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U.S. States by Average Elevation (Top 50)

U.S. States by Average Elevation (Top 50)

U.S. States, GeographyJune 18, 2026

In Colorado, individuals often experience increased respiratory effort, and packaged goods such as chips may expand in Wyoming; both are direct effects of elevation. Elevation is more than a numerical measurement. It shapes atmospheric conditions, agricultural viability, weather patterns, and the cultural development of communities influenced by their environment. An analysis of the average elevation of each U.S. state challenges common assumptions.

The United States exhibits significant topographical variation. Although highways and coastal cities are frequently emphasized, the nation also contains some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes. These include Colorado’s highlands, Kansas’s elevated plains, Hawaii’s volcanic islands, and Alaska’s frozen tundra, collectively illustrating the complexity of the nation’s elevation profile.

The infographic ranks the 17 U.S. states with the highest average elevation, using data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Wikipedia. Each state is examined to interpret the significance of its elevation data and to highlight unique geographic characteristics. Rather than presenting a simple compilation of statistics, the analysis contextualizes the data within broader geographic narratives. The analysis begins with the state possessing the highest average elevation.

1. Colorado — 6,800 Feet: The Rooftop of America

Colorado’s average elevation is 6,800 feet above sea level. This elevation is the result of millions of years of tectonic activity, mountain building, and geological forces. These processes distinguish Colorado from every other state. The term “average elevation” refers to the mean height of the entire state, not just the highest peak or a single mountain. Every valley, plain, county in the east, and river basin is included in the calculation. Colorado’s average is 6,800 feet, a figure unmatched by any other state. Notably, Colorado is the only state where even the lowest point, along the Arikaree River in Yuma County at approximately 3,317 feet, exceeds what many states would classify as a mountain.

The Rocky Mountains are the main reason for Colorado’s high elevation. The Rockies run through the center of the state and include 54 mountain summits over 14,000 feet, known as “fourteeners.” No other state has so many high peaks. Mount Elbert, at 14,433 feet, is the highest point in both Colorado and the entire Rocky Mountain range. Standing on Mount Elbert means you’re at the highest spot in the Rockies in North America.

Denver, the state capital, is known as “The Mile High City” because it sits at exactly 5,280 feet above sea level. However, Denver is not close to Colorado’s highest elevation; by state standards, it is nearly at ground level. The state’s altitude affects various aspects of daily life: cooking times increase, water boils at a lower temperature, UV radiation is stronger, and athletes who train in Colorado develop more red blood cells, providing an advantage at lower elevations. Colorado’s elevation shapes its biology, culture, cuisine, and climate, all of which are reflected in its average elevation of 6,800 feet.

Quick Facts: Colorado

Average elevation: 6,800 feet (2,073 meters) — the highest of all 50 states.
Highest point: Mount Elbert at 14,433 feet, the tallest summit in the Rocky Mountains.
Lowest point: Arikaree River at approximately 3,317 feet — higher than most states’ average.
Denver, the capital, sits at exactly 5,280 feet — one mile above sea level.
Colorado has 54 mountain peaks exceeding 14,000 feet, known as “fourteeners.”
The entire state sits above 1,000 meters, making it unique among all U.S. states.
Denver’s high altitude means 25% less oxygen than cities at sea level.
UV radiation is significantly stronger at elevation, contributing to Colorado’s outdoor culture.

2. Wyoming — 6,700 Feet: Where the Sky Starts Early

Wyoming ranks second, with an average elevation of 6,700 feet, just 100 feet lower than Colorado’s. Wyoming is often not recognized for its high elevation. The state is commonly associated with wide-open spaces, cowboys, and Yellowstone National Park. However, approximately three-quarters of Wyoming lies more than one mile above sea level, and two-fifths of the state exceeds 7,000 feet.

Wyoming consists of a large plateau interrupted by numerous mountain ranges, and this elevated foundation maintains the state’s high average elevation. The elevation is not solely due to mountain chains; the land itself is elevated. The Great Plains converge with the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming, and even the eastern High Plains are at elevations that would be considered mountainous in many Eastern states.

Gannett Peak, at 13,804 feet, is Wyoming’s highest point and is located in the Wind River Mountain Range in the west-central part of the state. It is the highest point in the entire Rocky Mountain range within Wyoming. But you don’t have to be anywhere near a mountain to feel Wyoming’s elevation — drive across the eastern prairies of the state, and you’re still almost always above 4,000 feet. Even Wyoming’s lowest point, the Belle Fourche River valley in the northeast corner of the state, sits at 3,125 feet above sea level. Again, that’s higher than many states’ highest points.

Wyoming’s elevation has a big impact on its climate. Temperatures can change quickly, and snowstorms can happen in any month at higher elevations. Cheyenne, the capital, is at about 6,062 feet—almost as high as Denver—but it sits on a high, windy prairie rather than among mountains. Wyoming’s altitude may be less dramatic than Colorado’s, but it’s just as important when you look at the data.

Quick Facts: Wyoming

Average elevation: 6,700 feet (2,040 meters) — second highest in the United States.
Three-quarters of Wyoming sits more than one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level.
Highest point: Gannett Peak at 13,804 feet in the Wind River Range.
Lowest point: Belle Fourche River valley at 3,125 feet — still remarkably high.
Two-fifths of the entire state exceeds 7,000 feet in elevation.
Cheyenne, the state capital, sits at approximately 6,062 feet above sea level.
Wyoming’s eastern high prairies frequently exceed 4,000 feet in baseline elevation.
The state is a geologic plateau broken by ranges, keeping the statewide average consistently elevated.

3. Utah — 6,100 Feet: Canyons, Plateaus, and Impossible Beauty

Utah’s average elevation is 6,100 feet above sea level, making it the third-highest state in the country. The state’s landscape is extremely diverse, often giving the impression of traversing several distinct regions within a single state. Elevation plays a significant role in shaping this diversity. There are three dominant landforms in Utah, and each contributes to the state’s remarkable average elevation. First, there are the Rocky Mountains, which run down the center of the state in a dramatic north-south spine. Second, there is the Colorado Plateau to the east — a vast, high tableland cut through by the Colorado River and its tributaries over millions of years, creating the stunning canyon systems for which Utah is globally famous. Third, there is the Great Basin to the west, a region of interior drainage that is the third-largest basin of its kind in the entire world. All three of these regions sit at significant elevations, and their combined footprint pushes Utah’s average to 6,100 feet.

Kings Peak is Utah’s highest point at 13,528 feet above sea level, located in the Uinta Mountains in the northeastern part of the state. The Uintas are unusual among American mountain ranges because they run east-west rather than the more typical north-south orientation. Even Utah’s lowest point, Beaverdam Wash in the southwest corner, sits at 2,000 feet above sea level — higher than the average elevation of more than 30 U.S. states.

Utah’s elevation shapes its landscape in striking ways. The Colorado Plateau in the southeast has slowly risen over time, while the Colorado River and its tributaries have carved deep canyons into the rock. This process created places like Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Zion—areas known for their vivid colors and dramatic scenery. Some high plateaus in the western Colorado Plateau reach over 11,000 feet. Utah’s elevation isn’t just a number; it’s a key reason for the state’s famous scenery.

Quick Facts: Utah

Average elevation: 6,100 feet (1,860 meters) — the third-highest state in the nation.
Highest point: Kings Peak at 13,528 feet in the Uinta Mountains.
Lowest point: Beaverdam Wash at 2,000 feet — higher than the average in 30+ states.
The Great Salt Lake sits at approximately 4,200 feet, one of the state’s low-elevation landmarks.
The Uinta Mountains run east-west, an unusual orientation among North American ranges.
The Colorado Plateau high plateaus exceed 11,000 feet in the western section.
Three major landforms — the Rockies, Colorado Plateau, and Great Basin — all contribute to high elevation averages.
Utah’s canyon systems formed precisely because the plateau rose while rivers cut downward.

4. New Mexico — 5,700 Feet: The Land of Enchantment Runs High

New Mexico earns its nickname “The Land of Enchantment” through its landscapes, and it also ranks among the top four states with the highest average elevation, at 5,700 feet. What surprises many people about New Mexico is just how consistently high it sits. Over four-fifths of the state rises above 4,000 feet. You don’t have to be anywhere near the mountains to be at a significant altitude in New Mexico. The state’s topography is genuinely layered and complex. The Rocky Mountains sweep down through the north of New Mexico from Colorado, bringing the high-altitude drama of places like Taos and Santa Fe, which, at around 7,000 feet, is one of the highest capital cities in the United States. But New Mexico also has high plateaus, deep canyons, and broad basins, all of which sit at elevations that would impress most visitors accustomed to sea-level geography. The average elevation in the northwest of the state reaches up to 8,000 feet, while the southeastern corner drops toward 4,000 feet near the Texas border.

Wheeler Peak, at 13,161 feet, is the highest point in New Mexico, located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Taos. Even the lowest point — Red Bluff Reservoir near the Texas state line — sits at 2,842 feet above sea level. That lowest point is higher than the average elevation of Texas, the entire state immediately to the east. And speaking of Texas, the contrast between New Mexico’s statewide elevation profile and that of its neighbor gives you a vivid sense of how dramatically the land changes as you move through the American Southwest.

New Mexico’s elevation profile is closely tied to its geology. The Rio Grande Rift, a major zone of tectonic extension, runs the length of the state from north to south, creating the Rio Grande valley and associated basins. Flanking these rifted valleys are volcanic mountain ranges and ancient rock formations that push the surrounding terrain to remarkable heights. Santa Fe — where art galleries and adobe architecture coexist at 7,000 feet — is perhaps the most culturally vibrant expression of what happens when human civilization plants itself at elevation and thrives there.

Quick Facts: New Mexico

Average elevation: 5,700 feet (1,739 meters) — fourth-highest state in the U.S.
Over four-fifths of the state rises above 4,000 feet above sea level.
Highest point: Wheeler Peak at 13,161 feet in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Lowest point: Red Bluff Reservoir at 2,842 feet — higher than Texas’s entire average elevation.
Santa Fe, the capital, sits at approximately 7,000 feet — one of the highest capitals in the nation.
Northwestern New Mexico averages elevations up to 8,000 feet.
The Rio Grande Rift shapes the state’s central valley and surrounding elevated terrain.
New Mexico’s elevation contributes to its remarkable air clarity and night-sky visibility.

5. Nevada — 5,500 Feet: The Silver State’s Hidden Heights

Nevada’s place in this ranking surprises many people. When most people think of Nevada, they picture Las Vegas, the Mojave Desert, casinos, and flat desert landscapes. While those are part of Nevada, they don’t tell the whole elevation story. The state’s average elevation is 5,500 feet because most of Nevada sits on a high plateau called the Nevadaplano. Almost all of Nevada belongs to what geographers call the Basin and Range Province — a massive physiographic region characterized by alternating north-south mountain ranges and the broad, arid basins between them. These mountain ranges in Nevada are often surprisingly tall, with many reaching 7,000 to 10,000 feet, and sometimes surpassing 13,000 feet. The valleys between these ranges rarely drop below 3,000 feet, and in central Nevada, many basins sit above 6,000 feet. This consistent plateau-like foundation is what keeps Nevada’s average elevation so remarkably high despite having one of the most famous low-lying cities in the country.

Boundary Peak, at 13,140 feet, is Nevada’s highest point, located in the White Mountains in the southwest corner of the state near the California border. It’s a challenging summit and not as well-publicized as Colorado’s fourteeners, but it represents the dramatic vertical range that Nevada quietly offers. The state’s lowest elevation is 479 feet along the Colorado River, which forms part of the southeastern border.

Las Vegas sits at about 2,001 feet above sea level. While this seems low compared to Colorado, it’s still high enough to create the city’s dry desert climate. The nearby Spring Mountains, which you can see from the Las Vegas Strip, rise above 11,000 feet. Nevada’s elevation is full of extremes, resulting in a statewide average that might surprise people who think of it as just a desert state.

Quick Facts: Nevada

Average elevation: 5,500 feet (1,676 meters) — fifth-highest state in the country.
Nevada sits on the Nevadaplano, a high plateau that elevates the statewide baseline.
Highest point: Boundary Peak at 13,140 feet in the White Mountain range.
Lowest point: Along the Colorado River at 479 feet.
Most Nevada valleys sit between 3,000 and 6,000 feet — far higher than they appear.
Las Vegas sits at approximately 2,001 feet, lower than the state average but still significantly elevated.
The Basin and Range Province keeps mountain ranges running north-south throughout the state.
Nevada’s high desert basins are what give it the dry, clear, extreme-temperature climate.

6. Idaho — 5,000 Feet: Wild Country, Steady Altitude

Idaho’s average elevation is 5,000 feet, thanks to its mountainous landscape. In Idaho, wilderness is everywhere, not just a place to visit. The Rocky Mountains run through the southern and central parts of the state, and the Bitterroot Range forms a natural border with Montana in the northeast. Borah Peak, at 12,662 feet, is Idaho’s highest summit and sits in the remote Lost River Range in the state’s central part. It’s a name that carries genuine drama in Idaho mountaineering history. In 1983, an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck near the base of Borah Peak — and according to USGS surveys, actually raised the summit by approximately 7 feet. There is still a visible earthquake scarp along the western side of the peak, a reminder that Idaho’s landscape is not static but alive, still being shaped by forces operating deep beneath the surface. USGS LiDAR data released in subsequent years suggested Borah Peak may actually measure closer to 12,666 feet due to this geological activity.

The Snake River Plain stretches across southern Idaho from east to west. It’s a broad volcanic plain formed by the same hotspot that powers Yellowstone’s geothermal activity. Even this lower part of Idaho is usually between 2,500 and 4,500 feet high. If you travel north, you quickly reach the Sawtooth Range, Salmon River Mountains, and Clearwater Mountains—areas that have remained mostly wild and undeveloped. Idaho’s 5,000-foot average comes from its extensive mountain geography, not just a few tall peaks.

Quick Facts: Idaho

Average elevation: 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) — sixth-highest state in the nation.
Highest point: Borah Peak at 12,662 feet in the Lost River Range.
Lowest point: Snake River at 710 feet near Lewiston on the Washington border.
A 1983 earthquake raised Borah Peak by approximately 7 feet — the scarp is still visible today.
The Snake River Plain, a volcanic feature, creates Idaho’s relatively lower southern baseline.
The Rocky Mountains dominate Idaho’s central and northern geography.
The Bitterroot Range forms the natural border between Idaho and Montana.
Recent USGS LiDAR data suggests Borah Peak may stand closer to 12,666 feet.

7. Arizona — 4,100 Feet: Desert State, High Ground

Arizona’s elevation is frequently underestimated. The state is commonly associated with saguaro cacti, the Sonoran Desert, the Grand Canyon, and the heat of Phoenix. However, Arizona’s average elevation is 4,100 feet, placing it among the seven highest states in the nation.

The Grand Canyon is actually one of the great examples of Arizona’s elevation paradox. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon sits at approximately 7,000 feet above sea level, and the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon sits at around 2,400 feet. That difference of nearly 4,600 feet within a single geographic feature captures something essential about Arizona: it is a land of extraordinary vertical range. The canyon exists precisely because the Colorado Plateau — on which most of northern Arizona sits — rose to high elevations while the river cut ever deeper.

Humphreys Peak, at 12,633 feet, is Arizona’s highest point and is part of the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff. These peaks are the remnants of an ancient volcano that, at its peak, may have reached 16,000 feet before subsequent erosion and collapse reduced it to its current form. The summit of Humphreys Peak hosts the only alpine tundra in Arizona, a remarkable ecological zone above 11,500 feet. The views from the top include the Grand Canyon’s North Rim to the north and the vast desert mountains near Phoenix to the south — a visual experience that perfectly summarizes Arizona’s extraordinary elevation range.

Arizona’s average elevation of 4,100 feet is raised by the Colorado Plateau in the north, which often ranges from 5,000 to 7,000 feet. In contrast, Phoenix and the Sonoran Desert in the south are much lower, with Phoenix at about 1,086 feet. The difference between Flagstaff at 6,900 feet and Phoenix at 1,086 feet—just 140 miles apart—creates some of the most dramatic elevation changes in any state, leading to very different climates, ecosystems, and cultures.

Quick Facts: Arizona

Average elevation: 4,100 feet (1,250 meters) — seventh highest in the United States.
Highest point: Humphreys Peak at 12,633 feet — the only alpine tundra in Arizona exists above 11,500 feet.
The Grand Canyon spans nearly 4,600 feet of vertical drop from rim to river bottom.
Flagstaff sits at 6,900 feet; Phoenix sits at 1,086 feet — same state, vastly different elevations.
The Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona commonly exceeds 5,000 to 7,000 feet.
Humphreys Peak is the remnant of an ancient volcano estimated to have once reached 16,000 feet.
On a clear day, the Grand Canyon’s North Rim is visible from the summit of Humphreys Peak.
Arizona’s 4,100-foot average elevation reflects its dramatic north-to-south elevation gradient.

8. Montana — 3,400 Feet: Big Sky, Surprising Lows

Montana ranks eighth in average elevation at 3,400 feet, revealing much about its geography. The western two-fifths of Montana has over 50 mountain ranges, but the state still has the lowest average elevation among the Rocky Mountain states. This is because the eastern three-fifths—the rolling Great Plains—lowers the overall average.

The Rocky Mountain region in the west of Montana is everything you’d expect from the name. The Bitterroot Range runs along the Idaho border. The Beartooth Mountains, the Absaroka Range, and the Crazy Mountains — all contribute to an alpine landscape of cold lakes, glaciers, and dramatically pitched terrain. Glacier National Park, in the northwest corner of the state, contains over 700 lakes and some of the most pristine mountain scenery on the continent. And yet, these mountains, spectacular as they are, don’t raise Montana’s average as high as Wyoming’s or Colorado’s because they cover only about 40% of the state’s total area.

Granite Peak, at 12,799 feet, is Montana’s highest point, located in south-central Montana in the Beartooth Mountains. It has a reputation as one of the more challenging state highpoints in the country due to its remote location and technical climbing requirements. Montana’s lowest point is the Kootenai River at 1,800 feet along the northwest border with Idaho. The Great Plains in eastern Montana, while visually spectacular in their own right, sit at elevations typically ranging from 2,000 to 3,500 feet, and it is these vast plains that moderate Montana’s statewide average elevation to 3,400 feet.

Montana is also the only state in the contiguous United States with rivers that drain into three separate ocean systems: the Gulf of Mexico via the Missouri River, Hudson Bay via northern rivers, and the Pacific Ocean via the Columbia River system. That hydrologic complexity is a direct consequence of its mountainous west and the Continental Divide running through it — a geographic reality that is intimately connected to elevation.

Quick Facts: Montana

Average elevation: 3,400 feet (1,036 meters) — eighth highest, but the lowest of all Rocky Mountain states.
Highest point: Granite Peak at 12,799 feet in the Beartooth Mountains.
Lowest point: Kootenai River at 1,800 feet in the northwest.
Montana has more than 50 separate mountain ranges in its western two-fifths.
The Eastern Great Plains significantly reduces the statewide average below that of the mountain region.
Glacier National Park contains over 700 lakes and sits in the northwestern corner.
Montana drains into three ocean systems — the Gulf of Mexico, Hudson Bay, and the Pacific.
The Continental Divide runs through the Rocky Mountain region of the state.

9. Oregon — 3,300 Feet: More Mountain Than You Think

Oregon ranks ninth in average elevation at 3,300 feet, which might change how you view the state. Oregon isn’t just a coastal, low-lying place. Many assume it is because Portland is near sea level and the coast is well known, but the data show otherwise. Eastern Oregon alone — the high desert plateau that stretches across roughly the eastern two-thirds of the state — sits well above a mile in elevation across vast stretches. The Cascade Range acts as a wall running from the Canadian border to the California border, dividing wet, maritime western Oregon from dry, elevated eastern Oregon. Cross the Cascades going east, and you enter a different world: the High Desert, the Columbia Plateau, the Basin and Range fringe — all elevated, all dry, and all contributing enormously to Oregon’s statewide average.

Mount Hood, at 11,239 feet, is Oregon’s highest point and is one of the most recognizable volcanic peaks in the Pacific Northwest. Mount Hood is part of the Cascades volcanic arc, a chain of volcanoes that includes Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, and Mount Shasta. All of the eruptions in the contiguous United States over the last 200 years have come from Cascade volcanoes — a sobering reminder that Oregon’s elevation is geologically active, not merely historical. Crater Lake, formed in the collapsed caldera of a much larger ancient volcano called Mount Mazama, sits at 6,178 feet and is the deepest lake in the United States, at 1,943 feet.

Oregon’s lowest point is sea level along the Pacific Coast, which gives the state a maximum vertical range of over 11,000 feet from lowest to highest. That kind of relief — from sea level beaches to volcanic peaks — compressed into a single state represents one of the most diverse elevation profiles in America. Oregon’s 3,300-foot average is the product of that diversity, where the low coastal strip and river valleys are vastly outweighed, in land area, by the elevated interior.

Quick Facts: Oregon

Average elevation: 3,300 feet (1,006 meters) — ninth highest in the United States.
Highest point: Mount Hood at 11,239 feet, an active Cascade volcano.
Lowest point: Sea level along the Pacific Coast.
Eastern Oregon’s high desert sits well above one mile in elevation across most of its extent.
Crater Lake, formed in a volcanic caldera, sits at 6,178 feet and is the deepest lake in America.
The Cascade Range divides wet western Oregon from dry, elevated eastern Oregon.
Oregon’s vertical range — from sea level to 11,239 feet — exceeds 11,000 feet of total relief.
All major volcanic eruptions in the contiguous U.S. over the last 200 years have come from Cascade volcanoes.

10. Hawaii — 3,030 Feet: The Island Paradox

Hawaii’s average elevation is 3,030 feet, making it one of the most interesting states on this list. Although Hawaii is an island chain in the Pacific Ocean and is often pictured as beaches and palm trees at sea level, it actually ranks tenth in average elevation. How is that possible? The answer is Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa — two of the most extraordinary geological structures on the surface of the Earth. Mauna Kea, a dormant shield volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, rises to 13,796 feet above sea level. But that above-sea-level measurement tells only part of the story.

Measured from its base on the ocean floor — about 18,900 feet below the surface of the Pacific — to its summit, Mauna Kea has a total height of approximately 33,100 feet. That makes it the tallest mountain on Earth when measured from base to summit, nearly 4,000 feet taller than Mount Everest. We’re going to let that sink in for a moment. The tallest mountain in the world is in Hawaii.

Mauna Loa, an active volcano on the same island, rises to 13,677 feet above sea level and covers more than half the area of the Big Island. Together, these two volcanic giants push the Hawaiian average to 3,030 feet despite the fact that Hawaii also has low-lying atolls, coastal plains, and islands like Oahu that sit much closer to sea level. The Big Island’s interior highlands and volcanic peaks are simply so tall that they elevate the statewide average dramatically.

The summit of Mauna Kea is so high, and the air so thin and free of light pollution, that it hosts some of the most powerful telescopes on Earth. Thirteen international observatories operate from the summit, taking advantage of the fact that at 13,796 feet, you’re above roughly 40% of the Earth’s atmosphere. Hawaii’s 3,030-foot average is a product of volcanic geology at its most extreme — islands built from the bottom of the ocean, still rising, still powerful, still reminding us that the Earth beneath our feet is anything but static.

Quick Facts: Hawaii

Average elevation: 3,030 feet — tenth highest state, remarkable for a Pacific island chain.
Highest point: Mauna Kea at 13,796 feet above sea level on the Big Island.
Mauna Kea’s total height from the ocean floor is approximately 33,100 feet — taller than Mount Everest from base to summit.
Mauna Loa, an active volcano, reaches 13,677 feet and covers over half the Big Island’s land area.
Thirteen international astronomical observatories operate from the summit of Mauna Kea.
Mauna Kea’s last eruption was approximately 4,500 to 4,600 years ago.
Hawaii’s low-lying islands and atolls are offset by the Big Island’s volcanic giants.
The summit of Mauna Kea sits above roughly 40% of Earth’s atmosphere.

11. California — 2,900 Feet: The Extreme State

California’s average elevation is 2,900 feet above sea level. The state is home to both the lowest point in North America and one of the highest peaks in the contiguous United States. This mix of extremes is a defining feature of California. Death Valley’s Badwater Basin, at 282 feet below sea level, is the lowest point in North America. On the afternoon of July 10, 1913, the U.S. Weather Bureau recorded a temperature of 134°F at Furnace Creek in Death Valley — the highest reliably recorded air temperature ever measured on the surface of the Earth. Death Valley receives just 1.5 inches of average rainfall per year, making it drier than the Sahara Desert. And yet 84.6 miles east-southeast of Badwater Basin — barely more than an hour’s drive — stands Mount Whitney, at 14,494 feet the highest peak in the contiguous 48 states. This distance of less than 85 miles between the lowest point in North America and the highest point in the lower 48 is something that still astonishes even seasoned geographers.

The Sierra Nevada mountain range, which runs along California’s eastern border with Nevada, is the primary engine behind California’s 2,900-foot average. The range rises abruptly from the east, creating dramatic east-facing escarpments, and slopes more gradually to the west. The Central Valley — California’s famously flat agricultural heartland — sits at low elevation, typically between 50 and 500 feet, and is one of the most productive farming regions on Earth. To the north, the Cascade Range extends into California with volcanic peaks including Mount Shasta at 14,180 feet. The Klamath Mountains and the Coast Ranges add additional elevation to the western and northern parts of the state.

California’s 2,900-foot average reflects a state where the vertical extremes are genuinely world-class in both directions, and where the diversity of terrain — desert basins, Central Valley farmland, Sierra Nevada peaks, volcanic Cascades, coastal cliffs — creates one of the most geographically complex elevation profiles of any political unit in the world.

Quick Facts: California

Average elevation: 2,900 feet (884 meters) — eleventh highest state.
Highest point: Mount Whitney at 14,494 feet — the highest peak in the contiguous United States.
Lowest point: Death Valley’s Badwater Basin at 282 feet below sea level — the lowest in North America.
The distance between these two extremes is just 84.6 miles.
Death Valley recorded 134°F in 1913 — the highest ambient temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth.
Death Valley receives just 1.5 inches of rain per year — drier than the Sahara.
The Sierra Nevada range is the dominant driver of California’s statewide elevation average.
Mount Shasta in northern California, at 14,180 feet, is a massive Cascade volcano.

12. Nebraska — 2,600 Feet: More Than Flat

Nebraska’s place on this list surprises many people. We didn’t expect it either when we began our research. Nebraska is usually seen as part of the Great Plains, known for cornfields, cattle, and flat land. But its average elevation is 2,600 feet, putting it among the top 12 states. The reason for this is simple but easy to overlook: Nebraska sits on the High Plains. The western portion of Nebraska isn’t really “flat” in the way people imagine the Midwest. It grades upward — very gradually but very consistently — as you move from east to west. The eastern edge of Nebraska, along the Missouri River, sits at around 840 feet. By the time you reach the western corner of the state, near Panorama Point — Nebraska’s highest point — you’re at 5,424 feet. That is an elevation gain of nearly 4,600 feet across a state that many would call flat, accomplished so gradually that it’s almost imperceptible to drivers on Interstate 80.

The Nebraska Sandhills, a large area of grass-covered sand dunes in north-central Nebraska, are among the biggest sand dune formations in the Western Hemisphere. While not dramatic peaks, they consistently sit between 2,500 and 4,000 feet, which raises the state’s average elevation. Nebraska’s mean elevation of 2,600 feet shows that “flat” doesn’t always mean “low”—the Great Plains gradually rise from east to west.

Quick Facts: Nebraska

Average elevation: 2,600 feet (792 meters) — twelfth highest state.
Highest point: Panorama Point at 5,424 feet in the Kimball Panhandle.
Lowest point: Missouri River at approximately 840 feet along the eastern border.
The state rises nearly 4,600 feet from east to west across its full breadth.
The Nebraska Sandhills in the north-central region sit between 2,500 and 4,000 feet.
Nebraska is one of the most productive agricultural states in the U.S., partly due to its elevated, dryland climate.
The High Plains aquifer beneath Nebraska is one of the world’s largest underground water reserves.
Western Nebraska’s panhandle region experiences a semi-arid climate, closer to Colorado than to Iowa.

13. South Dakota — 2,200 Feet: Badlands and Black Hills Glory

South Dakota’s average elevation is 2,200 feet, influenced by the Black Hills, one of the most geologically interesting regions in the country. The Black Hills rise sharply from the Great Plains and are older than the Rocky Mountains. They raise South Dakota’s elevation above what its Great Plains reputation might suggest.

Black Elk Peak, at 7,242 feet, is the highest point in South Dakota and holds a distinction that impresses even those who know their American geography well: it is the highest peak east of the Rocky Mountains. Nowhere between the Black Hills and the Appalachian Mountains is there a summit that reaches as high. The Black Hills rise approximately 3,000 feet above the surrounding plains, creating what geographers describe as an “isolated eroded mountain region.” They formed through an upwarping of ancient rock, followed by millions of years of erosion that removed the higher portions, leaving the current dramatic topography.

The Badlands of South Dakota tell yet another story of elevation. The Badlands formations — those otherworldly eroded ridges, spires, and buttes between the White River and the Cheyenne River’s south fork — display some of the earliest and most complex geological history of the North American continent. They sit at elevations generally between 2,500 and 3,500 feet and expose rock layers of extraordinary age and variety. South Dakota’s average of 2,200 feet reflects the tension between its vast eastern prairie lowlands, where the land drops to 1,000 feet or lower, and the Black Hills and western plains, where the land sits considerably higher.

Quick Facts: South Dakota

Average elevation: 2,200 feet (670 meters) — the thirteenth highest state.
Highest point: Black Elk Peak at 7,242 feet — the highest point in the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains.
The Black Hills rise approximately 3,000 feet above the surrounding Great Plains.
Badlands formations expose some of the oldest geological history on the North American continent.
Black Elk Peak was formed by an upwarping of ancient rock followed by millions of years of erosion.
The Black Hills are geologically older than the Rocky Mountains.
The Badlands sit at elevations between 2,500 and 3,500 feet in the south-central part of the state.
Eastern South Dakota’s prairie lowlands frequently drop below 1,500 feet, moderating the statewide average.

14. Kansas — 2,000 Feet: Flatter Than a Pancake? Not Quite

Kansas has an average elevation of 2,000 feet, yet a persistent myth holds that it is the flattest state in the country. In 2003, a scientific paper humorously described Kansas as “flatter than a pancake,” a notion that gained popularity. However, empirical data reveal a more complex topographic profile.

Kansas has a maximum topographic relief of 3,360 feet, which technically makes it the 23rd flattest U.S. state by that measurement. It is famously flat in the central and western portions, where the terrain looks like a level plain extending to every horizon. But the land in Kansas rises more than 3,000 feet from the eastern alluvial prairies to the western high plains near the Colorado border. That rise is so gradual and so consistent that it’s almost imperceptible to drivers — but it is absolutely real, and it’s why Kansas has a 2,000-foot average even though sea level seems like it should be close.

Mount Sunflower, at 4,039 feet, is Kansas’s highest point, located just 0.5 miles from the Colorado border in Wallace County. It’s not a dramatic peak — no cliff faces, no alpine drama. It’s a gently elevated prairie point that many visitors miss entirely because it blends into the surrounding landscape. The Verdigris River at 679 feet represents Kansas’s lowest point, in the southeast corner near the Oklahoma border. Kansas is famous for producing enormous quantities of wheat — it’s called “the Wheat State” — and its average elevation of 2,000 feet, with gradually increasing elevation from east to west, contributes to the semi-arid conditions in the west that suit dryland wheat farming so well.

Quick Facts: Kansas

Average elevation: 2,000 feet (610 meters) — fourteenth highest state.
Highest point: Mount Sunflower at 4,039 feet, just 0.5 miles from the Colorado border.
Lowest point: Verdigris River at 679 feet in the southeast corner.
Kansas rises more than 3,000 feet from east to west — gradual but real.
The “flatter than a pancake” claim is scientifically contested; Kansas ranks 23rd flattest by maximum relief.
Kansas is one of the top wheat-producing states in America, partly shaped by its elevated semi-arid west.
More than 60% of the state has a flat or undulating topographic character.
The High Plains region in western Kansas transitions Kansas into the elevated Great Plains ecosystem.

15. Alaska — 1,900 Feet: The Great Land, Humbled by Its Own Size

Alaska and North Dakota both have an average elevation of 1,900 feet, but Alaska’s number comes from very different reasons. Measuring Alaska’s average elevation is challenging because the state is so large and varied.

Alaska is home to Denali, at 20,310 feet, the highest peak in North America and one of the tallest mountains in the world by any meaningful measure. Alaska has more mountains, more glaciers, and more vertical relief than any other state by a wide margin. So how is its average elevation just 1,900 feet? The answer is scale. Alaska is enormous. It is the largest state in the union by a factor that most people find hard to comprehend — Alaska is larger than Texas, California, and Montana combined. And a significant portion of that enormous area is coastal lowland, river delta, wetland, and tundra plain, sitting barely above sea level.

The North Slope — that vast tundra plain north of the Brooks Range — is mostly under 1,000 feet in elevation. The Yukon River delta and the Kuskokwim lowlands in western Alaska are essentially flat coastal plains. The Copper River basin, Cook Inlet lowlands, and many of the island chains that make up southeast Alaska all contribute vast areas of near-sea-level terrain. These enormous, low-lying regions dilute the statistical effect of Alaska’s spectacular mountains, pulling the statewide average down to a modest 1,900 feet despite Denali’s elevation of more than 20,000 feet.

Alaska’s 1,900-foot average demonstrates how a large geographic area can influence statistical outcomes. Despite containing the continent’s tallest mountain, the extensive low-lying coastal wetlands and tundra reduce the overall average elevation. Alaska is distinctive in terms of size, wilderness, climate, and glaciation, and its elevation profile reflects these characteristics.

Quick Facts: Alaska

Average elevation: 1,900 feet (579 meters) — ties fifteenth with North Dakota.
Highest point: Denali at 20,310 feet — the highest peak in North America.
Alaska’s enormous size — larger than Texas, California, and Montana combined — dilutes its high peaks statistically.
The North Slope tundra plain is mostly below 1,000 feet across vast expanses.
The Yukon and Kuskokwim river deltas are near-sea-level coastal lowlands.
Alaska has more glaciers than the rest of the inhabited world combined.
Marshlands and wetland permafrost cover approximately 487,700 square kilometers of Alaska.
Despite an average elevation of 1,900 feet, Alaska has the highest-ranked peaks among all 50 states by absolute height.

16. North Dakota — 1,900 Feet: Prairie, Buttes, and Hidden Heights

North Dakota also averages 1,900 feet — the same as Alaska, though the geography creating that number couldn’t be more different. North Dakota is a state of three major geographic zones, each at different elevation bands, and together they produce a statewide average that is higher than most people expect.

In the east is the Red River Valley — a broad, flat, extraordinarily fertile glacial lake bed that sits at elevations generally between 750 and 1,200 feet. This was once the floor of Glacial Lake Agassiz, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Earth’s history, and its legacy is the flattest terrain in the American Great Plains. Moving westward, the land rises into the Dissected Till Plains and then the Missouri Plateau, where elevations increase steadily. By the time you reach the southwestern corner of the state — the Badlands region — you’re in dramatically different terrain.

White Butte, at 3,506 feet, is North Dakota’s highest point, located in the Badlands near the Little Missouri River. The North Dakota Badlands, like their South Dakota counterparts, are a landscape of eroded buttes, coulees, and badland formations that sit well above the eastern flatlands. The lowest point in North Dakota is the Red River at Pembina on the Canadian border, at 750 feet above sea level. North Dakota’s average of 1,900 feet reflects the gentle yet real gradient of elevation from the flat eastern valley to the more rugged western plateau — a west-to-east descent of approximately 2,756 feet across the state’s width.

Quick Facts: North Dakota

Average elevation: 1,900 feet (579 meters) — tied fifteenth overall.
Highest point: White Butte at 3,506 feet in the southwestern Badlands.
Lowest point: Red River at Pembina at 750 feet — the eastern valley bottom.
The Red River Valley in the east formed on the bed of ancient Glacial Lake Agassiz.
The Missouri Plateau in the central-western region rises significantly above the eastern flatlands.
The North Dakota Badlands in the southwest are the state’s most dramatic terrain.
The state spans approximately 2,756 feet of vertical relief from west to east.
North Dakota’s Badlands along the Little Missouri River inspired Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation legacy.

17. Texas — 1,700 Feet: Big State, Bigger Surprises

Texas ranks 17th on our list, with an average elevation of 1,700 feet. As the second-largest state in the country, Texas has a wide variety of landscapes. There are coastal marshes near sea level in the southeast, rolling prairies in the center, high desert mesas in the west, and real mountains near Big Bend.

Guadalupe Peak, at 8,749 feet, is the highest point in Texas and is located in the Guadalupe Mountains in the far west of the state, near the New Mexico border. Guadalupe Peak represents the highest point of the Guadalupe Mountains, which are the exposed remnants of an ancient marine reef — the Capitan Reef — that existed when this part of Texas was covered by a shallow inland sea roughly 250 million years ago. That’s right: the highest point in Texas is a fossilized coral reef. The geology alone makes Texas worth studying at length.

Elevation in Texas rises from east to west and from south to north. The coastal plains along the Gulf of Mexico are just above sea level—Houston is about 80 feet above sea level. As you travel west, the land rises through the Edwards Plateau, the Permian Basin, and into the Trans-Pecos region, where El Paso is at 3,918 feet, and Fort Davis is at 4,880 feet. This gradual change over a large area means many Texans don’t realize how high the western part of the state is. With a statewide average of 1,700 feet, Texas is one of the most elevated states in the country.

Quick Facts: Texas

Average elevation: 1,700 feet (518 meters) — seventeenth on our list.
Highest point: Guadalupe Peak at 8,749 feet — a fossilized ancient marine reef.
Lowest point: Gulf of Mexico coastline at sea level in the southeast.
Houston sits at approximately 80 feet; El Paso sits at 3,918 feet — same state, vastly different elevations.
Texas elevation rises gradually from east to west and south to north.
Fort Davis in the Trans-Pecos region sits at 4,880 feet above sea level.
The Guadalupe Mountains are remnants of a 250-million-year-old inland sea reef system.
Texas’s 1,700-foot average reflects a vast state where the interior and west dramatically outweigh the coastal lowlands.

Broader Implications of Elevation Data

This analysis examines 17 states and their elevation data. The broader significance of these findings extends beyond the numerical values presented in the infographic.

A primary observation is the extraordinary dominance of the western interior states. All of the top eight states—Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, and Montana—are located in the Rocky Mountains or the Basin and Range region. The Rocky Mountains and the elevated plateau systems of the American West are not merely physical features; they represent a fundamental divide in the continent’s geography. East of the Rockies, average elevations drop sharply and quickly, while west of the Rockies, elevations remain consistently high across vast geographic areas.

A second insight from the data is that “flatness” can be a deceptive geographic concept. Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Texas are often described as flat states, characterized by seemingly endless, undramatic landscapes. However, all four rank among the top 17 states for average elevation. Kansas averages 2,000 feet, and Nebraska averages 2,600 feet. These elevations indicate that the Great Plains are not lowland plains in the European or coastal American sense, but rather elevated plains that rise steadily from the Mississippi River valley toward the base of the Rocky Mountains. This continent-scale slope shapes climate, agriculture, and hydrology across the United States.

A third, and perhaps most surprising, insight concerns Hawaii. This Pacific island state averages over 3,000 feet in elevation, thanks to the world’s tallest volcanic mountains rising from the ocean floor. Hawaii’s 3,030-foot average is a testament to the dynamic processes of volcanic geology and highlights that the deepest submarine mountains on Earth are concealed beneath the Pacific Ocean.

The United States exhibits remarkable geographic diversity. The infographic depicting these 17 states and their average elevations demonstrates the country’s varied topography. From Colorado’s mile-high average to Texas’s 1,700 feet, and from Hawaii’s volcanic peaks to Alaska’s tundra, the elevation profile of the United States illustrates how data can reveal the nation’s distinctive geographic features.

Here is a full list of U.S. States by Average Elevation:

Rank	State	Mean Elevation (ft)	Mean Elevation (m)	Region
1	Colorado	6,800	2,073	West
2	Wyoming	6,700	2,042	West
3	Utah	6,100	1,859	West
4	New Mexico	5,700	1,737	West
5	Nevada	5,500	1,676	West
6	Idaho	5,000	1,524	West
7	Arizona	4,100	1,250	West
8	Montana	3,400	1,036	West
9	Oregon	3,300	1,006	West
10	Hawaii	3,030	923	West
11	California	2,900	884	West
12	Nebraska	2,600	792	Midwest
13	South Dakota	2,200	671	Midwest
14	Kansas	2,000	610	Midwest
15	Alaska	1,900	579	West
16	North Dakota	1,900	579	Midwest
17	Texas	1,700	518	South
18	Washington	1,700	518	West
19	West Virginia	1,500	457	South
20	Oklahoma	1,300	396	South
21	Minnesota	1,200	366	Midwest
22	Iowa	1,100	335	Midwest
23	Pennsylvania	1,100	335	Northeast
24	Wisconsin	1,050	320	Midwest
25	New Hampshire	1,000	305	Northeast
26	New York	1,000	305	Northeast
27	Vermont	1,000	305	Northeast
28	Virginia	950	290	South
29	Michigan	900	274	Midwest
30	Tennessee	900	274	South
31	Ohio	850	259	Midwest
32	Missouri	800	244	Midwest
33	Kentucky	750	229	South
34	Indiana	700	213	Midwest
35	North Carolina	700	213	South
36	Arkansas	650	198	South
37	Georgia	600	183	South
38	Illinois	600	183	Midwest
39	Maine	600	183	Northeast
40	Alabama	500	152	South
41	Connecticut	500	152	Northeast
42	Massachusetts	500	152	Northeast
43	Maryland	350	107	South
44	South Carolina	350	107	South
45	Mississippi	300	91	South
46	New Jersey	250	76	Northeast
47	Rhode Island	200	61	Northeast
48	Florida	100	30	South
49	Louisiana	100	30	South
50	Delaware	60	18	South