DEN to AUS: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Denver (DEN) to Austin (AUS) is a 1,249 km (776 mi), roughly 1h 58m southbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime DEN to AUS departures the sun favors the right side — sit on the left (an A seat) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins the views, but it is also the sunny side. If you want the best look outside, take the right and expect some glare. If you want to stay cooler, the left side is the shaded side.
Sit on the right for the views. That same side also takes the sun, so you trade shade for scenery on this route.
Takeoff
On departure from Denver, depending on the runway in use, the right side is the one to watch. Denver shows up first, then Aurora about a minute later, both during the climb.
En route
- 8m inRight →Colorado Springs
About 8 minutes in, Colorado Springs sits on the right side during the climb. It comes in as a broad city shape rather than a single point.
- 54m inRight →Amarillo
Around 54 minutes in, Amarillo is off the right. It reads as another city break in the landscape, not a close pass.
- 1h 09m inRight →Lubbock
About 69 minutes in, Lubbock stays on the right during cruise. It is farther out, so you catch the city from a distance.
Landing
On arrival into Austin, depending on the runway in use, the right side still has the better angle. Austin comes up very late on descent and is nearly under you, so the view is brief and steep.
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 DEN to AUS?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the right side of the aircraft, so the left side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose an A seat.
Which side has the sunset views on DEN to AUS 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 DEN to AUS?
The great-circle distance is 1,249 km (776 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 58m in the air on this southbound 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 has the views from DEN to AUS?
The right side has the better views on this route.
Which side should I sit on for shade from DEN to AUS?
The left side is the shaded side.