16. Turn West to Go to Nevada

Despite the common perception of Los Angeles, California, as a western city along the Pacific Ocean, a geographical curiosity places Reno, Nevada, even further west. This fact often surprises those who think of Reno as situated squarely within the interior of the Western United States, far from any coastal line.

The positioning is due to the intricate contours of state boundaries and the coastal outline that defines the United States’ western edge. Reno’s location, nestled in the northern part of Nevada, unexpectedly extends west of Los Angeles when looking at a detailed map.