BOS to ATL: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Boston (BOS) to Atlanta (ATL) is a 1,521 km (945 mi), roughly 2h 17m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime BOS to ATL departures the sun favors the left side — sit on the right (a window on the right) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Left | Left | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left has the better views, but it is also the sunny side. If you want the sights, sit left and expect some glare; if you want easier light, choose right.
You want the left side for the better views. But the sun is also on the left, so that side comes with glare on a daytime westbound flight. Pick left for the scenery, right for the shade.
Takeoff
After takeoff from BOS, depending on the runway in use, you may catch Boston almost beneath you on the right as you climb, with Massachusetts Bay off to the left. Worcester can also slide by on the right a few minutes later.
En route
- 23m in← LeftLong Island
About 20 minutes in, Long Island sits out on the left. It is the kind of view that reads as a long, low shape rather than a full detailed skyline.
- 45m in← LeftDelaware Bay
Around three quarters of an hour after departure, Delaware Bay is on the left. You get a broad water sweep, not a close-up pass.
- 1h 08m in← LeftRichmond
Near the hour mark, Richmond is left of the aircraft. From cruise height, you are reading the city as a compact urban patch rather than street detail.
- 1h 44m in← LeftCharlotte
About 1 hour 45 minutes in, Charlotte stays on the left. It is another city view that works best as a wide pattern below, not a close pass.
- 1h 49m inRight →Mount Mitchell
Near 1 hour 50 minutes in, Mount Mitchell and the Blue Ridge Mountains are on the right and come close to the flight path. They pass steeply and briefly, almost under you.
Landing
On descent into ATL, depending on the runway in use, Atlanta comes in on the right about a minute before landing. It is a very short final view, so expect a quick city glimpse rather than a long look.
Sides and timings are computed from this route’s geometry. What you actually see depends on weather, air-traffic routing, and the runway in use on the day.
Frequently asked
Which side of the plane avoids the sun from BOS to ATL?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the left side of the aircraft, so the right side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose the highest window letter (F on narrowbodies, K on many widebodies).
Which side has the sunset views on BOS to ATL flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from BOS to ATL?
The great-circle distance is 1,521 km (945 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 17m in the air on this westbound routing. Winds and routing move the real block time around that estimate.
Does the date or departure time change the answer?
Yes — that is why the table shows both. The sun's path shifts with the season, and a morning departure can put the glare on the opposite side compared to an evening one. For a specific flight, the calculator samples the sun along the whole route for your exact date and time.
Which side of the plane should I sit on BOS to ATL?
Sit on the left for the better views. The tradeoff is sun on that side during a daytime flight.
Will I see any mountains on this route?
Yes. Near the end, the Blue Ridge Mountains and Mount Mitchell are on the right, and they pass close to the aircraft.