The US state closest to the equator is Hawaii. Hawaii is located in the central Pacific Ocean and is the southernmost state in the United States. The Big Island of Hawaii, specifically, has a latitude of approximately 19.8968° N, making it the closest point in the US to the equator. The equator is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and it is located at 0° latitude. Being closer to the equator means that Hawaii experiences a tropical climate with warm temperatures throughout the year.