What Is The Lowest Elevation Point In The United States
The lowest elevation point in the United States is Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park, California, at 282 feet below sea level (86 meters below sea level). It is also widely recognized as the lowest point in North America.
What it is
Badwater Basin is an endorheic basin, meaning water that reaches the area does not flow out to the ocean; instead, it collects, evaporates, and leaves behind salt flats. The famous roadside sign marks a safe, accessible spot near the basin, even though the true lowest point can shift slightly over time depending on rainfall and evaporation.
The location sits in Inyo County inside Death Valley National Park, one of the hottest and driest places in the country. A striking geographic contrast is that Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States, lies only about 84.6 miles to the northwest.
Key facts
- Lowest point: Badwater Basin.
- Elevation: 282 feet below sea level, or 86 meters below sea level.
- State: California.
- Park: Death Valley National Park.
- Region: North America's lowest point as well.
Why it matters
Badwater Basin is important because it is the clearest answer to a common geography question, but it is also a landmark that illustrates how dramatic elevation changes can be in the American West. The area's salt-crusted flats, basin geology, and desert climate make it one of the most recognizable low-elevation landscapes in the country.
The site is often confused with "the lowest place in the Western Hemisphere," but that broader claim is incorrect because other places outside the United States, including Laguna del Carbón in Argentina, sit even lower. In the U.S. context, however, Badwater Basin remains the standard answer.
Low point comparison
| Location | Elevation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Badwater Basin, California | 282 ft below sea level | Lowest elevation point in the United States and North America. |
| New Orleans, Louisiana | 8 ft below sea level | One of the lowest major U.S. cities. |
| Sea level coastal points | 0 ft | Common lowest points for many coastal states. |
How to remember it
- Identify the question as asking for the lowest point on land in the United States.
- Recall that the answer is in California, not Florida or Louisiana.
- Use the name Badwater Basin and the depth of 282 feet below sea level as the key facts.
Historical context
Badwater Basin became a well-known geographic reference point because its extreme elevation is easy to verify and simple to compare against the country's highest peaks. The nearby relation to Mount Whitney gives the site added educational value, since two of the nation's most famous elevation extremes sit within a relatively short distance of each other.
The basin's low point is not a fixed dot in the way a mountain summit is fixed; the exact lowest spot can vary slightly as water and salt movement reshape the flat. That is why the familiar viewing area and sign do not necessarily sit on the precise lowest coordinate, even though they correctly identify the place.
Frequent questions
Bottom line
The lowest elevation point in the United States is Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California, at 282 feet below sea level, and it is the simplest, most accurate answer to the question.
Everything you need to know about What Is The Lowest Elevation Point In The United States
Is Badwater Basin the lowest point in the world?
No. It is the lowest point in the United States and North America, but not the world; the Dead Sea region is lower.
Is the lowest point in the United States on a beach?
Usually no. Many states have coastal low points at sea level, but the national low point is inland at Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California.
Can visitors go there easily?
Yes. Badwater Basin is one of the most accessible extreme-elevation sites in the country, with a paved road and a short walk from the parking area to the salt flats.
What is the lowest elevation in the contiguous United States?
It is the same answer: Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California, at 282 feet below sea level.