How high is Amarillo?

Amarillo sits at 3,671 ft (1,119 m) above sea level, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data. That sits above Texas’s average of 1,657 ft (505 m) — a relatively high spot, with only about 10% of the state higher.

Interactive 3D elevation map of the Amarillo, Texas area, from the Copernicus GLO-30 model

A live 3D slice of the terrain around Amarillo, from our satellite elevation model. Amarillo is marked at 3,671 ft (1,119 m); the highest ground in view reaches 4,042 ft (1,232 m). Drag to spin it (tap to start on mobile).

Amarillo in Texas

Here’s the useful context: Amarillo, at 3,671 ft (1,119 m), sits roughly 2,014 ft (614 m) above Texas’s average elevation of 1,657 ft (505 m). It is one of the higher places in its state — our model puts only about 10% of Texas’s land higher.

-10 ft — Texas low▲ Amarillo 3,671 ft · avg 1,657 ft ┈8,681 ft — Texas high

The terrain around Amarillo

The ground right around Amarillo is fairly even, close to 3,671 ft (1,119 m), so the city itself feels level underfoot. But the window still catches higher country: the terrain climbs to 4,042 ft (1,232 m) toward the west edge of the view, which is what gives Amarillo 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 Amarillo’s altitude means

High-altitude medicine marks about ~8,000 ft (2,400 m) as the line where thin air starts to cause real trouble, and Amarillo, at 3,671 ft (1,119 m), sits comfortably below it. You won’t get altitude sickness just by arriving. But this is high enough that many people notice something on the first day.

The air is meaningfully thinner than at the coast, so expect a quicker pulse, a little breathlessness on stairs, and faster dehydration in dry air — and alcohol tends to hit harder. None of it is dangerous at this elevation; it just rewards drinking more water and taking the first evening easy.

How Amarillo compares

Among Texas’s larger cities, Amarillo is ranked #2 of 10 by elevation. For a familiar yardstick, that puts it well below Denver’s mile-high 5,280 ft (1,609 m).

El Paso — 3,730 ft (1,137 m)
Amarillo — 3,671 ft (1,119 m)
Lubbock — 3,205 ft (977 m)
San Antonio — 663 ft (202 m)
Austin — 505 ft (154 m)
Dallas — 436 ft (133 m)
Laredo — 427 ft (130 m)

Amarillo elevation FAQ

How high is Amarillo?: Amarillo’s elevation is about 3,671 ft (1,119 m) above sea level at the city center, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data.
Is Amarillo high or low for Texas?: High. At 3,671 ft (1,119 m) it sits above Texas’s average of 1,657 ft (505 m), with only about 10% of the state higher.
Does Amarillo’s altitude affect visitors?: Mildly. At 3,671 ft (1,119 m) it’s below the ~8,000 ft (2,400 m) line where altitude sickness usually begins, but the thinner, drier air can still bring a faster pulse and quicker dehydration on the first day.

Explore more

↑ Texas’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 Texas’s 1,657 ft (505 m) mean ranks.
· Blog: Elevation vs Altitude — what a city’s elevation figure actually measures.

Amarillo’s elevation is a native ~30 m windowed-median sample from Copernicus GLO-30 (ESA); the Texas 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.