a "Sportsman's Paradise?"

Louisiana license plate photoshopped

Hint: You might associate this state more with its famous jazz festival than with its hunting and fishing scene.

Louisiana

louisiana license plate

That's Louisiana, which is called the "Sportsman's Paradise" because its bayous, swamps, and marshes offer unique fishing and hunting opportunities.

Which license plate reads "In God We Trust?"

kentucky license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state is known as the "Bluegrass State."

Kentucky

kentucky license plate

That's Kentucky, which is called the "Bluegrass State" because of the bluegrass you'll find in its pastures.

Which license plate reads "The Spirit of America?"

massachusetts license plate photoshopped

Hint: The chocolate-chip cookie was invented in this truly revolutionary state.

Massachusetts

massachusetts license plate

That's Massachusetts, which is also the birthplace of the lightning rod, bifocals, and, of course, the American Revolution.

Which license plate features these blue and gold state colors?

pennsylvania license plate photoshopped

Hint: The capital of this state is its 10th largest city.

Pennsylvania

pennsylvania license plate

That's Pennsylvania, whose capital city is Harrisburg (population 49,000)!

Which license plate features this lake scene?

minnesota state license plate photoshopped
Alamy

Hint: There are actually 11,842 lakes here.

Minnesota

minnesota state license plate
Alamy

That's Minnesota, the "Land of 10,000 Lakes."

Which state is "America's Dairyland?"

wisconsin license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state might be best known for its delicious cheese.

Wisconsin

wisconsin license plate

That's Wisconsin, which produces 26.2 percent of the country's cheese and 14.2 percent of its milk.

Which state can call itself "The First State?" 

delaware license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state is named after Virginia's first colonial governor.

Delaware

delaware license plate

That's Delaware, named after Sir Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr.

Which state is about to celebrate its bicentennial?

missouri license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state was made the official 24th state on August 10, 1821.

Missouri

missouri license plate

That's Missouri, which was acquired as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

Which license plate features this bird on a branch?

nebraska license plate photoshopped

Hint: The official state bird of this state is the Western Meadowlark (seen here on its license plate). The state, on the other hand, lies in both the Great Plains and the Midwestern United States.

Nebraska

nebraska license plate

That's Nebraska, otherwise known as the "Cornhusker State."

Which state is "Big Sky Country?"

montana license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state's nickname was developed by its highway department in reference to its stunning unobstructed skyline.

Montana

montana license plate

That's Montana, and the nickname originated in 1962.

Which state is the "Peace Garden State?"

north dakota license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state shares a park, called the "International Peace Garden," with Canada.

North Dakota

north dakota license plate

That's North Dakota, and you'll find the International Peace Garden in Rolette County (as well as in the Municipality of Boissevain in Morton, Canada.)

Which state is "The Last Frontier?"

alaska license plate photoshopped

Hint: It's also the state where you'll find the easternmost and westernmost points in the country.

Alaska

alaska license plate

That's Alaska, dubbed the "Last Frontier" because of its rugged landscape and harsh climate.

Which state was the "Birthplace of Aviation?"

ohio license plate photoshopped

Hint: The Wright bothers called this state home.

Ohio

ohio license plate

That's Ohio, a state Congress officially declared the "birthplace of aviation," since Wilbur and Orville Wright lived in Dayton.

Which license plate features this statue?

oklahoma license plate photoshopped

Hint: Thirty-nine Native American tribes call this state home.

Oklahoma

oklahoma license plate

That's Oklahoma, and the statue on this license plate is by Native American artist Allan Houser; it's called the "Sacred Rain Arrow."

Which license plate reads "Live Free Or Die?"

new hampshire license plate photoshopped

Hint: Although it was one of the 13 colonies, no battles were fought in this state.

New Hampshire

new hampshire license plate

That's New Hampshire, and this quote was originally said by General John Stark, a New Hampshire-born war hero and leader in the Continental Army. The full quote is: "Live free or die. Death is not the greatest of evils."

Which license plate proudly displays this state flag?

maryland license plate photoshopped

Hint: The state name starts with an 'M.'

Maryland

maryland license plate

That's Maryland, and its state flag features the shield from the coat of arms of the Calvert-Crossland families of Sir George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore and secretary of state for King James I.

Which license plate has this nautical theme?

rhode island license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state is the smallest state by area.

Rhode Island

rhode island license plate

That's Rhode Island, called the "Ocean State" for its bays, inlets, and rich nautical history.

Which license plate features this sunrise scene?

south carolina license plate photoshopped
Alamy

Hint: The palmetto tree seen here is this state's official state tree.

South Carolina

south carolina license plate
Alamy

That's South Carolina, and this motif also appears on its state flag.

Which state is the "Grand Canyon State?"

arizona license plate photoshopped

Hint: In this state, you'll find saguaro cacti (seen here on its license plate) as tall as 60 feet.

Arizona

arizona license plate

That's Arizona, and we're hoping this one was a dead giveaway!

Which state is the "Volunteer State?"

tennessee license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state nickname dates back to the War of 1812.

Tennessee

tennessee license plate

That's Tennessee, which got its nickname when its volunteer soldiers valiantly fought in the Battle of New Orleans.

Which state license plate features this fruit?

georgia license plate photoshopped

Hint: Seventy-one streets in this state's capital city include the word "Peachtree" in their names.

Georgia

That's Georgia, otherwise known as "The Peach State!"

Which state is the "Birthplace of America's Music?"

mississippi license plate photoshopped

Hint: Jazz, gospel, country, bluegrass, and rock 'n' roll all have roots in this southern state.

Mississippi

mississippi license plate

That's Mississippi, the birthplace of B.B. King, "The King of the Blues." And for the top celeb from your own state, be sure to check our list of The Most Famous Celebrity From Every State.

Which license plate is navy and gold?

new york license plate photoshopped

Hint: One city in this state makes up more than 40 percent of its population.

New York

new york license plate

That's New York, otherwise known as the Empire State!

Which state has this simple plate?

california license plate photoshopped

Hint: It's got an 840-mile coastline.

California

california license plate

That's California, the "Golden State!"

Which state is the "Green Mountain State?"

vermont license plate photoshopped

Hint: The state song is "These Green Mountains."

Vermont

vermont license plate

That's Vermont, called the "Green Mountain State" for its iconic Green Mountain range.

Which license plate is a simple white and blue?

michigan state license plate photoshopped

Hint: The state's name originates from the Ojibwe word for "large water" or "large lake."

Michigan

michigan state license plate

That's Michigan, otherwise known as "The Great Lakes State."

Which license plate features these blue mountains?

virgina license plate photoshopped

Hint: In addition to a famous mountain range, this state is also home to around 4,000 caves, several of which are popular tourist attractions.

Virginia

virginia license plate

That's Virginia, and those are the Blue Ridge mountains.

Which state is "The Silver State"?

nevada license plate photoshopped

Hint: This state is called the "Silver State" because of the silver rush that took place there in the mid-1800s.

Nevada

nevada license plate

That's Nevada, a state that also produced 77 percent of the country's gold in 2015.

Which license plate features this popular landmark?

south dakota license plate photoshopped

Hint: The monument is in the Black Hills mountain range.

South Dakota

south dakota license plate

That's South Dakota, home to Mount Rushmore!

Which state is the "Land of Lincoln"?

illnois license plate photoshopped

Hint: Abraham Lincoln began his political career in this state, but he wasn't born there.

Illinois

illinois license plate

That's Illinois, and you can still visit the Lincoln Home National Historic Site today!

Which state is the "Evergreen State?"

washington license plate photoshopped

Hint: This nickname was proposed in 1890 because of the state's evergreen trees and year-round green shrubs and grasses.

Washington

washington license plate

That's Washington, which is green year-round due to an abundance of rainy weather!

Which state license plate features its state seal?

kansas license plate photoshopped
Alamy

Hint: The seal reads "Ad Astra Per Aspera."

Kansas

kansas license plate
Alamy

That's Kansas, and that Latin phrase translates to "to the stars through difficulties."

Which license plate features this star motif?

texas license plate photoshopped

Hint: C'mon! It's the "Lone Star State!"

Texas

texas license plate

Hopefully, you got this one! And for more Texas trivia, check out these 25 Crazy Facts About Texas.

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