California Trivia Quiz: Test Your Cali Trivia

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How well do you know your San Francisco from Sacramento facts? Test your knowledge with our California Trivia Quiz!

California is popular for its small coastal town charm, vast stretches of beaches, vibrant cities and national parks but there is more to this west coast state so we’ve created quiz questions on general knowledge, geography, history, culture and landmarks.

You’ll find California questions and answers at the bottom of this guide. Feel free to use our quiz to build your own.

Note: As with all of our geography quizzes, there are five rounds, each with five questions, making this quiz out of 25 points.

We’ve also included fun California trivia so you can impress your friends with new facts.

If you’re not sure how to use this quiz, scroll to the bottom for instructions first.

Table of Contents

Free California Trivia Quiz Questions
California Quiz General Knowledge Questions Round
California Quiz Geography Questions Round
California Quiz History Quiz Round
California Quiz Culture Questions Round
California Quiz Landmarks Questions Round
California Quiz General Knowledge Answers
California Quiz Geography Answers
California Quiz History Answers
California Quiz Culture Answers
California Quiz Landmarks Answers

Free California Trivia Quiz Questions

California Quiz General Knowledge Questions Round

1. What is the two letter state code for California?

2. What is California‘s nickname?

The Vineyard State
The Hollywood State
The Healthy State
The Golden State

3. California is the biggest US producer of…

Oysters
Almonds
Maple syrup
Craft beer

4. What is California’s state flower?

Poppy
Indian paintbrush
Lily
Fuchsia

5. What is California’s state animal?

California grizzly bear
California sea lion
California humpback whale
Californosaurus

California Quiz Geography Questions Round

1. Which state is next to California on its east side?

Oregon
Nevada
Utah
Arizona

California Quiz History Quiz Round

1. What city was the first capital city of California?

Sacramento
Monterey
San Jose
Vallejo

2. What year was the Summer of Love?

1967
1968
1969
1970

3. California was put on the culinary map in 1976 when one of its wines won a tasting competition. Where was it held?

Napa Valley, California
Paris, France
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
Breede River Valley, South Africa

4. Who were The Forty-Niners?

Gold Rush migrants
90s hip hop artists
Santa Clara football team
West Coast regiment

5. What was legalized in California in 1995?

Marijuana
Same-sex marriage
To-go alcoholic beverages
No smoking in public places

California Quiz Culture Questions Round

1. What is in a California Roll?

Crab, cucumber and avocado
Salmon, pepper and avocado
Tuna, green onion and avocado
Shrimp, tuna and avocado

2. Where is the end of Route 66?

Santa Monica
Old Town Victorville
Amboy
Los Angeles

3. Whose star can’t be stepped on at Hollywood’s Walk of Fame?

Tiger Woods
Esther Williams
Earvin “Magic” Johnson
Muhammad Ali

If you love TV and all things Hollywood, check out our TV quizzes which feature RuPaul’s Drag Race, Selling Sunset, and The Sopranos.

4. Who has not been Governor of California

Gavin Newsom
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Ronald Reagan
Caitlyn Jenner

5. “Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild west, A state that’s untouchable like Elliot Ness” are lyrics from which song?

California Love Song by Tupac Shakur
California and the Slipping of the Sun by Gorillaz
Dani California by Red Hot Chili Peppers
California Gurls by Katy Perry

Are you a music fan?

Try our challenging music quizzes which features decades such as 60s and 70s!

California Quiz Landmarks Questions Round

1. What would you find at Balboa?

Museums
Hiking routes
Sports arena
Theme park

2. Where is the tallest tree in the world located?

Joshua Tree National Park
Redwood National Park
Sequoia National Park
Yosemite National Park

3. What is the name of the observatory featured in La La Land?

Griffith
Lowell
Palomar
Haystack

4. What kind of bridge is the Bixby Creek Bridge Bridge?

Arch Bridge
Beam Bridge
Suspension Bridge
Cable-Stayed Bridge

5. What do the terms Honey, Hype and Vibe have in common?

San Francisco drag shows
Lake Tahoe ski runs
LA TikTok houses
Long Beach cafes

How did you do?

Check the California test answers below and share with your friends!

California Quiz General Knowledge Answers

1. What is the two letter state code for California?

2. What is California‘s nickname?

The Vineyard State
The Hollywood State
The Healthy State
The Golden State

3. California is the biggest US producer of…

Oysters
Almonds
Maple syrup
Craft beer

4. What is California’s state flower?

Poppy
Indian paintbrush
Lily
Fuchsia

California Trivia: The California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is the state flower but Indian Paintbrush, Calla Lily and California Fuchsia all grow in Cali too.

Historically, some Indigenous tribes refused to use poppy because of its potential toxicity.

Others utilized the poppy roots for pain relief, the flowers for gum or candy, and the pollen for eye shadow or body paint.

5. What is California’s state animal?

California grizzly bear
California sea lion
California humpback whale
Californosaurus

California Trivia: The California grizzly bear is the state animal, but you can witness humpback whales in the Monterey Bay area!

Apparently, Californosaurus are an extinct marine reptile.

California Quiz Geography Answers

1. Which state is next to California on its east side?

Oregon
Nevada
Utah
Arizona

California Trivia: Many visitors to California take day trips or road trips to Utah to visit its national parks or Nevada to experience Las Vegas!

Love Cali? Prove it! Take our California Quiz.

2. What is the most populated city in California?

San Francisco
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Jose

3. Which location is closest to the Mexican border?

Chula Vista
San Diego
Carlsbad
Temecula

4. How many national parks does California have?

California Trivia: California has nine national parks, which is more than any other state!

The parks are the Channel Islands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Redwood, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yosemite and there is also the Point Reyes National Seashore.

How many have you been to?

Tell us in the comments! It’s three for us.

5. Which of the following rivers does not run through California?

Colorado
Sacramento
Eel
Green River

California Trivia: The Green River is located in Utah.

There is a song called Green River by Creedence Clearwater Revival but the location that inspired the tune is actually Putah Creek, near Winters, California.

California Quiz History Answers

1. What city was the first capital city of California?

Sacramento
Monterey
San Jose
Vallejo

California Trivia: Monetary was the Spanish and Mexican capital of California from 1776–1846.

Power flipped between cities until 1869 when Sacramento become the state capitol home.

2. What year was the Summer of Love?

1967
1968
1969
1970

California Trivia: During the summer of 1967, around 100,000 people met in San Francisco’s neighborhood of Haight-Ashbury for peace, love and the fight against anti-materialism.

3. California was put on the culinary map in 1976 when one of its wines won a tasting competition. Where was it held?

Napa Valley, California
Paris, France
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
Breede River Valley, South Africa

California Trivia: The winning wine of the Judgement of Paris was a Chateau Montelena Chardonnay which was made by a start up in Napa Valley.

The red wine tasting was also won by Napa Valley’s Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon.

Both bottles can be found at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington DC.

4. Who were The Forty-Niners?

Gold Rush migrants
90s hip hop artists
Santa Clara football team
West Coast regiment

California Trivia: The Forty-Niners refers to migrants who made their way to California in 1849 in search of gold.

The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team so not Santa Clara.

5. What was legalized in California in 1995?

Marijuana
Same-sex marriage
To-go alcoholic beverages
No smoking in public places

California Quiz Culture Answers

1. What is in a California Roll?

Crab, cucumber and avocado
Salmon, pepper and avocado
Tuna, green onion and avocado
Shrimp, tuna and avocado

2. Where is the end of Route 66?

Santa Monica
Old Town Victorville
Amboy
Los Angeles

3. Whose star can’t be stepped on at Hollywood’s Walk of Fame?

Tiger Woods
Esther Williams
Earvin “Magic” Johnson
Muhammad Ali

California Trivia: Muhammad Ali’s star is actually fixed to a wall and not the ground as Ali did not want the name of Muhammad to be stepped on.

Anyone can nominate a celebrity for a star.

If they are lucky to get one they have to pay for it and turn up to the installation ceremony, hence why some reject the offer!

If you love TV and all things Hollywood, check out our TV quizzes which feature RuPaul’s Drag Race, Selling Sunset, and The Sopranos.

4. Who has not been Governor of California

Gavin Newsom
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Ronald Reagan
Caitlyn Jenner

California Trivia: Caitlyn Jenner tried and failed, Newsom won the recall in 2021.

Both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronald Reagan were actors, this is Hollywood after all!

5. “Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild west, A state that’s untouchable like Elliot Ness” are lyrics from which song?

California Love Song by Tupac Shakur
California and the Slipping of the Sun by Gorillaz
Dani California by Red Hot Chili Peppers
California Gurls by Katy Perry

Are you a music fan?

Try our challenging music quizzes which features decades such as 60s and 70s!

California Quiz Landmarks Answers

1. What would you find at Balboa?

Museums
Hiking routes
Sports arena
Theme park

California Trivia: Balboa Park in San Diego is home to museums, gardens, attractions, and venues celebrating culture, science, and nature.

2. Where is the tallest tree in the world located?

Joshua Tree National Park
Redwood National Park
Sequoia National Park
Yosemite National Park

California Trivia: The tallest tree in the world is nicknamed Hyperion and it is found nestled in Redwood National Park.

It is 115.55 m (379 ft 1.2 in) tall.

3. What is the name of the observatory featured in La La Land?

Griffith
Lowell
Palomar
Haystack

4. What kind of bridge is the Bixby Creek Bridge Bridge?

Arch Bridge
Beam Bridge
Suspension Bridge
Cable-Stayed Bridge

California Trivia: Bixby Creek Bridge Bridge is located on the Big Sur coast of California.

It is one of the most photographed bridges in California and features in many movies and TV shows such as HBO’s Big Little Lies.

5. What do the terms Honey, Hype and Vibe have in common?

San Francisco drag shows
Lake Tahoe ski runs
LA TikTok houses
Long Beach cafes

Thanks for taking our California quiz. You may like our other quizzes.

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How To Use This Quiz

Please feel free to use our quiz questions and answers to test your trivia knowledge!

There are several ways to play this quiz such as reading through the questions and writing down your answers in notes on your phone or on paper.

You can then check your answers which are in bold in the answers section.

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