What are the conterminous states?

The conterminous states, also known as the contiguous United States, refer to the 48 adjoining states located on the North American continent, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. These states stretch from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and from Canada in the north to Mexico in the south. This term is often used to distinguish the main landmass of the U.S. from its outlying territories.