Alaska Vs Texas Size Comparison: Is Alaska Bigger Than Texas?
Tourism in America is booming, with states like Alaska recording a footfall of over 3 million between May 2023 and April 2024. Further, the tourism revenue generated by the state of Alaska in 2023 was more than $157 billion.
On the other hand, Texas had a record-breaking 2023, with 122.4 million tourists visiting and visitor spending reaching $94.8 billion.
So, in this Dream and Travel guide, we decided to compare Alaska vs Texas size, population, and key geographical features. Let’s start!
Alaska Vs Texas Size: Is Alaska Bigger Than Texas?
Yes, Alaska is bigger than Texas. Alaska is the largest, and Texas is the second-largest state in the USA.
Alaska, with an area of 586,000 square miles, is two times bigger than Texas, which has an area of 268,820 square miles.
Further, you will understand how much bigger is Alaska than Texas if I tell you that the total area of Alaska is more than the combined areas of Texas, Montana, and California, three of the biggest states of the USA.
Moreover, with Alaska size compared to Texas, you will find that there is a huge difference in the coastline.
Alaska has the 50% coastline of the United States and its total coastal area is 6,640 miles. On the other hand, Texas has a coastline of 367 miles.
Alaska Vs Texas: A Brief Overview Of The States
We take this Alaska vs Texas size comparison further. Read the brief accounts of these two states as individual destinations with unique geographical features and attractions.
Alaska: The Biggest State Of The USA
| Population: 740133 (2024) Population Density: 1.3 Persons per Square Mile Highest Point: Mount Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley (Elevation: 20130 Feet) |
Alaska has been recently in the news after Donald Trump vowed to change the name of Mount Denali to Mount McKinley.
Let’s not discuss whether it’s the right move, as there are already debates around the renaming. Instead, let’s focus on why Alaska is special and one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Further, Alaska is great for many outdoor activities like hiking, camping, fishing, and biking. It is also the ultimate destination for dog sled tours, skiing, and snowboarding.
Moreover, Alaska is home to the most happening cruise tourism market, with a projection to reach $2.51 billion by 2032.
Important Geographical Features Of Alaska
From the tallest mountain to the longest river! Alaska celebrates the ultimate diversity in its geographical features.
Alaska also has islands, inlets, and tidal shorelines. Nevertheless, these are the key geographical highlights of the state.
- Tallest Point: Denali (20130 Feet)
- Longest River: Yukon (2,298 Miles)
- Largest Island: Kodiak (3588 Square Miles)
- Largest Glacier: Bering Glacier Complex (2,250 Square Miles)
- City With The Highest Population: Anchorage (286,075)
- Largest City in Area: Sitka (4,710 Square Miles)
Places To Visit In Alaska
June to September is the best time to visit Alaska. The highest temperature during these months hovers around 60-65 degrees F.
Further, the lowest temperature between June and September remains close to 50 degrees F.
Moreover, on average, these months enjoy daylight hours of 15-19 hours.
Nevertheless, check out the table below to learn about the places to visit in Alaska.
| Places to Visit in Alaska | Why Visit |
| Fairbanks | Fairbanks is the place to see the midnight Sun in summer and the northern lights in the winter. |
| Ketchikan | Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world. It is a favorite destination for anglers. |
| Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve | Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a popular destination for cruise and boat tours. Further, camping on the Bartlett Cove campground is a lifetime experience. |
| Denali National Park and Preserve | It has Mount Denali or Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in Alaska and North America. Denali is also known for its wildlife, Dall sheep, moose, grizzly bears, and caribou. |
| Kodiak | Kodiak Island, or the Emerald Isle, is the second-largest island in the United States. You will also see gray whales, bison, and sea lions here. |
| Kenai Fjords National Park | Kenai Fjords National Park is home to close to 40 glaciers. Further, it is the go-to destination for Alaskan boat tours, as you can see sea lions, humpback whales, and seals here. |
| Skagway | Skagway is a historical area with 100 original structures from the gold rush era. |
| Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is the largest national park in the USA. It spans over 13 million acres and has volcanoes, watersheds, and forests. |
| Katmai National Park and Preserve | It was established after the eruption of the Novarupta volcano in 1912. Covered in thick ash and pumice, this national park is now home to a thriving brown bear community. Further, camping, hiking, and rafting are popular activities here. |
| Valdez | Valdez is famous for cross-country skiing. You must also visit the Valdez Museum & Historical Archive. Further, Valdez has the Gold Rush Days Festival in August and the Valdez Ice Climbing Festival in February. |
Texas: The Second-Largest State Of The USA
| Population: 31,290,831 (2024) Population Density: 105.2 People Per Square Mile Highest Point: Guadalupe Peak (8,751 Feet) |
Texas feels like a country on its own because everything is grand here. Texas is home to verdant mountains, swimmable coastlines, prairies, and desert badlands.
Further, Texas has cities that offer the highest urban sophistication and quaint towns that ensure a humble and warm experience.
Geographical Features Of Texas
Around 7% of the land and water areas of the United States belong to Texas. The physical area of Texas is further divided into four territories: the Interior Lowlands, The Great Plains, the Gulf Coastal Plains, and the Basin and Range Province.
Further, these are the key geographical features of the state.
- Tallest Point: Guadalupe Peak (8,751 Feet)
- Longest River: Rio Grande (1900 Miles)
- Largest Island: Padre Island (113 Miles, The Largest Barrier Island in the World)
- City With The Highest Population: Houston (2,314,157)
- Largest City in Area: Houston (1722 Square Kilometers)
Places To Visit In Texas
Texas is one of the warmest states in the USA. So, the best time to visit Texas is between September and November.
The highest temperatures during these two months hover around 45-88 degrees F. Again, the lowest temperature remains close to 7-31 degrees F.
Further, check the table below for a brief idea about the places to visit in Texas.
| Places to Visit in Texas | Why Visit |
| Padre Islands National Seashore | Dunes and coastal grasses dance with the wind on the 182-kilometer Padre Islands National Seashore, which is located along the Gulf of Mexico. It is a great place for saltwater fishing and swimming. Further, you will love spotting jackrabbits and white-tailed deer here. |
| San Antonio River Walk | The San Antonio River is gentle, and walking along is the most fulfilling experience. Further, you will find the best restaurants in outdoor settings. |
| The Guadalupe Mountains National Park | Guadalupe Mountains National Park is famous as the home to a 250-million-year-old honey-colored ridge. It is great for camping, hiking, and bird-watching. |
| The Alamo | The Alamo is the place to remember the Texas Revolution. Today, you will find many interactive exhibits here. |
| Space Center Houston | Space Center Houston offers you a behind-the-scenes tour of NASA. It has the biggest collection of lunar rocks and over 400 artifacts. |
| Dallas Museum of Art | The Dallas Museum of Art has more than 24000 exhibits with art, design, and decorative art. |
With all the attractions and an area of 268,820 square miles, Texas, the second-largest state in the USA, is larger than the combined area of the Netherlands, Belgium, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, England, and Germany.
How Big Is Alaska Compared To Texas? Let’s Compare
You already know that Alaska is almost two times bigger than Texas. I have also shared the overviews of the states and the places to visit.
We can now wrap up the Alaska vs Texas size assessment by comparing the road conditions and wildlife of the two states.
Alaska Vs Texas Size: Understanding The Road Conditions
Alaska, despite having a road system of 14336 miles, remains sparse. Further, you cannot access much of Alaska’s wilderness by road. So, cruising is the main mode of transportation here.
Further, the number of highways in the state is limited; each highway stretches 300-400 miles on average.
Texas is more developed, with a road network of around 675,580 miles.
Alaska Vs Texas Wildlife
Despite a huge difference in the Alaska vs Texas size, both states show wonderful biodiversity.
However, Alaska’s marine life wins over Texas’s. Let’s find the key excerpts comparing the wilderness of the two states.
| Alaska | Texas |
| Home to around 30000 brown bears Has one of the largest populations of bald eagles in the United States Home to close to 20000 humpback whales | Has more than 4 million white-tailed deer More than 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats live here. Texas has the largest urban bat colony in North America. |
Alaska Vs Texas Size Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers on “Is Alaska or Texas bigger.”
No, Texas is not bigger than Alaska. If we compare the area, Alaska is twice as big as Texas.
Alaska has an area of 586,000 square miles, while Texas has an area of 268,820 square miles.
Alaska is not bigger than the contiguous United States. However, it is the largest state in the USA and the seventh-largest country subdivision globally.
Further, Alaska has the largest water area in the United States, covering around 40% of the country’s surface water resources.
Moreover, if you compare Alaska’s size to that of the Lower 48, Alaska covers 1/5th of the area of the entire Lower 48.
Yes, Alaska is the biggest state in the United States in terms of land and water area. It stretches over 2,500 miles from east to west.
This area is close to the distance between Georgia and California (2455.3 miles).
Alaska can accommodate almost 19 states of the USA, including Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, and Florida.
Further, Alaska is larger than Montana, Texas, and California combined.
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