<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-07-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001051470</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CCI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001380393</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Fortress Investment Group LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, 46TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10105</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001387345</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FIG Corp.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, 46TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10105</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001387344</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Fortress Operating Entity I LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 46TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10105</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001245521</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FIG LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, 46TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10105</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4747993</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by FIT GSL LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>19333718</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by FRIT PINN LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>654968</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Fortress Registered Investment Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5183415</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Fortress Pinnacle Investment Fund LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>501523</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by FRIT Holdings LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>464</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Fortress Investment Trust II</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">FIT Holdings LLC (&quot;FITH&quot;) is the sole managing member of FIT GSL LLC. Fortress Investment Trust II (&quot;FIT II&quot;) is the sole managing member of FITH. FIT II is majority owned by Fortress Investment Fund II LLC (&quot;FIF II&quot;). Fortress Fund MM II LLC (&quot;FF MM II&quot;) is the sole managing member of FIF II. FIG LLC is the sole managing member of FF MM II. Fortress Operating Entity I LP (&quot;FOE I&quot;) is the sole managing member of FIG LLC. FIG Corp. is the general partner of FOE I. FIG Corp. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fortress Investment Group LLC (&quot;Fortress&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On June 28, 2007, (i) FRIT PINN LLC, FRITH, FRIT, Fortress Pinnacle Investment Fund LLC, and FIT GSL LLC (collectively, the &quot;Selling Shareholders&quot;) and certain other selling shareholders named therein, (ii) Morgan Stanley &amp; Co. Incorporated, Allen &amp; Company LLC, and Banc of America Securities LLC, (as representatives for the underwriters named therein, collectively, the &quot;Underwriters&quot;) and (iii) Crown Castle International Corp. entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the &quot;Underwriting Agreement&quot;) pursuant to which the Selling Shareholders agreed to sell an aggregate of 30,419,617 shares of Common Stock to the Underwriters at $35.30 per share.  As a result of the sale by the Selling Shareholders pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, which was completed on July 5, 2007, the reporting persons and Selling Shareholders beneficially own less than one percent of Common Stock of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all reported shares except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein and the inclusion of the shares in this report shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of all of the reported shares for purposes of Section 16 or otherwise.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">FRIT Holdings LLC (&quot;FRITH&quot;) is the sole managing member of FRIT PINN LLC.  Fortress Registered Investment Trust (&quot;FRIT&quot;) is the sole managing member of FRITH.  FRIT is wholly-owned by Fortress Investment Fund LLC (&quot;FIF&quot;).  Fortress Fund MM LLC (&quot;FF MM&quot;) is the sole managing member of FIF.  FIG LLC is the sole managing member of FF MM.  FOE I is the sole managing member of FIG LLC.  FIG Corp. is the general partner of FOE I.  FIG Corp. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fortress.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">FRIT is wholly-owned by FIF.  FF MM is the sole managing member of FIF.  FIG LLC is the sole managing member of FF MM.  FOE I is the sole managing member of FIG LLC.  FIG Corp. is the general partner of FOE I.  FIG Corp. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fortress.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Certain of the reported shares were granted to Wesley R. Edens, a director of Crown Castle International Corp. (&quot;CCI&quot;), pursuant to CCI's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan as a component of non-employee director compensation.  Pursuant to arrangements in place between each of Fortress Registered Investment Trust (&quot;FRIT&quot;) and Fortress Investment Trust II (&quot;FIT II&quot;), on the one hand, and Mr. Edens, on the other hand, FRIT and FIT II may be deemed beneficial owners of 2000 and 464 of these reported shares, respectively.  Mr. Edens may be deemed to beneficially own shares listed as beneficially owned by Fortress.  The shares disclosed in the table as being beneficially owned by the reporting persons are also included in the shares reported as being beneficially owned by Mr. Edens.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">FIG Advisors LLC (&quot;FIGA&quot;) is the investment advisor of Fortress Pinnacle Investment Fund LLC.  FIG LLC is the sole managing member of FIGA.  FOE I is the sole managing member of FIG LLC.  FIG Corp. is the general partner of FOE I.  FIG Corp. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fortress.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">FRIT is the sole managing member of FRITH.  FRIT is wholly-owned by FIF.  FF MM is the sole managing member of FIF.  FIG LLC is the sole managing member of FF MM.  FOE I is the sole managing member of FIG LLC.  FIG Corp. is the general partner of FOE I.  FIG Corp. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fortress.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">FIT II is majority owned by FIF II.  FF MM II is the sole managing member of FIF II.  FIG LLC is the sole managing member of FF MM II.  FOE I is the sole managing member of FIG LLC.  FIG Corp. is the general partner of FOE I.  FIG Corp. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fortress.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP LLC

/s/ Randal A. Nardone, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Randal A. Nardone, Chief Operating Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Randal A. Nardone, Chief Operating Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Randal A. Nardone, Chief Operating Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
