How high is Gatlinburg?

Gatlinburg sits at 1,302 ft (397 m) above sea level, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data. That sits above Tennessee’s average of 965 ft (294 m) — a relatively high spot, with only about 22% of the state higher.

Interactive 3D elevation map of the Gatlinburg, Tennessee area, from the Copernicus GLO-30 model

A live 3D slice of the terrain around Gatlinburg, from our satellite elevation model. Gatlinburg is marked at 1,302 ft (397 m); the highest ground in view reaches 6,644 ft (2,025 m). Drag to spin it (tap to start on mobile).

Gatlinburg in Tennessee

Here’s the useful context: Gatlinburg, at 1,302 ft (397 m), sits roughly 338 ft (103 m) above Tennessee’s average elevation of 965 ft (294 m). It is one of the higher places in its state — our model puts only about 22% of Tennessee’s land higher.

180 ft — Tennessee low▲ Gatlinburg 1,302 ft · avg 965 ft ┈6,647 ft — Tennessee high

The terrain around Gatlinburg

Across this view the land rises toward the east. The western third of the frame averages about 1,558 ft (475 m); the eastern third about 2,841 ft (866 m) — a climb of roughly 1,283 ft (391 m), topping out near 6,644 ft (2,025 m) at the edge of the frame. That is the mountain front Gatlinburg 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 Gatlinburg’s altitude means

At 1,302 ft (397 m), Gatlinburg 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 Gatlinburg compares

Among Tennessee’s larger cities, Gatlinburg is ranked #2 of 11 by elevation. For a familiar yardstick, that puts it well below Denver’s mile-high 5,280 ft (1,609 m).

Johnson City — 1,637 ft (499 m)
Gatlinburg — 1,302 ft (397 m)
Morristown — 1,296 ft (395 m)
Cookeville — 1,106 ft (337 m)
Knoxville — 919 ft (280 m)
Chattanooga — 692 ft (211 m)
Columbia — 653 ft (199 m)

Gatlinburg elevation FAQ

How high is Gatlinburg?: Gatlinburg’s elevation is about 1,302 ft (397 m) above sea level at the city center, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data.
Is Gatlinburg high or low for Tennessee?: High. At 1,302 ft (397 m) it sits above Tennessee’s average of 965 ft (294 m), with only about 22% of the state higher.
Does Gatlinburg’s altitude affect visitors?: Not really. At 1,302 ft (397 m), Gatlinburg is low enough that the air feels much like it does near sea level.

Explore more

↑ Tennessee’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 Tennessee’s 965 ft (294 m) mean ranks.
· Blog: Elevation vs Altitude — what a city’s elevation figure actually measures.

Gatlinburg’s elevation is a native ~30 m windowed-median sample from Copernicus GLO-30 (ESA); the Tennessee figures are computed across the state from the same model. The 3D view is a fine windowed sample at roughly 204 m resolution, sharp enough to resolve the surrounding ridgelines. Data as of 2026-08-19.