The ten states with the highest approximate mean elevation in the USGS booklet Elevations and Distances in the United States (1980 edition): from Colorado (6,800 ft) to Hawaii (3,030 ft).
Colorado has the highest mean elevation of any U.S. state, at approximately 6,800 feet. Wyoming is second at 6,700 feet and Utah third at 6,100 feet. The ranking uses the approximate mean elevation column of the USGS booklet Elevations and Distances in the United States, 1980 edition, covering the 50 states.
A state's highest peak says little about how high the state sits overall. Alaska has the highest point in the country in the USGS table, Mt. McKinley at 20,320 feet, yet its approximate mean elevation in the same table is only 1,900 feet, and it misses this top 10. This list ranks the 50 states by the 'Approx. mean elevation' column of the U.S. Geological Survey booklet Elevations and Distances in the United States, printed in 1980. Each entry also shows the state's highest and lowest points as given in that table.
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Colorado has the highest approximate mean elevation in the USGS table, 6,800 feet. Even its lowest point, the Arkansas River in Prowers County at 3,350 feet, is higher than the approximate mean elevation of 42 of the 50 states. Its highest point is Mt. Elbert at 14,433 feet.
Wyoming's approximate mean elevation is 6,700 feet, 100 feet below Colorado's. Its lowest point, the Belle Fourche River in Crook County at 3,100 feet, is the second-highest state low point in the table after Colorado's. Gannett Peak tops the state at 13,804 feet.
Utah's approximate mean elevation is 6,100 feet. The state runs from Kings Peak in Duchesne County, 13,528 feet, down to Beaverdam Creek in Washington County at 2,000 feet.
New Mexico's approximate mean elevation is 5,700 feet. Its lowest point, Red Bluff Reservoir in Eddy County at 2,817 feet, is the third-highest state low point in the table, behind only Colorado's and Wyoming's. Wheeler Peak in Taos County reaches 13,161 feet.
Nevada's approximate mean elevation is 5,500 feet. Boundary Peak in Esmeralda County, 13,143 feet, is its highest point, and the Colorado River in Clark County, 470 feet, its lowest.
Idaho's approximate mean elevation is 5,000 feet. Its highest point is Borah Peak in Custer County at 12,662 feet; its lowest is the Snake River in Nez Perce County at 710 feet.
Arizona's approximate mean elevation is 4,100 feet, 900 feet below Idaho's. The state runs from Humphreys Peak in Coconino County, 12,633 feet, down to the Colorado River in Yuma County at just 70 feet.
Montana's approximate mean elevation is 3,400 feet. Its highest point, Granite Peak in Park County at 12,799 feet, is higher than the high points of Idaho and Arizona, which rank above it on mean elevation. Its lowest point is the Kootenai River in Lincoln County at 1,800 feet.
Oregon's approximate mean elevation is 3,300 feet. Its highest point, Mt. Hood at 11,239 feet in Clackamas and Hood River counties, is the lowest state high point in this top 10, and the state reaches sea level at the Pacific Ocean.
Hawaii's approximate mean elevation is 3,030 feet, just ahead of 11th-place California (2,900 feet). Its highest point in the table is Mauna Kea in Hawaii County at 13,796 feet, and its lowest is the Pacific Ocean at sea level.
| # | Name | Highest point | Highest point elevation | Lowest point | Lowest point elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | Mt. Elbert (Lake County) | 14,433 ft | Arkansas River (Prowers County) | 3,350 ft |
| 2 | Wyoming | Gannett Peak (Fremont County) | 13,804 ft | Belle Fourche River (Crook County) | 3,100 ft |
| 3 | Utah | Kings Peak (Duchesne County) | 13,528 ft | Beaverdam Creek (Washington County) | 2,000 ft |
| 4 | New Mexico | Wheeler Peak (Taos County) | 13,161 ft | Red Bluff Reservoir (Eddy County) | 2,817 ft |
| 5 | Nevada | Boundary Peak (Esmeralda County) | 13,143 ft | Colorado River (Clark County) | 470 ft |
| 6 | Idaho | Borah Peak (Custer County) | 12,662 ft | Snake River (Nez Perce County) | 710 ft |
| 7 | Arizona | Humphreys Peak (Coconino County) | 12,633 ft | Colorado River (Yuma County) | 70 ft |
| 8 | Montana | Granite Peak (Park County) | 12,799 ft | Kootenai River (Lincoln County) | 1,800 ft |
| 9 | Oregon | Mt. Hood (Clackamas-Hood River counties) | 11,239 ft | Pacific Ocean | Sea level |
| 10 | Hawaii | Mauna Kea (Hawaii County) | 13,796 ft | Pacific Ocean | Sea level |
States are ranked by the 'Approx. mean elevation' column (feet) of the table 'Extreme and Mean Elevations' in the USGS booklet Elevations and Distances in the United States (General Information Product, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1980; Pubs Warehouse ID 70039193, doi:10.3133/70039193), the only source for figures on this page. The column is headed 'Approx. mean elevation', so the figures are approximate; most are printed as multiples of 50 or 100 feet. Only the 50 states are ranked: the table also lists the District of Columbia (150 ft) and the possessions Puerto Rico (1,800 ft), Samoa (1,300 ft), Virgin Islands (750 ft), Guam (330 ft) and the Canal Zone (280 ft), none of which would reach this top 10, plus a United States total (2,500 ft). There are no ties in the top 10: 10th-place Hawaii (3,030 ft) is ahead of 11th-place California (2,900 ft). Highest and lowest points, their names and their elevations are given as printed in the same 1980 table. The booklet says its elevations were determined from surveys and topographic maps of the Geological Survey or obtained from other sources.
Colorado, at an approximate mean elevation of 6,800 feet in the USGS booklet Elevations and Distances in the United States (1980 edition). Wyoming is second at 6,700 feet.
Delaware, at an approximate mean elevation of 60 feet in the same USGS table. Florida and Louisiana follow at 100 feet each.
Alaska has the highest point in the table, Mt. McKinley at 20,320 feet, but its approximate mean elevation is 1,900 feet, below all ten states listed here. The table gives the United States as a whole a mean elevation of 2,500 feet.
They come from the USGS booklet Elevations and Distances in the United States, published in 1980 by the U.S. Government Printing Office. Its table labels the mean elevations as approximate, and point names (such as Mt. McKinley) are given as printed in that edition.
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