The 2 States That Share a Border with Florida

Aerial view of Miami Beach, South Beach, Florida, USA.
© Mia2you/Shutterstock.com

Written by Marisa Higgins

Updated: November 18, 2023

Share on:

Advertisement


Aerial shot of U.S. route 1, Key West , Florida

Florida is bordered by two bodies of water: the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

©Paiboon Chooklin/Shutterstock.com

Florida, also known as the Sunshine State, is home to beautiful beach resorts, lively amusement parks, and the Kennedy Space Center. The state is a peninsula located in the southeastern United States. The state is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Florida alone is nearly 66,000 square miles. Florida currently shares a border with Georgia and Alabama. 

1. Georgia 

Georgia

The state north of Florida is known as “The Peach State.”

©Sue Smith/Shutterstock.com

Georgia shares Florida’s northern border. The partition between these states is nearly 200 miles long. The St. Mary’s River and the Chattahoochee River inform the dividing line between these two states. The rivers offer many outdoor activities, such as boating and kayaking. Likewise, Tallahassee and Fernandina Beach, Florida are within 30 miles of the Florida/Georgia border, making it easy for Georgia residents to visit the Florida capital and one of the state’s many beaches. 

Border Length: Approximately 194 miles

2. Alabama

Welcome to Sweet Home Alabama Road Sign along Interstate 10 in Robertsdale, Alabama USA, near the State Border with Florida

Alabama, like Florida, has access to the blue waters of the Gulf Coast.

©Allard One/Shutterstock.com

To the northwest, you’ll find Alabama, the second state with a border with Florida. Period River shapes the boundary between these two states. This river is coastal and marshy and offers several water-based activities. The Florida panhandle is primarily where the division between Alabama rests. The panhandle, like the Alabama coast, shares the white sandy beaches specific to the Gulf Coast region. 

Border Length: Approximately 83 miles

The Two States that Share a Border with Florida 

Florida is one of the few states that only has two states bordering it. However, Florida is unique. In particular, the state is a peninsula, so it has two bodies of water bordering each coast: the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Between the rivers that shape the borders along the Alabama and Georgia sides, and the beaches on both sides of Florida, there is an abundance of water activities available to residents and visitors alike. Florida’s bordering states inform the unique aspects of the southeastern United States, and in particular, the Sunshine State itself. 


Share this post on:
About the Author

Dr. Marisa Higgins is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on travel, places to visit, and fun activities. Marisa holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and French, a Master of Arts in English, and a Ph.D. in English, and she's spent the past decade teaching, writing, and researching. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, and their Beagle-Chihuahua, Rumi, and cat, Rory.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.