How high is Scottsdale?
A live 3D slice of the terrain around Scottsdale, from our satellite elevation model. Scottsdale is marked at 1,263 ft (385 m); the highest ground in view reaches 7,566 ft (2,306 m). Drag to spin it (tap to start on mobile).
The regional view — Scottsdale.
Elevation across Scottsdale
Zooming into the city itself — Scottsdale’s 4 neighborhoods on real terrain, each marked with its elevation.
Scottsdale’s neighborhoods span about 390 ft (about 120 m) — from 1,312 ft (400 m) at McCormick Ranch, up to 1,699 ft (518 m) at McDowell Mountain Ranch. Each figure is a Copernicus GLO-30 sample at the neighborhood’s USGS place-name point.
| Neighborhood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| McDowell Mountain Ranchhighest | 1,699 ft (518 m) |
| Scottsdale Ranch | 1,375 ft (419 m) |
| Gainey Ranch | 1,329 ft (405 m) |
| McCormick Ranchlowest | 1,312 ft (400 m) |
| Scottsdale (city center) | 1,263 ft (385 m) |
Scottsdale in Arizona
Here’s the useful context: Scottsdale, at 1,263 ft (385 m), sits roughly 2,953 ft (900 m) below Arizona’s average elevation of 4,216 ft (1,285 m). Despite its reputation it’s on the lower side for its state — our model puts about 89% of Arizona’s land higher than the city.
The terrain around Scottsdale
Across this view the land rises toward the east. The western third of the frame averages about 1,306 ft (398 m); the eastern third about 2,310 ft (704 m) — a climb of roughly 1,004 ft (306 m), topping out near 7,566 ft (2,306 m) at the edge of the frame. That is the mountain front Scottsdale sits against.
You can read the whole story in the map above — the flatter ground where the city sits, and the way the land gathers into peaks nearby. It’s the difference between where you stand and what you can see from it.
What Scottsdale’s altitude means
At 1,263 ft (385 m), Scottsdale is low enough that altitude barely registers. The air holds close to the oxygen your body expects nearer sea level, so arriving here brings none of the breathlessness or fast dehydration that higher cities do. If altitude is on your mind, this isn’t the place to worry about it.
How Scottsdale compares
Among Arizona’s larger cities, Scottsdale is ranked #7 of 11 by elevation. For a familiar yardstick, that puts it well below Denver’s mile-high 5,280 ft (1,609 m).
- Agua Prieta — 4,012 ft (1,223 m)
- Tucson — 2,484 ft (757 m)
- San Tan Valley — 1,519 ft (463 m)
- Scottsdale — 1,263 ft (385 m)
- Phoenix — 1,096 ft (334 m)
- Lake Havasu City — 741 ft (226 m)
- Bullhead City — 554 ft (169 m)
Scottsdale elevation FAQ
- How high is Scottsdale?
- Scottsdale’s elevation is about 1,263 ft (385 m) above sea level at the city center, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data.
- Is Scottsdale high or low for Arizona?
- On the low side. At 1,263 ft (385 m) it sits below Arizona’s average of 4,216 ft (1,285 m), with about 89% of the state higher.
- Does Scottsdale’s altitude affect visitors?
- Not really. At 1,263 ft (385 m), Scottsdale is low enough that the air feels much like it does near sea level.
Explore more
- ↑ Arizona’s full elevation map — the whole state in interactive 3D, with its high and low points and average elevation.
- · Blog: Average Elevation by State — where Arizona’s 4,216 ft (1,285 m) mean ranks.
- · Blog: Elevation vs Altitude — what a city’s elevation figure actually measures.
Scottsdale’s elevation is a native ~30 m windowed-median sample from Copernicus GLO-30 (ESA); the Arizona figures are computed across the state from the same model. The 3D view is a fine windowed sample at roughly 202 m resolution, sharp enough to resolve the surrounding ridgelines. Neighborhood and landmark place names are from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Geographic Names Information System (GNIS); their elevations are Copernicus GLO-30 samples at each named point. Data as of 2026-08-19.