diff --git a/moto/ec2/models.py b/moto/ec2/models.py
index b84e67804..32b6b1660 100644
--- a/moto/ec2/models.py
+++ b/moto/ec2/models.py
@@ -1280,6 +1280,7 @@ class VPC(TaggedEC2Resource):
         self.id = vpc_id
         self.cidr_block = cidr_block
         self.dhcp_options = None
+        self.state = 'available'
 
     @classmethod
     def create_from_cloudformation_json(cls, resource_name, cloudformation_json):
diff --git a/moto/ec2/responses/vpcs.py b/moto/ec2/responses/vpcs.py
index 380016d6b..30df1ea95 100644
--- a/moto/ec2/responses/vpcs.py
+++ b/moto/ec2/responses/vpcs.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ DESCRIBE_VPCS_RESPONSE = """
     {% for vpc in vpcs %}
       <item>
         <vpcId>{{ vpc.id }}</vpcId>
-        <state>available</state>
+        <state>{{ vpc.state }}</state>
         <cidrBlock>{{ vpc.cidr_block }}</cidrBlock>
         <dhcpOptionsId>dopt-7a8b9c2d</dhcpOptionsId>
         <instanceTenancy>default</instanceTenancy>
diff --git a/tests/test_ec2/test_vpcs.py b/tests/test_ec2/test_vpcs.py
index ae18e4ce9..4fecf0974 100644
--- a/tests/test_ec2/test_vpcs.py
+++ b/tests/test_ec2/test_vpcs.py
@@ -207,4 +207,4 @@ def test_vpc_get_by_tag_value_subset():
     vpcs.should.have.length_of(2)
     vpc_ids = tuple(map(lambda v: v.id, vpcs))
     vpc1.id.should.be.within(vpc_ids)
-    vpc2.id.should.be.within(vpc_ids)
\ No newline at end of file
+    vpc2.id.should.be.within(vpc_ids)