How high is Boone?

Boone sits at 3,245 ft (989 m) above sea level, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data. That sits above North Carolina’s average of 771 ft (235 m) — a relatively high spot, with only about 5% of the state higher.

Interactive 3D elevation map of the Boone, North Carolina area, from the Copernicus GLO-30 model

A live 3D slice of the terrain around Boone, from our satellite elevation model. Boone is marked at 3,245 ft (989 m); the highest ground in view reaches 6,289 ft (1,917 m). Drag to spin it (tap to start on mobile).

Boone in North Carolina

Here’s the useful context: Boone, at 3,245 ft (989 m), sits roughly 2,474 ft (754 m) above North Carolina’s average elevation of 771 ft (235 m). It is one of the higher places in its state — our model puts only about 5% of North Carolina’s land higher.

-118 ft — North Carolina low▲ Boone 3,245 ft · avg 771 ft ┈6,677 ft — North Carolina high

The terrain around Boone

Across this view the land rises toward the west. The eastern third of the frame averages about 1,959 ft (597 m); the western third about 2,890 ft (881 m) — a climb of roughly 932 ft (284 m), topping out near 6,289 ft (1,917 m) at the edge of the frame. That is the mountain front Boone 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 Boone’s altitude means

At 3,245 ft (989 m), Boone 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 Boone compares

Among North Carolina’s larger cities, Boone is the highest by elevation. For a familiar yardstick, that puts it well below Denver’s mile-high 5,280 ft (1,609 m).

Boone — 3,245 ft (989 m)
Asheville — 2,149 ft (655 m)
Hickory — 1,161 ft (354 m)
Greensboro — 843 ft (257 m)
Charlotte — 804 ft (245 m)
Raleigh — 318 ft (97 m)
Goldsboro — 112 ft (34 m)

Boone elevation FAQ

How high is Boone?: Boone’s elevation is about 3,245 ft (989 m) above sea level at the city center, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data.
Is Boone high or low for North Carolina?: High. At 3,245 ft (989 m) it sits above North Carolina’s average of 771 ft (235 m), with only about 5% of the state higher.
Does Boone’s altitude affect visitors?: Not really. At 3,245 ft (989 m), Boone is low enough that the air feels much like it does near sea level.

Explore more

↑ North Carolina’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 North Carolina’s 771 ft (235 m) mean ranks.
· Blog: Elevation vs Altitude — what a city’s elevation figure actually measures.

Boone’s elevation is a native ~30 m windowed-median sample from Copernicus GLO-30 (ESA); the North Carolina figures are computed across the state from the same model. The 3D view is a fine windowed sample at roughly 205 m resolution, sharp enough to resolve the surrounding ridgelines. Data as of 2026-08-19.