South Carolina elevation
South Carolina runs from sea level (Atlantic Ocean) to 3,560 ft at Sassafras Mountain, with an average of about 332 ft.
Highest point: Sassafras Mountain
3,560ft
1,085 m above sea level
Sassafras Mountain, Pickens County · NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- 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)
- 332 ft (101 m)
- Mean of 230 USGS points about 19 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
South Carolina places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Columbia299 ft
- Charleston10 ft
South Carolina elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Sassafras Mountain | 3,560 ft (1,085 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean | Sea level | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 3,560 ft (1,085 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 332 ft (101 m) | USGS 3DEP, 230 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 3,547 ft (1,081 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Columbia | 299 ft (91 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 30,064 sq mi (77,866 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 332 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (332 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 99 % of sea level
- Air is still 20.9% oxygen; there is just less air.
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 South Carolina
- Rock Hill678 ft
- Columbia (capital)299 ft
- Mount Pleasant21 ft
- North Charleston18 ft
- Charleston10 ft
Largest places in South Carolina
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 10 ft (3 m) · pop. 157,665 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Columbia | 299 ft (91 m) · pop. 144,788 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| North Charleston | 18 ft (6 m) · pop. 126,005 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Mount Pleasant | 21 ft (6 m) · pop. 95,604 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Rock Hill | 678 ft (207 m) · pop. 75,798 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in South Carolina?
Sassafras Mountain at 3,560 ft (1,085 m), from USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001).
What is the lowest point in South Carolina?
Atlantic Ocean, at sea level, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of South Carolina?
About 332 ft (101 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 230 points on a regular grid about 19 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which South Carolina city on this site is highest?
Columbia, at 299 ft downtown (USGS). The lowest is Charleston at 10 ft.
Does altitude affect cooking in South Carolina?
At 332 ft, water boils at about 211.4 °F (99.7 °C) and standard air pressure is 29.56 inHg (1,001 hPa), so each breath holds about 99% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because South Carolina spans 3,560 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