What country outside North America is closest to the U.S.?

When thinking of the closest countries to the United States, our minds go straight north to Canada or south to Mexico. This travel trivia question, however, goes further than that. Which country OUTSIDE North America is closest to the U.S.? Russia! You might be surprised to learn that Russia is only 58 miles away from the U.S. Read on to learn more about America’s closest neighbors beyond N. America.

Map of the United State in North America
Map of the United State in North America (Photo credit: Frankljunior, Depositphotos.com)

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Russia is the closest country to the U.S. outside North America.

Maybe you got this travel trivia question right, thanks to Tina Fey’s impersonation of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live. Fey’s character claimed she could see Russia from her house in Alaska.


That’s probably too far away to see with the naked eye. There is, however, a tiny Alaskan island in the Bering Strait called Little Diomede, whose 150 residents or so can see the Russian island of Big Diomede just two miles away.

Chukotka, Russia near the United States
Chukotka, Russia near the U.S. (Photo credit: avstraliavasin, Depositphotos.com)

Russia takes the title of the largest country in the world by landmass, comprising over 6.6 million square miles. That beats the runner-up nation, Canada, by about 3.8 million square miles!

Red square in Moscow, Russia
Red Square in Moscow, Russia (Photo credit: Violin, Depositphotos.com)

What’s more, Russia includes nine different time zones, and shares land borders with 14 neighboring countries.

Old classic car on a beach in Cuba
Old classic car on a beach in Cuba (Photo credit: danmir12, Depositphotos.com)

Cuba is 90 miles from Florida.

Cuba is just 90 miles from the southernmost point of the U.S., a concrete buoy aptly named the Southernmost Point Buoy in Key West, Florida. That’s awfully close, but Cuba is considered part of North America.

In 2015, President Barack Obama eased travel restrictions to the country, making it legal for American citizens to travel to Cuba for the first time since 1960.

Otemanu Mountain on Bora Bora island in French Polynesia
Otemanu Mountain on Bora Bora island in French Polynesia (Photo credit: shalamov, Depositphotos.com)

French Polynesia is 2,700 miles from Hawaii.

French Polynesia’s closest U.S. neighbor is Hawaii. Still, these island groupings are a whopping 2,700 miles apart.

French Polynesia is an overseas country belonging to France. It’s made up of 118 islands including Bora Bora and Tahiti. French Polynesia is best known for its gorgeous beaches and incredible surfing waves.

Cocora Valley, Colombia
Cocora Valley, Colombia (Photo credit: Toniflap, Depositphotos.com)

Columbia is 1,400 nautical miles from the U.S.

Located in northern South America, Colombia is about 1,400 nautical miles from Key West, Florida.

Colombia has coastlines on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The country is renowned for its beautiful landscapes including mountains, jungles, and beaches. Colombia is also home to one of the largest varieties of animal species on Earth.

Kulusuk Village, Greenland
Kulusuk Village, Greenland (Photo credit: icarmen13, Depositphotos.com)

Greenland is 2,300 miles from Maine.

From Maine in the Northeastern U.S. to Greenland’s most southern town, Nanortalik, the distance is about 2,300 miles.

Since it is a territory of Denmark, Greenland is sometimes considered part of Europe, but geographically it is considered part of North America.

Greenland is the world’s largest island. Unfortunately, it is shrinking, as Greenland’s ice sheet is melting due to climate change.

Test your travel trivia knowledge!

Do you love learning facts about the world? Then, you’ll love our travel trivia questions! Test your global knowledge with the questions below.

What is the largest country in Europe?

Which country has the most islands?

How long did it take to build the Golden Gate Bridge?

What was the first state in the USA?

What country outside North America is closest to the United States?

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Did you get the right answer? Which country did you think was closest to the U.S.? Tell us in the comments below!

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22 Comments

  1. I disagree that 58 miles is too far to see Russia from Alaska. From Auckland, New Zealand it is quite easy to see Great Barrier Island some 50 miles to the north east. Auckland has hills of 600 feet and further west 1400 feet. Great Barrier rises to 2000 feet. So if Russia and Alaska have suitably high hills near the coast it should be possible.

  2. Siberia is visible from several points in Alaska, numerous web sites confirm this. Siberia is quite mountainous in its easternmost areas.