Published by Feb 2, 2024
The United States has an average elevation of roughly 2,500 feet (763m) above sea level, however there is a stark contrast in elevations across the country.
Highest states
Colorado is the highest state in the United States, with an average elevation of 6,800 feet (2,074m) above sea level. The 10 states with the highest average elevation are all in the western region of the country, as this is, by far, the most mountainous region in the country. The largest mountain ranges in the contiguous western states are the Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, and Cascade Range, while the Appalachian Mountains is the longest range in the east - however, the highest point in the U.S. is Denali (Mount McKinley), found in Alaska.
Lowest states
At just 60 feet above sea level, Delaware is the state with the lowest elevation. Delaware is the second smallest state, behind Rhode Island, and is located on the east coast. Larger states with relatively low elevations are found in the southern region of the country - both Florida and Louisiana have an average elevation of just 100 feet (31m) above sea level, and large sections of these states are extremely vulnerable to flooding and rising sea levels, as well as intermittent tropical storms.
Approximate mean elevation in each state or territory of the United States as of 2005 (in feet above sea level)
| Characteristic | Feet above sea level |
|---|---|
| United States | 2,500 |
| Colorado | 6,800 |
| Wyoming | 6,700 |
| Utah | 6,100 |
| New Mexico | 5,700 |
| Nevada | 5,500 |
| Idaho | 5,000 |
| Arizona | 4,100 |
| Montana | 3,400 |
| Oregon | 3,300 |
| Hawaii | 3,030 |
| California | 2,900 |
| Nebraska | 2,600 |
| South Dakota | 2,200 |
| Kansas | 2,000 |
| Alaska | 1,900 |
| North Dakota | 1,900 |
| Puerto Rico | 1,800 |
| Texas | 1,700 |
| Washington | 1,700 |
| West Virginia | 1,500 |
| American Samoa | 1,300 |
| Oklahoma | 1,300 |
| Minnesota | 1,200 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,100 |
| Iowa | 1,100 |
| Wisconsin | 1,050 |
| New Hampshire | 1,000 |
| New York | 1,000 |
| Vermont | 1,000 |
| Virginia | 950 |
| Tennessee | 900 |
| Michigan | 900 |
| Ohio | 850 |
| Missouri | 800 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 750 |
| Kentucky | 750 |
| North Carolina | 700 |
| Indiana | 700 |
| Arkansas | 650 |
| Illinois | 600 |
| Maine | 600 |
| Georgia | 600 |
| Massachusetts | 500 |
| Alabama | 500 |
| Connecticut | 500 |
| Maryland | 350 |
| South Carolina | 350 |
| Guam | 330 |
| Mississippi | 300 |
| New Jersey | 250 |
| Rhode Island | 200 |
| District of Columbia | 150 |
| Florida | 100 |
| Louisiana | 100 |
| Delaware | 60 |
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