Flattest States

Last updated May 24, 2025

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

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
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