Flattest States

Last updated November 24, 2024

Elevation Difference
Top
Last
State Elevation Difference
1.FloridaFlorida345
2.KentuckyKentucky388
3.DelawareDelaware450
4.LouisianaLouisiana542
5.MississippiMississippi807
6.Rhode IslandRhode Island814
7.IndianaIndiana935
8.IllinoisIllinois958
9.OhioOhio1,093
10.IowaIowa1,191
11.WisconsinWisconsin1,371
12.MichiganMichigan1,411
13.MissouriMissouri1,542
14.MinnesotaMinnesota1,703
15.New JerseyNew Jersey1,804
16.ConnecticutConnecticut2,382
17.AlabamaAlabama2,405
18.ArkansasArkansas2,700
19.North DakotaNorth Dakota2,756
20.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania3,215
21.KansasKansas3,363
22.MarylandMaryland3,363
23.MassachusettsMassachusetts3,491
24.South CarolinaSouth Carolina3,563
25.VermontVermont4,301
26.NebraskaNebraska4,587
27.West VirginiaWest Virginia4,625
28.OklahomaOklahoma4,688
29.GeorgiaGeorgia4,787
30.MaineMaine5,269
31.New YorkNew York5,348
32.VirginiaVirginia5,732
33.New HampshireNew Hampshire6,239
34.South DakotaSouth Dakota6,279
35.TennesseeTennessee6,470
36.North CarolinaNorth Carolina6,690
37.TexasTexas8,753
38.New MexicoNew Mexico10,325
39.WyomingWyoming10,712
40.MontanaMontana11,007
41.ColoradoColorado11,125
42.OregonOregon11,247
43.UtahUtah11,526
44.IdahoIdaho11,955
45.ArizonaArizona12,562
46.NevadaNevada12,667
47.HawaiiHawaii13,806
48.WashingtonWashington14,419
49.CaliforniaCalifornia14,787
50.AlaskaAlaska20,335

Introduction

What states fall flat under the eyes of geographers? While the mountainous landscapes of certain U.S. cities often find their way into postcards, a sizeable proportion of the United States boasts landscapes as smooth as a pancake. Using the 'State Elevation Difference' as an indicator, we decipher which states boast minimal variability in their landforms.

  • Florida, with an elevation difference of just 345, is the flattest state in the U.S., closely followed by Kentucky, Delaware, and Louisiana.
  • Although Kansas is often thought of as having the flattest landscape, it, in fact, ranks 21st in terms of the elevation difference, indicating that it is flatter than many states but not the flattest.
  • The states with the most significant elevation differences, indicating a more diverse and rugged topography, are Alaska, California, Washington, Hawaii, and Nevada.
  • Notably, not all states in the Midwest and Great Plains regions have low elevation differences. For example, South Dakota, often associated with the flat geography of the Great Plains, ranks 34th on the list with a sizable elevation difference of 6,279.

10 Flattest States

The ten states with the most consistent elevation, and hence flatter landscapes, are Florida, Kentucky, Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Iowa.

Florida tops the list as the flattest state, with a mere 345 feet elevation difference across the entire state. Kentucky closely follows Florida as the second flattest state in the U.S., with a slightly higher elevation difference of 388 feet. The third flattest state is Delaware, with an elevation difference of 450 feet. Louisiana, famous for its vast wetlands, has an elevation difference of 542 feet, making it the fourth flattest state in the country.

The next two states on the list are Mississippi and Rhode Island, having an elevation difference of 807 and 814 feet, respectively. Indiana, regarded for its widespread farmlands, features a difference of 935 feet from its highest to lowest points.

The list continues with Illinois, where the elevation difference is 958 feet. The midwestern state Ohio, surprisingly beats Kansas and comes in as the ninth flattest state with an elevation difference of 1,093 feet. Wrapping up the list is Iowa, known for its cornfields, showing an elevation difference of 1,191 feet.

10 Flattest States based on the State Elevation Differences:

  1. Florida - 345 feet
  2. Kentucky - 388 feet
  3. Delaware - 450 feet
  4. Louisiana - 542 feet
  5. Mississippi - 807 feet
  6. Rhode Island - 814 feet
  7. Indiana - 935 feet
  8. Illinois - 958 feet
  9. Ohio - 1,093 feet
  10. Iowa - 1,191 feet

By Region

Alabama

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Ranked in U.S.

#17

Alaska

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Ranked in U.S.

#50

Arizona

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Ranked in U.S.

#45

Arkansas

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Ranked in U.S.

#18

California

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Ranked in U.S.

#49

Colorado

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Ranked in U.S.

#41

Connecticut

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Ranked in U.S.

#16

Delaware

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Ranked in U.S.

#3

Florida

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Ranked in U.S.

#1

Georgia

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Ranked in U.S.

#29

Hawaii

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Ranked in U.S.

#47

Idaho

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Ranked in U.S.

#44

Illinois

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Ranked in U.S.

#8

Indiana

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Ranked in U.S.

#7

Iowa

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Ranked in U.S.

#10

Kansas

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Ranked in U.S.

#21

Kentucky

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Ranked in U.S.

#2

Louisiana

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Ranked in U.S.

#4

Maine

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Ranked in U.S.

#30

Maryland

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Ranked in U.S.

#22

Massachusetts

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Ranked in U.S.

#23

Michigan

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Ranked in U.S.

#12

Minnesota

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Ranked in U.S.

#14

Mississippi

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Ranked in U.S.

#5

Missouri

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Ranked in U.S.

#13

Montana

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Ranked in U.S.

#40

Nebraska

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Ranked in U.S.

#26

Nevada

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Ranked in U.S.

#46

New Hampshire

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Ranked in U.S.

#33

New Jersey

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Ranked in U.S.

#15

New Mexico

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Ranked in U.S.

#38

New York

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Ranked in U.S.

#31

North Carolina

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Ranked in U.S.

#36

North Dakota

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Ranked in U.S.

#19

Ohio

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Ranked in U.S.

#9

Oklahoma

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Ranked in U.S.

#28

Oregon

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Ranked in U.S.

#42

Pennsylvania

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Ranked in U.S.

#20

Rhode Island

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Ranked in U.S.

#6

South Carolina

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Ranked in U.S.

#24

South Dakota

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Ranked in U.S.

#34

Tennessee

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Ranked in U.S.

#35

Texas

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Ranked in U.S.

#37

Utah

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Ranked in U.S.

#43

Vermont

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Ranked in U.S.

#25

Virginia

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Ranked in U.S.

#32

Washington

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Ranked in U.S.

#48

West Virginia

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Ranked in U.S.

#27

Wisconsin

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Ranked in U.S.

#11

Wyoming

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Ranked in U.S.

#39

Table

Region ↕Elevation Difference↕
Alabama iconAlabama2,405
Alaska iconAlaska20,335
Arizona iconArizona12,562
Arkansas iconArkansas2,700
California iconCalifornia14,787
Colorado iconColorado11,125
Connecticut iconConnecticut2,382
Delaware iconDelaware450
Florida iconFlorida345
Georgia iconGeorgia4,787
Hawaii iconHawaii13,806
Idaho iconIdaho11,955
Illinois iconIllinois958
Indiana iconIndiana935
Iowa iconIowa1,191
Kansas iconKansas3,363
Kentucky iconKentucky388
Louisiana iconLouisiana542
Maine iconMaine5,269
Maryland iconMaryland3,363
Massachusetts iconMassachusetts3,491
Michigan iconMichigan1,411
Minnesota iconMinnesota1,703
Mississippi iconMississippi807
Missouri iconMissouri1,542
Montana iconMontana11,007
Nebraska iconNebraska4,587
Nevada iconNevada12,667
New Hampshire iconNew Hampshire6,239
New Jersey iconNew Jersey1,804
New Mexico iconNew Mexico10,325
New York iconNew York5,348
North Carolina iconNorth Carolina6,690
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota2,756
Ohio iconOhio1,093
Oklahoma iconOklahoma4,688
Oregon iconOregon11,247
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvania3,215
Rhode Island iconRhode Island814
South Carolina iconSouth Carolina3,563
South Dakota iconSouth Dakota6,279
Tennessee iconTennessee6,470
Texas iconTexas8,753
Utah iconUtah11,526
Vermont iconVermont4,301
Virginia iconVirginia5,732
Washington iconWashington14,419
West Virginia iconWest Virginia4,625
Wisconsin iconWisconsin1,371
Wyoming iconWyoming10,712
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