BOS to DCA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Boston (BOS) to Washington (DCA) is a 641 km (398 mi), roughly 1h 15m 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 DCA 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
The right side wins on both views and shade, so that is the easy pick.
Sit on the right side. It wins for the views, and it also gets the shade on this westbound flight.
Takeoff
After departure from BOS, depending on the runway in use, Boston comes up almost under the right side right away. A few minutes later, Worcester sits off the right, and Lake Chaubunagungamaug passes briefly and steeply on that side too.
En route
- 26m inRight →Catskill Mountains
About half an hour in, the Catskill Mountains sit off the right. You get a clear look at the ridge line from cruise altitude.
- 30m in← LeftLong Island
A few minutes later, Long Island is off the left. It reads as a low, narrow strip rather than a big landmass.
- 35m inRight →George Washington Bridge · passes underneath
Around 35 minutes in, the George Washington Bridge is on the right and nearly under you. It is a quick, close pass.
- 36m inRight →New York City · passes underneath
At about 36 minutes, New York City is on the right and very close to the track. Expect a fast look at the city grid, not a long skyline hold.
- 37m inRight →Newark · passes underneath
Right after that, Newark stays off the right side. It is another urban view in the same busy corridor.
Landing
On approach to DCA, depending on the runway in use, Washington, D.C. comes in on the right near the end. It is a short descent view, then you are down.
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 DCA?
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 DCA 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 DCA?
The great-circle distance is 641 km (398 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 15m 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 should I sit on for BOS to DCA?
Sit on the right. It gets the better views and the shade on this flight.
What will I see on a BOS to DCA flight?
Early on, you can spot Boston, Worcester, and Lake Chaubunagungamaug on the right. Later, the route lines up with the Catskill Mountains, then the New York City area, before Washington, D.C. on arrival.