Have you ever tried to imagine how long 400 feet really is? For many people, visualizing large distances can be difficult without real-world comparisons. Four hundred feet equals about 122 meters or roughly the length of one and one-third football fields. It’s a measurement you’ll find in architecture, transportation, sports, and even nature.
In this article, we’ll explore 11 things that are about 400 feet long. By the end, you’ll not only have a clearer understanding of this measurement but also a fun set of examples to reference whenever you want to picture what 400 feet really looks like.
11 Things That Are About 400 Feet (ft) Long
1. A Skyscraper Around 40 Stories Tall
Many modern skyscrapers reach impressive heights, and a 400-foot-tall building is about 40 stories high, depending on floor-to-ceiling dimensions. While some towers exceed 1,000 feet, many smaller office towers, hotels, and residential complexes hover around this mark.
- Example: The Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia has sections close to this height.
- Visualization: Standing at the bottom of a 400-foot skyscraper would be like looking up at a stack of 40 houses on top of one another.
2. The Length of a City Block
In many U.S. cities, an average city block is close to 400 feet long. While block sizes vary depending on the city’s design, this measurement is a useful way for urban planners and pedestrians alike to understand walking distances.
- Example: A typical block in Chicago or New York ranges from 300–600 feet.
- Everyday impact: If you’ve ever walked one block in a downtown area, you’ve likely covered about 400 feet.
3. The Wright Brothers’ First Flight Distance
In 1903, the Wright brothers made history with their first controlled, powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The longest of their flights that day covered 852 feet, but their first attempt was about 400 feet shorter than that.
That means their initial takeoff covered roughly the same length we’re exploring here—400 feet of aviation history in action.
4. The Length of an American Football Field and End Zones
A standard NFL football field is 360 feet long from goal line to goal line. When you add the end zones (each 30 feet), the total length reaches exactly 420 feet.
That makes a football field with end zones an almost perfect example of something 400 feet long—just 20 feet over the mark.
5. The Golden Gate Bridge Towers
The world-famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco has towers that rise 746 feet above the water, but the clearance from the roadway to the water is about 400 feet.
This clearance allows large cargo ships and cruise liners to pass safely beneath the bridge, making it one of the most iconic 400-foot measurements in civil engineering.
6. An Aircraft Carrier’s Flight Deck Section
Modern aircraft carriers like the USS Gerald R. Ford are massive, measuring over 1,000 feet in length. But their flight decks are divided into sections, with one operational stretch often close to 400 feet.
This is roughly the length needed for fighter jets to gain enough speed for takeoff using catapult systems.
7. The Tallest Redwoods in California (Younger Giants)
California’s famous coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) are the tallest trees in the world. While some reach over 370 feet, a significant number stand in the 380–400 foot range.
- Example: The Stratosphere Giant in Humboldt Redwoods State Park once measured around 370 feet but is thought to be growing close to 400 feet.
- Perspective: That’s taller than most skyscrapers and nearly four times higher than the Statue of Liberty (without pedestal).
8. The Washington Monument’s Upper Half
The Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. stands at 555 feet tall. If you divided it roughly in half, the top section alone is about 400 feet tall.
This iconic obelisk has long been a symbol of U.S. history and serves as a handy real-world benchmark for understanding large vertical distances.
9. The Runway Length Needed for Small Planes
While large commercial jets need runways over 6,000–10,000 feet long, small private planes and light aircraft can often take off in about 400–500 feet.
- Example: A Cessna 172, one of the most popular training aircraft, requires around 400 feet of runway for a safe takeoff under ideal conditions.
- Importance: This makes 400 feet a critical length in general aviation.
10. The Tallest Roller Coasters
Some of the world’s tallest roller coasters, known as “strata coasters,” exceed 400 feet.
- Example: Top Thrill Dragster (Cedar Point, Ohio) and Kingda Ka (Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey) both rise over 400 feet.
- Fun fact: Riders on these coasters experience speeds of up to 120 mph in mere seconds while climbing to that towering 400-foot peak.
11. The Span of a Large Suspension Bridge Section
Many large suspension bridges feature main spans or cable sections close to 400 feet in length. For example, pedestrian walkways and approach spans often fall within this range.
- Example: The Brooklyn Bridge has a total length of 1,595 feet, with several sections that measure about 400 feet.
- Relevance: These lengths are vital for distributing weight and maintaining balance in engineering design.
Frequently Asked Questions About 400 Feet
1. How long is 400 feet in miles?
Four hundred feet equals 0.0757 miles. Since 1 mile = 5,280 feet, dividing 400 ÷ 5,280 gives the result.
2. How long is 400 feet in meters?
Four hundred feet is about 121.92 meters. (1 foot = 0.3048 meters).
3. How many yards is 400 feet?
There are 133.3 yards in 400 feet. (1 yard = 3 feet, so 400 ÷ 3 = 133.3).
4. How many stories tall is 400 feet?
A 400-foot building is roughly 35–40 stories tall, depending on floor-to-ceiling height (usually 10–12 feet per floor).
5. How many football fields is 400 feet?
A standard American football field (without end zones) is 360 feet long. With end zones, it’s 420 feet. So 400 feet is almost the same as one football field including its end zones.
6. How long does it take to walk 400 feet?
At an average walking speed of 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h), it takes about 1.5–2 minutes to walk 400 feet.
7. How far is 400 feet compared to everyday objects?
Some examples of things that are about 400 feet long include:
- A football field with end zones
- A 40-story building
- The clearance under the Golden Gate Bridge
- Some of the world’s tallest roller coasters
8. How many inches are in 400 feet?
There are 4,800 inches in 400 feet. (1 foot = 12 inches, so 400 × 12 = 4,800).
9. How many cars can fit in 400 feet?
If the average car is 15 feet long, about 26–27 cars parked bumper to bumper would fit into 400 feet.
10. How high is 400 feet compared to landmarks?
- The Washington Monument is 555 feet tall, so 400 feet would be about three-quarters of its height.
- The Statue of Liberty (including pedestal) is 305 feet, meaning 400 feet is taller than Lady Liberty.
Conclusion
From towering skyscrapers and iconic monuments to sports fields, bridges, and even natural wonders like redwoods, 400 feet is a length you can find across many different parts of life. Understanding this measurement helps put large-scale structures and natural phenomena into perspective.
The next time someone mentions 400 feet, you’ll be able to visualize it through these 11 real-world examples—whether it’s the size of a football field, the clearance of the Golden Gate Bridge, or the height of a massive roller coaster.