Florida is known for its beautiful beaches, incredible wildlife, and fun cities. But many people wonder: Are there mountains in Florida?
Yes, there are mountains in Florida. In fact, there are 238 mountains in the state of Florida. However, none of Florida’s mountains are very tall. Even the tallest mountain, Britton Hill, is only 345 feet high, which means Florida has the lowest high point in the country.
If you want to learn a bit more about the mountains in Florida, keep reading! We will dive into the details of the tallest and shortest mountains in the state and everything else there is to know about mountains in Florida.
How Many Mountains Are in Florida?
There are essentially two definitions of a mountain. One says that the difference between a mountain and a hill is that hills usually gradually rise out of the ground, whereas mountains have a more intense edge. But the other says that mountains must be over 1,000 feet to qualify.
However, most agree these days that the 1,000-foot rule is obsolete, and there can be shorter mountains. So even though the mountains in Florida are some of the smallest in the entire country, they are still considered mountains by geographic standards.
Now, you may be surprised to know that there are 238 (small) mountains across the state of Florida. And this is especially interesting as there are no actual mountain ranges in Florida!
Now, let’s find out exactly where you can find these hundreds of mountains in Florida.
Where Are Florida’s Mountains Located?
Florida mountains are not found in one specific location, but in fact, are speckled all around the Sunshine State.
There are quite a few along the northern border, as well as down both sides of the peninsula, and even in the center of the state.
What’s great about the locations of Florida’s mountains is that no matter where you are, you can likely make the drive to a mountain if you feel inclined to climb and get a view of the area around you!
What Is the Highest Mountain in Florida?
Now that you know that you can find small Florida mountains all over the state, it’s time to talk about the tallest mountain in Florida!
As Florida is considered the flattest state in the country, it should come as no surprise that even the tallest mountain is pretty tiny.
At only 345 feet above sea level, Britton Hill is considered the tallest mountain in Florida. Which means Florida has the lowest high point of all 50 states.
However, it’s interesting to note that while Britton Hill is technically the tallest, Sugarloaf is known as the most prominent mountain in Florida.
Sugarloaf Mountain is only 304 feet tall, but it has a much more “mountainous” look than Britton Hill. And many Florida residents and visitors prefer to visit and hike Sugarloaf for the views.
Why Do People Say There Are No Mountains in Florida?
When you search “are there mountains in Florida,” several posts pop up saying that there are no actual mountains in the state.
Now that you know there are considered to be over 200 mountains in Florida, you’re probably a little confused! So let’s find out why some people say there are no mountains in Florida.
As we already discussed in this article, some claim that in order to be classified as a mountain, the peak must reach over 1,000 feet above sea level.
And while most geographers and scientists no longer follow this guideline, some still do! Therefore, those that think hills can only qualify as mountains if they are over 1,000 feet won’t find any mountains in the state of Florida.
What States Have No Mountains?
Once again, understanding if any states don’t have a single mountain can be fairly confusing.
If you are using the logic that states a mountain only needs to abruptly rise from the earth’s surface, then every state has some mountains.
However, if you agree that mountains are only mountains if they surpass 1,000 feet, then Louisiana, Florida, Minnesota, Illinois, Delaware, Kansas, and North Dakota are mountain-less states!
Final Thoughts
There are technically mountains in Florida. Although there are over 200 mountains throughout the state, they are all extremely tall and even the tallest mountain, Britton Hill, is only 345 feet high.
You can find the small mountains of Florida all over the state, including along the coasts, the northern border, and even within the central area.
Hopefully, you now understand why some people don’t believe there are mountains in Florida, as well as which states can be considered mountain-less depending on what rule you want to use to classify mountains.