North Dakota elevation
North Dakota runs from 750 ft at Red River of the North to 3,506 ft at White Butte, with an average of about 1,830 ft.
Highest point: White Butte
3,506ft
1,069 m above sea level
White Butte, Slope County · NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- Lowest point: Red River of the North
- 750 ft (229 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)
- 1,830 ft (558 m)
- Mean of 226 USGS points about 29 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
North Dakota places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Bismarck1,695 ft
North Dakota elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: White Butte | 3,506 ft (1,069 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Lowest point: Red River of the North | 750 ft (229 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 2,756 ft (840 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 1,830 ft (558 m) | USGS 3DEP, 226 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 3,507 ft (1,069 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Bismarck | 1,695 ft (517 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 68,994 sq mi (178,694 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 1,830 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (1,830 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 94 % of sea level
- Air is still 20.9% oxygen; there is just less air.
- Oxygen calculator
- Home canning
- Above 1,000 ft, USDA processing times and pressure-canner pounds go up.
- 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 Dakota
- Bismarck (capital)1,695 ft
- Minot1,615 ft
- Fargo903 ft
- West Fargo898 ft
- Grand Forks830 ft
Largest places in North Dakota
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo | 903 ft (275 m) · pop. 136,285 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Bismarck | 1,695 ft (517 m) · pop. 77,772 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Grand Forks | 830 ft (253 m) · pop. 59,845 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Minot | 1,615 ft (492 m) · pop. 47,440 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| West Fargo | 898 ft (274 m) · pop. 41,027 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in North Dakota?
White Butte at 3,506 ft (1,069 m), from USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001).
What is the lowest point in North Dakota?
Red River of the North, at 750 ft, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of North Dakota?
About 1,830 ft (558 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 226 points on a regular grid about 29 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which North Dakota city on this site is highest?
Bismarck, at 1,695 ft downtown (USGS).
Does altitude affect cooking in North Dakota?
At 1,830 ft, water boils at about 208.7 °F (98.2 °C) and standard air pressure is 27.99 inHg (948 hPa), so each breath holds about 94% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because North Dakota spans 2,756 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