UpToWhereWhat can you see from Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center)?
Designed like an ocean liner's deck, it became the most visited observation deck of the Great Depression era.
From Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center), the terrain-limited line of sight reaches up to 96.7 km. The single farthest piece of visible terrain lies 96.7 km to the west-southwest (bearing 245°), at 158 m elevation. These results account for Earth's curvature and standard atmospheric refraction, computed from 30-meter resolution Copernicus GLO-30 elevation data across 1,933,267 terrain samples.
Open the interactive visibility map →Visibility by direction
The horizon is most open toward the northeast, where sightlines run 77.2 km on average; terrain closes the view down fastest to the north-northwest, at 52.8 km.
| N | 71.7 km | |
| NNE | 71.0 km | |
| NE | 77.2 km | |
| ENE | 61.8 km | |
| E | 59.6 km | |
| ESE | 72.0 km | |
| SE | 72.3 km | |
| SSE | 72.3 km | |
| S | 62.9 km | |
| SSW | 58.8 km | |
| SW | 66.3 km | |
| WSW | 67.7 km | |
| W | 63.4 km | |
| WNW | 55.3 km | |
| NW | 57.3 km | |
| NNW | 52.8 km |
About Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center)
Top of the Rock, the observation deck atop the 30 Rockefeller Plaza, opened in July 1933 as part of the Rockefeller Center. Designed with the elegance and details of a luxury ocean liner, complete with deck chairs and polished furnishings, it sits 260 metres above street level across the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors. By late 1935, the 40-cent observation deck was drawing 1,300 visitors daily, making it one of the Great Depression era's most popular paid attractions.
Did you know?
- The deck closed for decades before a major 2005 renovation reopened it across three levels, restoring public access after a long hiatus.
- The famous 1932 photograph 'Lunch Atop a Skyscraper,' showing ironworkers eating lunch on a beam high above the city, was taken during construction of this very building.
- NBC's 'Today Show' has broadcast from street-level windows at the foot of this very building since 1952, making it one of television's most recognisable backdrops.
- The 70-story building was designed by the architectural firm Reinhard & Hofmeister.
- From the deck, views stretch to the Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, and New York Harbor.
Frequently asked questions
How far can you see from Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center)?
On a clear day the terrain allows a line of sight of up to 96.7 km from Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center). The average visible distance across all 360 directions is 65.2 km. Atmospheric conditions (haze, humidity) usually reduce practical visibility below the terrain-limited maximum.
What is the farthest point visible from Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center)?
The farthest terrain visible from Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center) lies 96.7 km to the west-southwest, at an elevation of 158 m. Earth's curvature and atmospheric refraction are accounted for in this calculation.
How high is Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center)?
The observation point at Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center) sits at 357 m above sea level (Copernicus GLO-30 elevation model).
How is this visibility map calculated?
UpToWhere traces lines of sight in 360 directions from the observer using 30 m-resolution Copernicus terrain data, correcting for Earth curvature and standard atmospheric refraction. You can run the same analysis for any point on Earth with the free calculator.
Run your own analysis
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