When you hear a measurement like 500 feet, it’s natural to wonder how it translates into everyday terms. Five hundred feet is quite a significant length—imagine the length of 1.5 football fields, the height of a 50-story building, or the length of a large cruise ship. While this measurement is used more often in construction, aviation, and urban planning, it can still be relevant in daily tasks or when imagining large-scale distances.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore 11 common objects or structures that are around 500 feet long. These examples will help you visualize and better understand this considerable measurement.
Table of Contents
What Do You Mean by 500 Feet Long?
When someone refers to something as being 500 feet long, they are describing a length equivalent to approximately 152.4 meters or 166.67 yards. The foot is part of the Imperial measurement system, commonly used in the United States and the UK.
While 500 feet may sound massive, it becomes more relatable when you compare it to well-known objects and structures.
How Long is 500 Feet Visually?
To visualize 500 feet, you can think of the length of 1.5 football fields, the height of a 50-story building, or the width of 5 Olympic-sized swimming pools placed end-to-end. These large-scale examples help make the abstract concept of 500 feet more tangible.
How Can it Be Measured Without Specialized Tools?
If you don’t have specialized measuring tools, estimating 500 feet can be done by comparing it to known large distances. For example, the length of a standard city block in the U.S. is often around 300 feet, so 500 feet would be roughly 1.5 city blocks. Alternatively, imagine about 166 average-sized cars lined up end-to-end, each measuring around 10 feet.
11 Things Equal to 500 Feet
- 1.5 football fields
- 50-story building
- Cruise ship
- 5 Olympic-sized swimming pools
- 1.5 city blocks
- 166 cars lined up
- Baseball field outfield distance
- Cable bridge span
- 1/10th mile track
- Large shopping mall
- Roller coaster track
1.5 Football Fields
A standard American football field, including the end zones, is 360 feet long. So, 500 feet is roughly the length of 1.5 football fields, making it a straightforward reference for this length.
Length of Football Fields: 1.5 football fields equal 500 feet.
50-Story Building Height
A 50-story building typically stands around 500 feet tall. High-rise buildings provide a clear and impressive visual for understanding this length.
Height of 50-Story Building: 500 feet is the approximate height of a 50-story building.
Cruise Ship Length
Large cruise ships, like the Carnival Triumph, can be around 500 feet long, making this an excellent comparison for visualizing this significant length.
Length of a Cruise Ship: Cruise ships are often about 500 feet long.
5 Olympic-Sized Swimming Pools
An Olympic-sized swimming pool is 100 feet long, so five of these pools placed end-to-end would be equivalent to 500 feet.
Length of 5 Pools: 5 Olympic pools laid end-to-end measure 500 feet.
Standard City Block and a Half
In many U.S. cities, a standard city block is about 300 feet long. So, 1.5 city blocks roughly equal 500 feet.
Length of 1.5 City Blocks: 1.5 city blocks measure around 500 feet.
166 Cars Lined Up End-to-End
With an average length of about 10 feet per car, 166 cars parked bumper to bumper would roughly equal 500 feet.
Length of 166 Cars: 166 average-sized cars lined up equal 500 feet.
Baseball Field Outfield Distance
The distance from home plate to the center field fence in many Major League Baseball parks is around 400 to 420 feet. A few additional feet make it close to 500 feet.
Distance in a Baseball Field: From home plate to a deep outfield is nearly 500 feet.
Cable Bridge Span
The span of many cable-stayed bridges is often around 500 feet, making it a relevant reference for visualizing this length.
Length of Cable Bridge Span: Cable bridge spans can be around 500 feet.
Half a Mile Track
A standard mile-long track measures 5280 feet, so a 500-foot segment would be less than 1/10th of a mile—an impressive distance for comparison.
Length of 1/10th Mile Track: 1/10th of a mile is just over 500 feet.
Length of Large Shopping Malls
The length of many large shopping malls, from one end to the other, is around 500 feet, providing another real-world comparison.
Length of a Shopping Mall: Large shopping malls can be about 500 feet long.
Roller Coaster Tracks
The track length of certain roller coasters can be around 500 feet, making it a thrilling reference point for this measurement.
Length of a Roller Coaster Track: Roller coaster tracks can be approximately 500 feet long.
How Long is 500 Feet: Measurement at Home
While you might not find many objects exactly 500 feet long at home, you can still estimate this length by imagining long driveways, extended fences, or combining several 100-foot measuring tapes.
How Long is 500 Feet: Measurement While Traveling
While traveling, you might encounter landmarks that are close to 500 feet in length, such as the length of large train platforms, segments of highways, or the width of a large stadium.
How Long is 500 Feet: Fun Facts
- Height of the Washington Monument: The Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., is approximately 555 feet tall, making it slightly taller than 500 feet.
- Height of Niagara Falls: The vertical drop of Niagara Falls is about 520 feet, which is close to the 500-foot mark.
- Longest Roller Coasters: Some of the longest roller coasters have segments that reach up to 500 feet in length.
Final Thoughts
Understanding how long 500 feet is becomes easier when you compare it to familiar structures or objects like football fields, cruise ships, or skyscrapers. Whether estimating distances for large-scale construction, visualizing travel distances, or simply satisfying your curiosity, these examples make it clear how significant this measurement is in real-world terms. From high-rise buildings and cable bridges to cruise ships and baseball fields, 500 feet is a substantial length that plays a vital role in many aspects of urban and architectural planning.
You May Like:
