How high is El Paso?

El Paso sits at 3,730 ft (1,137 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 El Paso, Texas area, from the Copernicus GLO-30 model

A live 3D slice of the terrain around El Paso, from our satellite elevation model. El Paso is marked at 3,730 ft (1,137 m); the highest ground in view reaches 7,126 ft (2,172 m). Drag to spin it (tap to start on mobile).

El Paso in Texas

Here’s the useful context: El Paso, at 3,730 ft (1,137 m), sits roughly 2,073 ft (632 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▲ El Paso 3,730 ft · avg 1,657 ft ┈8,681 ft — Texas high

The terrain around El Paso

The ground right around El Paso is fairly even, close to 3,730 ft (1,137 m), so the city itself feels level underfoot. But the window still catches higher country: the terrain climbs to 7,126 ft (2,172 m) toward the east edge of the view, which is what gives El Paso 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 El Paso’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 El Paso, at 3,730 ft (1,137 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 El Paso compares

Among Texas’s larger cities, El Paso is the highest 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)

El Paso elevation FAQ

How high is El Paso?: El Paso’s elevation is about 3,730 ft (1,137 m) above sea level at the city center, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data.
Is El Paso high or low for Texas?: High. At 3,730 ft (1,137 m) it sits above Texas’s average of 1,657 ft (505 m), with only about 10% of the state higher.
Does El Paso’s altitude affect visitors?: Mildly. At 3,730 ft (1,137 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.

El Paso’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 200 m resolution, sharp enough to resolve the surrounding ridgelines. Data as of 2026-08-17.