Tucson, AZ elevation
Downtown Tucson sits at 2,481 ft (756 m) above sea level. The city limits climb well above that: the highest of our USGS sample points is 3,275 ft, 18 mi from downtown.
USGS elevation downtown
2,481ft
756 m above sea level
Ground elevation at 32.22174, -110.92648 (GNIS populated-place coordinates (city center)).
Source: USGS 3D Elevation Program, via the Elevation Point Query Service
- Range inside city limits (sampled)
- 2,253 to 3,275 ft
- 687 to 998 m · 155 USGS points
- Source: USGS 3DEP + 2024 Census boundary
- Average of sampled points
- 2,683 ft (818 m)
- Source: USGS 3DEP
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made
Check your exact spot in Tucson
Elevation changes from street to street. Use your location, search an address or click the map to get the USGS value for one point. Green pins mark the points named on this page.
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Elevation range inside the city limits
Tucson covers 242.2 sq mi of land. Across it, USGS elevations at 155 sampled points run from 2,253 ft (687 m) to 3,275 ft (998 m), a spread of 1,022 ft. The average of those points is 2,683 ft, higher than downtown.
Method: Sampled: USGS 3DEP elevation at 155 points (the city center plus a regular grid about 2,012 m apart) inside the 2024 Census boundary. The true highest and lowest points can lie between grid points.
Life at 2,481 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for downtown Tucson (2,481 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 91 % of sea level
- Air is still 20.9% oxygen; there is just less air.
- Home canning
- Above 1,000 ft, USDA processing times and pressure-canner pounds go up.
- Canning adjustments
Sources: pressure from the U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA, NASA, USAF); boiling point from the Antoine equation for water (Lange's Handbook of Chemistry); canning thresholds from the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning. Not medical or food-safety advice; follow the tested USDA recipe for your altitude.
Tucson compared with nearby and similar-size cities
- Albuquerque, NM4,955 ft
- Sahuarita, AZ2,706 ft
- Oro Valley, AZ2,534 ft
- Tucson (downtown)2,481 ft
- South Tucson, AZ2,425 ft
- Marana, AZ1,989 ft
- Atlanta, GA1,050 ft
- Raleigh, NC315 ft
- Sacramento, CA27 ft
Landmark elevations
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Tucson | 2,481 ft (756 m) | USGS 3DEP at GNIS populated-place coordinates |
| Highest sampled point | 3,275 ft (998 m) · 18 mi from downtown | USGS 3DEP grid sample |
| Lowest sampled point | 2,253 ft (687 m) · 7.5 mi from downtown | USGS 3DEP grid sample |
| Nearest public airport: Tucson Intl (KTUS) | 2,643 ft (806 m) · 7.3 mi away | FAA field elevation |
Tucson at a glance
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 554,013 (July 1, 2024) | U.S. Census Bureau estimate |
| Land area | 242.2 sq mi (627.3 km²) | Census 2024 Gazetteer |
| County | Pima | USGS GNIS |
| USGS 7.5-minute topo map | Tucson | USGS GNIS |
| Downtown coordinates | 32.22174, -110.92648 | USGS GNIS |
More places and tools
Nearest city pages
- Scottsdale, AZ — 1,259 ft, 105 mi (170 km) away
- Phoenix, AZ — 1,088 ft, 108 mi (173 km) away
- Las Cruces, NM — 3,910 ft, 242 mi (390 km) away
- Albuquerque, NM — 4,955 ft, 316 mi (508 km) away
- Las Vegas, NV — 1,996 ft, 364 mi (586 km) away
- All Arizona elevations
Tools pre-filled for 2,481 ft
Frequently asked questions
What is the elevation of Tucson, AZ?
Downtown Tucson is 2,481 ft (756 m) above sea level, from the USGS 3D Elevation Program at the city-center coordinates. Inside the city limits, USGS values at 155 sampled points run from 2,253 to 3,275 ft.
What is the highest point in Tucson?
The highest of our 155 USGS sample points inside the 2024 Census city boundary is 3,275 ft (998 m), about 18 mi from downtown (32.0357, -110.7066). The true high point can be slightly higher because it may fall between grid points.
What is the lowest point in Tucson?
The lowest sampled point is 2,253 ft (687 m), about 7.5 mi from downtown. That is 1,022 ft below the highest sampled point.
At what temperature does water boil in Tucson?
At 2,481 ft, water boils at about 207.5 °F (97.5 °C) and standard air pressure is 27.33 inHg (926 hPa), so each breath holds about 91% of the oxygen it would at sea level. Cooking times for pasta, eggs and beans run a little longer than at sea level.
What is the elevation of the airport near Tucson?
Tucson Intl (KTUS), 7.3 mi from downtown, has an FAA field elevation of 2,643 ft (806 m).
Do I need to adjust canning times in Tucson?
Yes. At 2,481 ft downtown, USDA tables call for longer boiling-water processing times and higher weighted-gauge pressure than at sea level. Check your own address, because the city spans 2,253 to 3,275 ft.
Sources
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service (3DEP) — downtown elevation and every sampled point
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Cartographic Boundary Files (places, states; 1:500,000) — city boundary used for sampling
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (places) — land area and Census place match
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates (cities and towns, July 1, 2024) — population
- USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), Domestic Names — city-center coordinates, county and topo map name
- FAA Aeronautical Information Services, Airports (field elevation) — airport field elevation
- U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA/NASA/USAF); water boiling point by the Antoine equation (Lange’s Handbook of Chemistry) — boiling point, air pressure and oxygen
- USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning — canning altitude thresholds
How each number is produced: methodology and data sources.
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made