Have you ever wondered how far 500 feet really is? You’re not alone. It’s a question that pops up in everyday life—whether you’re estimating walking distance, measuring property lines, or simply trying to visualize a landmark. But unless you carry a tape measure everywhere, it’s tough to picture what 500 feet looks like.
500 feet is roughly the length of one and a half football fields, or about the height of a 50-story building. Still hard to picture? That’s okay—this guide breaks it all down using real-world, familiar examples that make sense. From famous monuments and city blocks to planes, pools, and even everyday objects, we’ll show you exactly what matches this distance.
So if you’ve ever asked, “How far is 500 feet?”, you’re in the right place. By the time you’re done reading, you won’t just know the answer—you’ll be able to see it in your mind. Let’s dive into the real things that measure up to 500 feet and bring this distance to life.
Understanding the Distance – How Far Is 500 Feet, Really?
How far is 500 feet? It’s a question that seems simple on the surface, but without context, it’s hard to visualize. In reality, 500 feet equals 166.67 yards or about 152.4 meters. Still, these numbers don’t mean much until you compare them to things we see and use every day.
Think of it like this: 500 feet is about one and a half football fields long, or just slightly shorter than the height of a 50-story skyscraper. That’s not a small distance. It could be the space between two streetlights on a highway or the width of a large shopping complex. Once you start associating it with real objects and places, 500 feet becomes much easier to grasp.
How Far Is 500 Feet?
To give you a more solid idea, here are some everyday comparisons that match the length of 500 feet:
| Comparison | Approx. Measurement |
| 1.5 American Football Fields | 495 feet |
| A 50-Story Building | Roughly 500 feet tall |
| 2 Boeing 747s (nose to tail) | ~476 feet |
| The London Eye | 443 feet |
| The Blackpool Tower (UK) | 518 feet |
| Half the height of the Gateway Arch | 500 feet |
| 3 Olympic-size Swimming Pools | ~498 feet |
| 1 City Block (U.S. average) | 400–500 feet |
These objects and structures are either exactly 500 feet long or very close, giving you a practical way to visualize the distance.
How Long Does It Take to Walk 500 Feet?
If you’re walking at a regular pace—about 3 miles per hour—it would take roughly 2 to 3 minutes to walk 500 feet.
Let’s break it down:
- Average walking speed: ~4.4 feet per second
- 500 ÷ 4.4 = approximately 114 seconds
- That’s just under 2 minutes
However, this could vary slightly depending on your pace. A brisk walker might cover 500 feet in closer to 1.5 minutes, while someone strolling casually could take a full 3 minutes. Either way, it’s a short walk, but still longer than most people expect when they hear “500 feet.”
How Tall Is 500 Feet?
Height and distance often get confused, so let’s clear it up: 500 feet in height is extremely tall.
To help you imagine it:
- A 50-story skyscraper is about 500 feet high.
- The Blackpool Tower in the UK is 518 feet tall.
- The Statue of Unity (India’s tallest statue) has a torso that’s around 500 feet tall without the base.
- Even the Gateway Arch in St. Louis reaches 630 feet, so 500 feet is about 80% of that height.
If you’re standing at the base of something 500 feet tall, you’ll be tilting your head way back—it’s as tall as a commercial jet flying low over a city just before landing.
Things That Are 500 Feet
1. The London Eye
Standing at 443 feet tall, The London Eye is close to 500 feet in height. It’s one of the most recognizable landmarks in London and provides stunning panoramic views of the city from above. Each of its 32 passenger capsules can hold up to 25 people, making it a popular tourist attraction.
If you were to stretch it a little, you could consider the total height of the London Eye and its foundation. Although not quite 500 feet, it’s a good reference point for understanding how tall something around 500 feet would appear in a city skyline.
2. Half the Height of the Gateway Arch (St. Louis)
The Gateway Arch stands at a towering 630 feet, but half its height is about 315 feet, getting us closer to the 500-foot mark. A 500-foot measurement is about 80% of the total height of the arch, making it significantly tall, especially when standing under it.
The Gateway Arch symbolizes the westward expansion of the United States, and its sheer height makes it a fantastic comparison for what 500 feet looks like from ground level. Standing beneath it, you’d be staring at a structure far taller than most buildings you’d see in any city.
3. One Side of a Large Shopping Mall
A typical large shopping mall can have a length of about 500 feet. Many malls in urban areas feature anchor stores like department stores, plus food courts and entertainment spaces, often spanning distances close to 500 feet in width.
If you’ve ever walked from one end of a sprawling shopping mall to the other, you’ve probably covered 500 feet without even realizing it. It’s a handy comparison for understanding the size of public spaces we visit often, especially malls that are designed to cater to large crowds.
4. Short Runway at a Small Airport
At smaller airports, a short runway often measures about 500 feet. These are used for small private planes or regional aircraft. While not long enough for commercial jets, they are adequate for smaller aircraft to take off and land safely.
These short runways are often found in rural areas, private airstrips, or even at places like helicopter pads. Understanding that 500 feet is the distance many planes need for a safe takeoff or landing gives you an idea of its importance in aviation.
5. Half a Cruise Ship
Many cruise ships are about 1,000 feet in length, meaning 500 feet is half the length of a typical cruise ship. Imagine seeing one of these massive floating resorts; the sheer size is staggering, with pools, theaters, and hundreds of cabins stretched across the ship.
When you’re standing at the port, looking at a ship that’s nearly 1,000 feet long, the first 500 feet you see would cover half the ship. It’s an impressive distance, and it makes sense to think of 500 feet in terms of the size of these massive vacation vessels.
6. The Shambles (York, UK)
The Shambles is a historic street in York, UK, famous for its narrow, medieval houses. The length of this charming, cobblestone street is just under 500 feet. Although it seems quaint and short, the Shambles is a good reminder of how old buildings and narrow alleyways can fit into the 500-foot measurement.
Even though it’s a relatively small distance compared to larger roads, 500 feet is more than enough to stretch the Shambles from one end to the other. As you walk through it, you can appreciate how much history fits into a small area.
7. Blue Whales
The blue whale, the largest animal to have ever existed, can reach lengths of up to 100 feet, making it five times the size of 500 feet. However, when comparing their length side-by-side, you’ll understand how the immense size of these mammals adds up.
Imagine a blue whale swimming in the ocean, and you have a distance of 500 feet between the end of its tail and its head. These majestic creatures give you a sense of the sheer scale of the distance, as 500 feet could easily span a group of these incredible animals lined up end to end.
8. 1.4 Football Fields
A standard football field in the United States is about 360 feet long, including both the end zones. Therefore, 500 feet is roughly equivalent to 1.4 football fields placed end to end. It’s a simple, easy-to-grasp comparison when you’re out on the field or watching a game on TV.
If you’ve ever wondered how much more space you’d need for a 500-foot distance, just imagine lining up nearly one and a half football fields. The extra 140 feet beyond the full football field gives you a real-world sense of how far 500 feet actually is.
9. A Fifty-Story Building
A 50-story building typically measures around 500 feet tall. These types of skyscrapers are common in major cities, providing offices, apartments, and hotels. If you’ve ever marveled at the height of a building, a 500-foot skyscraper is on the smaller side compared to some modern skyscrapers that can rise to 1,000 feet or more.
Standing at the base of a 50-story building gives you an immediate understanding of just how tall 500 feet really is. Looking up at these buildings makes the 500-foot mark seem like a significant vertical distance, even though it’s not as tall as the tallest skyscrapers in the world.
10. The Blackpool Tower
The Blackpool Tower stands at 518 feet, making it a perfect comparison for a 500-foot distance. It’s an iconic landmark in the UK, often compared to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, although it is slightly shorter.
The Blackpool Tower offers views from its viewing platform that stretch across the British coastline, giving you a unique perspective of how 500 feet in height can transform the view of an entire city. You can appreciate how 500 feet feels in real life by seeing this structure up close.
FAQ’s
Is a football field 500 feet?
No, a standard football field in the United States measures 360 feet in length, including the end zones. Therefore, a 500-foot measurement is slightly longer than the length of a football field. If you were to place about 1.4 football fields end-to-end, you would reach the 500-foot mark.
How many meters is 500 feet?
To convert 500 feet into meters, you can use the conversion factor 1 foot = 0.3048 meters. So, 500 feet is approximately 152.4 meters. This gives you a better idea of how 500 feet compares to standard measurements used in countries that use the metric system.
How big is a 500 ft room?
A 500-foot room can be considered a medium-sized space, depending on how you look at it. For example, a room that measures 500 square feet is about the size of a small studio apartment. If you’re thinking in terms of 500 feet in length, imagine a long, narrow room that could be over 3 times the size of a typical car in terms of length.
How deep is 500 feet in meters?
The depth of 500 feet is approximately 152.4 meters. This is a good way to visualize depth, whether you’re considering the depth of a pool, cave, or even the ocean, where such distances are often referenced.
How deep is 1 meter in feet?
One meter is equivalent to 3.28084 feet. If you ever need to convert between meters and feet, this ratio is useful for determining depth, height, or distance across different units of measurement.
Conclusion
Understanding the 500-foot distance provides an interesting perspective on everyday structures, objects, and distances that we may encounter in our daily lives. From iconic landmarks like the London Eye and the Gateway Arch to more familiar sights like football fields and shopping malls, a 500-foot stretch is a manageable yet significant length. Whether you’re looking at the scale of blue whales, runways, or the height of buildings, these real-world examples show how 500 feet fits into both natural and man-made structures.
The 500-foot distance helps us put things into perspective, whether you’re comparing the size of a building to a famous landmark, or simply wondering how far it would be to walk across a large space. From everyday objects to towering architectural feats, understanding the 500-foot measurement helps highlight just how big or small certain things can be. So, next time you’re out and about, you’ll have a clearer sense of just how far 500 feet can truly stretch.
