Kansas Borders: States, Map & Complete Guide
Fact-checked • Updated January 11, 2026
Kansas borders four states: Nebraska to the north, Missouri to the east, Oklahoma to the south, and Colorado to the west. The state has a nearly rectangular shape with mostly straight borders following lines of latitude and longitude. The Missouri River forms a small portion of Kansas's northeastern border with Missouri.
Kansas Border Map
Map showing Kansas's boundaries with four neighboring states.
Border Details
Explore each of Kansas's borders in detail. Click any card to learn more.
Nebraska
Nebraska forms Kansas's entire northern border along the 40th parallel.
Missouri
Missouri borders Kansas along a mostly straight line on the eastern edge.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma forms Kansas's entire southern border along the 37th parallel.
Colorado
Colorado borders Kansas along the 25th meridian west on the western edge.
Which States Border Kansas?
Kansas shares its borders with four U.S. states: Nebraska to the north, Missouri to the east, Oklahoma to the south, and Colorado to the west. All of Kansas's borders are nearly straight lines following survey coordinates, giving the state an almost rectangular shape.
North: Nebraska
Nebraska and Kansas are separated by a border located on Kansas's northern edge. The state line follows the 40th parallel north latitude, creating a perfectly straight east-west boundary across the top of Kansas.
The Kansas-Nebraska border extends for about 210 miles from Colorado in the west to Missouri in the east. Kansas counties along this border include Cheyenne, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Graham, Norton, Phillips, Smith, Jewell, Republic, Washington, and Marshall. On the Nebraska side, Dundy, Hitchcock, Red Willow, Furnas, Harlan, Franklin, Webster, Nuckolls, Thayer, Jefferson, and Gage counties sit along the border.
- About 210 miles along 40th parallel
- Perfectly straight east-west line
- Kansas counties: Cheyenne, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Graham, Norton, Phillips, Smith, Jewell, Republic, Washington, Marshall
East: Missouri
Missouri and Kansas are separated by a border located on Kansas's eastern edge. The boundary runs roughly north-south from Nebraska in the north to Oklahoma in the south, following a mostly straight survey line with a small section along the Missouri River in the northeast.
The Kansas-Missouri border extends for about 270 miles. The border is mostly straight except for a small northern section where the Missouri River creates a natural boundary. Kansas counties along this border include Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Doniphan, Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson, Miami, Linn, Bourbon, Crawford, and Cherokee. Kansas City sits directly on this border, with parts in both states.
- About 270 miles north-south
- Mostly straight line, small river section in north
- Kansas City spans both states
South: Oklahoma
Oklahoma and Kansas are separated by a border located on Kansas's southern edge. The state line follows the 37th parallel north latitude, creating a perfectly straight east-west boundary along the bottom of Kansas.
The Kansas-Oklahoma border extends for about 410 miles from Colorado in the west to Missouri in the east. This is Kansas's longest state border. Kansas counties along this border include Morton, Stevens, Seward, Meade, Clark, Comanche, Barber, Harper, Sumner, Cowley, Chautauqua, Montgomery, Labette, and Cherokee.
- About 410 miles along 37th parallel (longest border)
- Perfectly straight east-west line
- Kansas counties: Morton, Stevens, Seward, Meade, Clark, Comanche, Barber, Harper, Sumner, Cowley, Chautauqua, Montgomery, Labette, Cherokee
West: Colorado
Colorado and Kansas are separated by a border located on Kansas's western edge. The state line follows the 25th meridian west (102nd meridian west of Greenwich), creating a perfectly straight north-south boundary.
The Kansas-Colorado border extends for about 220 miles from Nebraska in the north to Oklahoma in the south. Kansas counties along this border include Cheyenne, Wallace, Sherman, Greeley, Hamilton, Wichita, Kearny, and Stanton. On the Colorado side, Yuma, Kit Carson, and Cheyenne counties sit along the border.
- About 220 miles along 25th meridian west
- Perfectly straight north-south line
- Kansas counties: Cheyenne, Wallace, Sherman, Greeley, Hamilton, Wichita, Kearny, Stanton
Nearly Rectangular Shape
Kansas has an almost perfectly rectangular shape, with all four borders following straight survey lines based on latitude and longitude. The northern and southern borders run along parallel lines (40th parallel north and 37th parallel north), while the eastern and western borders follow meridian lines (mostly). The only deviation from a perfect rectangle is a small section in the northeast where the Missouri River creates a slight irregular boundary. This rectangular shape makes Kansas one of the most geometrically regular states in the U.S.
Kansas City: A Border City in Two States
Kansas City is unique because it exists as two separate cities on opposite sides of the state border. Kansas City, Missouri is the larger and older city, while Kansas City, Kansas sits directly across the state line. The two cities form a single metropolitan area but are governed as separate municipalities in different states. The state line runs right through the middle of the metro area, with the Kansas River (also called the Kaw River) roughly marking the division in some areas.
Key Facts & Statistics
This table shows every border Kansas shares, organized by direction and type.
Kansas borders exactly four U.S. states
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.