How high is Minneapolis?

Minneapolis sits at 843 ft (257 m) above sea level, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data. That sits below Minnesota’s average of 1,220 ft (372 m) — on the lower side for the state, with about 97% of Minnesota higher.

Interactive 3D elevation map of the Minneapolis, Minnesota area, from the Copernicus GLO-30 model

A live 3D slice of the terrain around Minneapolis, from our satellite elevation model. Minneapolis is marked at 843 ft (257 m); the highest ground in view reaches 1,237 ft (377 m). Drag to spin it (tap to start on mobile).

Minneapolis in Minnesota

Here’s the useful context: Minneapolis, at 843 ft (257 m), sits roughly 377 ft (115 m) below Minnesota’s average elevation of 1,220 ft (372 m). Despite its reputation it’s on the lower side for its state — our model puts about 97% of Minnesota’s land higher than the city.

591 ft — Minnesota low▲ Minneapolis 843 ft · avg 1,220 ft ┈2,303 ft — Minnesota high

The terrain around Minneapolis

The ground right around Minneapolis is fairly even, close to 843 ft (257 m), so the city itself feels level underfoot. But the window still catches higher country: the terrain climbs to 1,237 ft (377 m) toward the west edge of the view, which is what gives Minneapolis its mountain backdrop.

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 Minneapolis’s altitude means

At 843 ft (257 m), Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis compares

Among Minnesota’s larger cities, Minneapolis is ranked #6 of 10 by elevation. For a familiar yardstick, that puts it well below Denver’s mile-high 5,280 ft (1,609 m).

Rochester — 1,030 ft (314 m)
Fargo — 909 ft (277 m)
Grand Forks — 843 ft (257 m)
Minneapolis — 843 ft (257 m)
Mankato — 814 ft (248 m)
Duluth — 715 ft (218 m)
Winona — 669 ft (204 m)

Minneapolis elevation FAQ

How high is Minneapolis?: Minneapolis’s elevation is about 843 ft (257 m) above sea level at the city center, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data.
Is Minneapolis high or low for Minnesota?: On the low side. At 843 ft (257 m) it sits below Minnesota’s average of 1,220 ft (372 m), with about 97% of the state higher.
Does Minneapolis’s altitude affect visitors?: Not really. At 843 ft (257 m), Minneapolis is low enough that the air feels much like it does near sea level.

Explore more

↑ Minnesota’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 Minnesota’s 1,220 ft (372 m) mean ranks.
· Blog: Elevation vs Altitude — what a city’s elevation figure actually measures.

Minneapolis’s elevation is a native ~30 m windowed-median sample from Copernicus GLO-30 (ESA); the Minnesota figures are computed across the state from the same model. The 3D view is a fine windowed sample at roughly 219 m resolution, sharp enough to resolve the surrounding ridgelines. Data as of 2026-08-19.