conterminous, or contiguous, continental, continental United States

Use contiguous, or conterminous, for the 48 states.

The continental United States comprises the 48 contiguous, or conterminous, states plus Alaska.

            Continental Divide (North American context), the divide

            Continental Army, the Continentals (U.S. Revolution)

            Continental Congress, the Congress

            continental Europe, continental flavor, continental shelf

See also Alaska, United States.