Missouri elevation
Missouri runs from 230 ft at Saint Francis River to 1,772 ft at Taum Sauk Mountain, with an average of about 836 ft.
Highest point: Taum Sauk Mountain
1,772ft
540 m above sea level
Taum Sauk Mountain, Iron County · NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- Lowest point: Saint Francis River
- 230 ft (70 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)
- 836 ft (255 m)
- Mean of 221 USGS points about 28 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
Missouri places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Jefferson City630 ft
Missouri elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Taum Sauk Mountain | 1,772 ft (540 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Lowest point: Saint Francis River | 230 ft (70 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 1,542 ft (470 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 836 ft (255 m) | USGS 3DEP, 221 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 1,771 ft (540 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Jefferson City | 630 ft (192 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 68,746 sq mi (178,052 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 836 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (836 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 97 % 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 Missouri
- Springfield1,303 ft
- Independence1,035 ft
- Kansas City898 ft
- Columbia707 ft
- Jefferson City (capital)630 ft
- St. Louis464 ft
Largest places in Missouri
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 898 ft (274 m) · pop. 516,032 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| St. Louis | 464 ft (141 m) · pop. 279,695 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Springfield | 1,303 ft (397 m) · pop. 170,596 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Columbia | 707 ft (216 m) · pop. 130,900 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Independence | 1,035 ft (316 m) · pop. 121,629 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Missouri?
Taum Sauk Mountain at 1,772 ft (540 m), from USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001).
What is the lowest point in Missouri?
Saint Francis River, at 230 ft, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of Missouri?
About 836 ft (255 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 221 points on a regular grid about 28 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which Missouri city on this site is highest?
Jefferson City, at 630 ft downtown (USGS).
Does altitude affect cooking in Missouri?
At 836 ft, water boils at about 210.5 °F (99.2 °C) and standard air pressure is 29.03 inHg (983 hPa), so each breath holds about 97% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because Missouri spans 1,542 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