Arkansas elevation
Arkansas runs from 55 ft at Ouachita River to 2,753 ft at Magazine Mountain, with an average of about 537 ft.
Highest point: Magazine Mountain
2,753ft
839 m above sea level
Magazine Mountain, Logan County · NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- Lowest point: Ouachita River
- 55 ft (17 m)
- NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- Source: USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001)
- Average elevation (sampled)
- 537 ft (164 m)
- Mean of 228 USGS points about 25 km apart; an estimate, not a published figure.
- Source: USGS 3DEP + 2024 Census boundary
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made
Arkansas places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Little Rock337 ft
Arkansas elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Magazine Mountain | 2,753 ft (839 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Lowest point: Ouachita River | 55 ft (17 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 2,698 ft (822 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 537 ft (164 m) | USGS 3DEP, 228 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 2,747 ft (837 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Little Rock | 337 ft (103 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 51,992 sq mi (134,659 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 537 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (537 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 98 % of sea level
- Air is still 20.9% oxygen; there is just less air.
- Oxygen calculator
- Home canning
- At or below 1,000 ft, use the standard USDA sea-level times.
- Canning adjustments · Baking
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.
City elevations in Arkansas
- Fayetteville1,407 ft
- Springdale1,323 ft
- Fort Smith436 ft
- Little Rock (capital)337 ft
- Jonesboro325 ft
Largest places in Arkansas
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | 337 ft (103 m) · pop. 204,774 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Fayetteville | 1,407 ft (429 m) · pop. 103,134 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Fort Smith | 436 ft (133 m) · pop. 90,507 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Springdale | 1,323 ft (403 m) · pop. 89,368 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Jonesboro | 325 ft (99 m) · pop. 82,384 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Arkansas?
Magazine Mountain at 2,753 ft (839 m), from USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001).
What is the lowest point in Arkansas?
Ouachita River, at 55 ft, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of Arkansas?
About 537 ft (164 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 228 points on a regular grid about 25 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which Arkansas city on this site is highest?
Little Rock, at 337 ft downtown (USGS).
Does altitude affect cooking in Arkansas?
At 537 ft, water boils at about 211.0 °F (99.5 °C) and standard air pressure is 29.35 inHg (994 hPa), so each breath holds about 98% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because Arkansas spans 2,698 ft from lowest to highest.
Sources
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) — highest point
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) — lowest point
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service (3DEP) — average elevation, city-center values and the high-point check
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Cartographic Boundary Files (places, states; 1:500,000) — state boundary and land area
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (places) — city locations
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates (cities and towns, July 1, 2024) — largest cities by population
- Wikidata (elevation statements that cite a source; the cited source is listed with each value) — state capital name
- 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
How each number is produced: methodology and data sources.
Every state: US elevation by state · Highest point in each state
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made