Free Printable Blank Map of the 13 Colonies – A free printable blank map of the 13 Colonies is one of the simplest tools for teaching early U.S. geography. Students can label each colony, color the three colonial regions, and see how the Atlantic Coast looked before independence.
This page explains what the Thirteen Colonies were, how to use a blank map in class or at home, and where to download legitimate free worksheets. You can also print the original outline maps included below.
What Were the 13 Colonies?
The Thirteen Colonies were British settlements on the Atlantic coast of North America. They declared independence in 1776 and became the first states of the United States.
Teachers usually group them into three regions:
New England Colonies
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
Middle Colonies
- New York
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
Southern Colonies
- Maryland
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
A blank 13 Colonies map hides those names on purpose. Students have to place each colony themselves, which is more useful than memorizing a pre-labeled poster.
Why a Blank Map Works Better Than a Labeled One?
A labeled map is a reference. A blank map is practice.
Use a blank version when you want students to:
- Write the colony names from memory
- Color New England, Middle, and Southern regions
- Mark the Atlantic Ocean, Appalachian Mountains, or major rivers
- Compare colonial borders with today’s state lines
- Add Native nations, colonial cities, or founding dates
Colonial borders were not identical to modern state borders. Maine was then part of Massachusetts, Vermont was disputed, and Florida was Spanish, not one of the 13 Colonies. That is why a purpose-built colonial outline is better than a modern U.S. map with 13 states highlighted.
Free Printable Blank Map of the 13 Colonies
Original Blank Maps You Can Print
These four original worksheets are designed for U.S. letter paper (8.5 x 11 inches). They are high-contrast, black-and-white, and printer-friendly. Use them for labeling, quizzes, interactive notebooks, or homeschool lessons.
1. Classic worksheet with name and date lines
Best for a first labeling lesson. Students write each colony directly on the map.
2. Landscape map with compass rose
Use this when you want a larger map and extra writing space around the coast.
3. Numbered map with write-in key
This version works as a quiz. Numbers sit inside the colonies; students match them on the side list.
4. Region map for New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies
Use this after students know the names and are ready to sort colonies by region.
Other Trusted Free Printables
If you need a second version, a quiz key, or a full lesson pack, these sources currently offer free classroom maps. Always check the site’s terms before copying a file into a commercial packet.
Seterra’s 13 Colonies printables include a blank map, a labeled map, a numbered quiz, an answer key, and a scavenger-hunt worksheet. The PDFs download without a login.
Tim van de Vall’s 13 Colonies map page offers a labeled PDF and a blank PDF for personal and classroom use, plus a short colony list.
We Are Teachers’ 13 Original Colonies bundle pairs a blank map and a labeled map with a reading passage and graphic organizers. The files are free after the on-page request form.
For primary sources rather than worksheets, use the Library of Congress. The Colonial Settlement, 1600s–1763 timeline covers Jamestown through Georgia. The lesson Geography and Its Impact on Colonial Life uses period maps to show how harbors, rivers, and climate shaped each region.
Skip sites that bury the download behind a paid “plus” plan. A free printable should give you the file, not a checkout page.
Quick Ways to Use the Map
Grades 3–5: Label the 13 colonies together. Then color New England one color, the Middle Colonies a second color, and the Southern Colonies a third.
Grades 6–8: Add founding years, major ports, and one economic product per region (fish and timber in New England, grain in the Middle Colonies, tobacco and rice in the South).
Homeschool: Print two copies. Keep one labeled as an answer key. Use the blank copy as a weekly quiz until the names stick.
Interactive notebook: Print at 80–90% scale and glue the map onto a notebook page. Leave a margin for definitions.
Printing Tips
- Use standard U.S. letter paper.
- Print at 100% scale. “Fit to page” can warp the coastline.
- Black-and-white outlines save ink and color well with crayons or colored pencils.
- Laminate one copy if you want students to label with dry-erase markers.
- Landscape maps look best when the printer is set to landscape before you hit print.
13 Colonies Answer List
Use this list with any blank map:
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- New York
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
Founding years often taught in U.S. classrooms start with Virginia in 1607 and end with Georgia in 1732. Exact charter dates vary by colony, so match the list your textbook uses.
FAQ
Is a blank 13 Colonies map the same as a blank U.S. map?
No. A U.S. map shows 50 states. A 13 Colonies map shows only the British colonies on the East Coast before 1776, with Georgia as the southern end.
Should Florida appear on the map?
No. In the colonial period Florida was Spanish. If a worksheet includes the Florida peninsula as a 13th colony, choose a different file.
What size should I print?
Letter size (8.5 x 11 inches) is the classroom standard in the United States. Full-page maps are easier for elementary students to label.
Can I use these maps in a classroom?
The original maps on this page are for educational use. For files from other sites, follow each publisher’s personal-or-classroom terms.
What should students label besides colony names?
Start with the Atlantic Ocean. Then add the three regions, a compass rose, and one city per region if your lesson includes settlements such as Boston, Philadelphia, or Charleston.
A clear blank map will not teach the whole colonial period by itself. It will give students a place to put the names, regions, and coastlines they are about to study. Print one version for practice and keep a labeled copy nearby as the answer key.