North Carolina elevation
North Carolina runs from sea level (Atlantic Ocean) to 6,682 ft at Mount Mitchell, with an average of about 780 ft.
Highest point: Mount Mitchell
6,682ft
2,037 m above sea level
NGS survey mark 37 JS 13 (PID FB3977), Yancey County · NAVD 88 (current U.S. vertical datum)
Source: NOAA National Geodetic Survey datasheet FB3977 (mark last recovered 2024-01-30)
- Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean
- 0 ft (sea level)
- Source: USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001)
- Average elevation (sampled)
- 780 ft (238 m)
- Mean of 238 USGS points about 24 km apart; an estimate, not a published figure.
- Source: USGS 3DEP + 2024 Census boundary
- USGS table figure for the high point
- 6,684 ft
- Older survey on the NGVD 29 datum.
- Source: USGS Elevations and Distances (revised 2001)
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made
North Carolina places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Winston-Salem911 ft
- Charlotte763 ft
- Raleigh315 ft
Mountains and peaks
- Mount Mitchell6,682 ft
North Carolina elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Mount Mitchell | 6,682 ft (2,037 m) | NOAA National Geodetic Survey datasheet FB3977 (mark last recovered 2024-01-30) |
| Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean | Sea level | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 6,682 ft (2,037 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 780 ft (238 m) | USGS 3DEP, 238 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 6,668 ft (2,032 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Raleigh | 315 ft (96 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 48,624 sq mi (125,936 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 780 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (780 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 North Carolina
- Winston-Salem911 ft
- Greensboro823 ft
- Charlotte763 ft
- Durham395 ft
- Raleigh (capital)315 ft
Largest places in North Carolina
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 763 ft (233 m) · pop. 943,476 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Raleigh | 315 ft (96 m) · pop. 499,825 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Greensboro | 823 ft (251 m) · pop. 307,381 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Durham | 395 ft (121 m) · pop. 301,870 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Winston-Salem | 911 ft (278 m) · pop. 255,769 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in North Carolina?
Mount Mitchell at 6,682 ft (2,037 m), from NOAA National Geodetic Survey datasheet FB3977 (mark last recovered 2024-01-30). The USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001) lists 6,684 ft, an older survey on the NGVD 29 datum.
What is the lowest point in North Carolina?
Atlantic Ocean, at sea level, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of North Carolina?
About 780 ft (238 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 238 points on a regular grid about 24 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which North Carolina city on this site is highest?
Winston-Salem, at 911 ft downtown (USGS). The lowest is Raleigh at 315 ft.
Does altitude affect cooking in North Carolina?
At 780 ft, water boils at about 210.6 °F (99.2 °C) and standard air pressure is 29.09 inHg (985 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 North Carolina spans 6,682 ft from lowest to highest.
Sources
- NOAA National Geodetic Survey datasheet FB3977 (mark last recovered 2024-01-30) — 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