St. George elevation at a glance
- Downtown St. George: about 2,700 feet (820 m)
- Range within the city: about 2,600 feet (Bloomington Hills) to 3,100 feet (Red Hills)
- St. George Regional Airport: about 2,860 feet
- Highest point you can see from town: Signal Peak on Pine Valley Mountain, about 10,370 feet
What is the elevation of St. George, Utah?
Downtown St. George sits at about 2,700 feet (820 meters) above sea level, according to U.S. Geological Survey elevation data at the city’s official map point. The city itself spans roughly 2,600 to 3,100 feet, from Bloomington Hills in the south to the Red Hills north of downtown.
St. George sits in a basin where the Virgin River and Santa Clara River meet, at the northeastern edge of the Mojave Desert. Red sandstone bluffs rise above the city on the north side, and black lava ridges run through the west side, so a drive across town can easily gain or lose a few hundred feet. You will often see St. George listed at 2,860 feet. That matches the ground around St. George Regional Airport, on the bluff southeast of downtown, which USGS data puts at about 2,860 feet. Downtown, which is what most people mean when they ask about the city's altitude, is about 2,700 feet.
Is St. George the lowest city in Utah?
St. George, Santa Clara and Washington are among the lowest-lying communities in Utah, all under 2,800 feet. Most of Utah’s larger cities sit far higher: Cedar City is above 5,800 feet, and the Wasatch Front cities are above 4,000 feet.
Elevation of Southern Utah towns and landmarks
Every figure below is the U.S. Geological Survey's elevation at that place's official map point, rounded to the nearest 10 feet. Within 90 minutes of St. George, elevation ranges from desert valleys under 2,700 feet to alpine country near 10,000 feet.
| Place | Elevation (feet) | Meters | Compared with downtown St. George |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington Hills (St. George) | 2,610 | 796 | 90 ft lower |
| Little Valley (St. George) | 2,630 | 802 | 70 ft lower |
| St. George (downtown) | 2,700 | 823 | — |
| Santa Clara | 2,760 | 841 | 60 ft higher |
| St. George Regional Airport | 2,860 | 872 | 160 ft higher |
| Washington | 2,790 | 850 | 90 ft higher |
| Ivins | 3,080 | 939 | 380 ft higher |
| Red Hills, north of downtown St. George | 3,160 | 963 | 460 ft higher |
| Snow Canyon (state park valley floor) | 3,190 | 972 | 490 ft higher |
| LaVerkin | 3,190 | 972 | 490 ft higher |
| Hurricane | 3,240 | 988 | 540 ft higher |
| Toquerville | 3,380 | 1,030 | 680 ft higher |
| Leeds | 3,480 | 1,061 | 780 ft higher |
| Virgin | 3,610 | 1,100 | 910 ft higher |
| Gunlock | 3,650 | 1,113 | 950 ft higher |
| Rockville | 3,750 | 1,143 | 1,050 ft higher |
| Springdale | 3,910 | 1,192 | 1,210 ft higher |
| Zion Canyon Visitor Center | 3,930 | 1,198 | 1,230 ft higher |
| Veyo | 4,470 | 1,362 | 1,770 ft higher |
| Kanab | 4,970 | 1,515 | 2,270 ft higher |
| Hildale | 5,040 | 1,536 | 2,340 ft higher |
| New Harmony | 5,310 | 1,618 | 2,610 ft higher |
| Enterprise | 5,320 | 1,622 | 2,620 ft higher |
| Cedar City | 5,840 | 1,780 | 3,140 ft higher |
| Pine Valley | 6,530 | 1,990 | 3,830 ft higher |
| Brian Head | 9,790 | 2,984 | 7,090 ft higher |
| Signal Peak (top of Pine Valley Mountain) | 10,370 | 3,161 | 7,670 ft higher |
What is the elevation of Hurricane, Utah?
Hurricane sits at about 3,240 feet, roughly 550 feet higher than downtown St. George, according to USGS data at the town’s official map point.
The climb from St. George to Hurricane is gradual along State Route 9, and the next towns up the Virgin River climb steadily: LaVerkin and Toquerville sit in the low 3,000s, Virgin and Rockville in the 3,600s and 3,700s, and Springdale at the mouth of Zion Canyon at about 3,910 feet.
How much higher is Cedar City than St. George?
Cedar City sits at about 5,840 feet, roughly 3,100 feet higher than downtown St. George. That difference is why Cedar City gets regular winter snow and cooler summers, while St. George rarely sees snow on the valley floor.
The drive up I-15 from St. George to Cedar City climbs across the edge of the Colorado Plateau. If you are driving north in winter, check road conditions before you go; the higher stretch of interstate can have snow or ice when St. George is dry. Our drive guides from St. George cover the route and timing.
Why elevation matters in St. George
- Heat: St. George's low elevation is a big reason its summers are among the hottest in Utah. When it is hot in town, Pine Valley and Cedar City, thousands of feet higher, are popular day trips to cool off.
- Snow: snow on the valley floor in St. George is rare, but Pine Valley Mountain, which tops out at about 10,370 feet, is often white in winter. Brian Head, at about 9,790 feet, is the closest ski area.
- Hiking: trails in Zion and on Pine Valley Mountain start well above town and climb fast. Carry more water than you think you need, and give yourself time if you are not used to elevation.
- Gardening and landscaping: the low desert elevation gives St. George a long growing season compared with northern Utah, which is why local nurseries and landscapers plan around heat and water rather than frost.