The Great Plains states are the group of American states that sit on or near the Great Plains, a vast region of mostly flat or gently rolling grassland stretching through the middle of North America. This region runs north to south through the center of the United States, from Canada down to Texas.

The Great Plains cover parts of ten states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. Some people also include parts of Minnesota and Iowa. These states share certain features: wide open spaces, strong winds, hot summers and cold winters, and land that was once covered in tall prairie grasses where millions of bison roamed.

For thousands of years, Native American tribes like the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Comanche lived on the Great Plains, following the bison herds and developing cultures perfectly suited to the grassland environment. In the 1800s, settlers moved west and turned much of the prairie into farmland. Today, the Great Plains states are known for agriculture, especially wheat, corn, and cattle ranching. The region's wide skies, dramatic weather (including powerful thunderstorms and tornadoes), and sense of open space give it a distinctive character that feels different from the coasts or mountains.

People sometimes call this region “America's breadbasket” because it produces so much of the nation's grain and food.