What is a flyover state? Meaning and why the term matters

You have probably heard the term flyover state, but its meaning is less clear than it first seems. In American English, it usually refers to states in the interior of the US that people imagine as lying between the country’s better-known coastal destinations.

The phrase is not neutral. It often carries a dismissive tone, suggesting that some parts of the US are only worth flying over on the way to somewhere else. That is why the term can sound insulting, even when people use it casually.

So what does flyover state actually mean, which states does it usually refer to, and why do so many people object to the label?

• What does “flyover state” mean?
• Which states are considered flyover states?
• Why is the term controversial?
• Are flyover states really boring?
• Should you use the term?

What does “flyover state” mean?

The term flyover state describes the huge swath of the US that sits between the East and West Coasts. In the US, it can be used as an insult to talk about states that people prefer to fly over to reach the bright lights of New York City or Los Angeles.

The image behind the phrase is simple: these are supposedly the states people see from an airplane window rather than visit themselves.

The phrase flyover country was first recorded in the dictionary in 1980, so it’s a fairly recent term for what people also call Middle America or the heartland.

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Which states are considered flyover states?

There is no official list of flyover states. That is part of what makes the term so vague.

Geographically, flyover states cover the Midwest, the Great Plains, and the southern and mountain states. Or basically, any states that aren’t on the coasts or in the northeast. But it’s not really that simple and if you’re looking for a list of flyover states, you could ask 20 different people and get 20 different answers. 

Using a fairly broad geographical definition, here is our list of flyover states: 

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Why is the term controversial?

The phrase is controversial because it reduces a large and diverse part of the US to a blank space between supposedly more important places.

It suggests that the country’s interior exists mainly as something to cross, not somewhere worth visiting, understanding or taking seriously. That makes the label sound dismissive and, in many cases, patronising.

It is also misleading. The states that get grouped under this term include major cities, strong regional identities, varied histories, distinctive cultures and important industries. Treating them as one forgettable middle zone flattens all of that into a stereotype.

Are flyover states really boring?

No. That is the weakest part of the stereotype.

First, the cities of Las Vegas and Chicago are in so-called flyover states. Have you ever heard Las Vegas and boring in the same sentence? We didn’t think so. In fact, flyover states have tons to offer and many places worth seeing. 

There are awe-inspiring national parks, including the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Rocky Mountain in Colorado and Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Arches in southern Utah. You can also visit lively cities like New Orleans, Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Tulsa. In New Mexico or Oklahoma, you can dive into Native American history and culture or you can check out the scenic Smoky Hills in Kansas. That’s right, Kansas has hills.

The problem is that flyover state encourages people to think of a huge part of the country as one place. It is not. The American interior includes different histories, economies, communities, accents, cuisines and landscapes. Calling it all “flyover country” says more about the speaker’s assumptions than about the states themselves.

Should you use the term?

That depends on context, but it is worth being careful.

If you are trying to describe a region of the US neutrally, there are usually better options. Terms like the Midwest, the Great Plains, the Mountain West, the South, or simply the name of the state or region are clearer and less dismissive.

You can still come across flyover state in conversation, in media, or in cultural commentary, especially when someone is discussing stereotypes about the US. But if your goal is accuracy, it is usually not the best label to choose.

So, what are flyover states?

From outside the US and even from the inside sometimes, America often appears to be New York City and California with a whole lot of states you should skip over as quickly as possible in between. But, if you just fly over flyover country, you miss great cities, incredible landscapes and a heap of US history and culture. The flyover states are definitely not dull.

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