DEN to SEA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Denver (DEN) to Seattle (SEA) is a 1,645 km (1,022 mi), roughly 2h 26m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime DEN to SEA 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 | Right | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are split, so they do not settle the choice on their own. The shade side is the right side, so that is the safer pick if you want comfort over the view.
Flying west from Denver to Seattle, your views are split. The left side gets the better look at the Rockies and the city pair near takeoff. The right side picks up Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Shade still favors the right side, so that wins overall.
Takeoff
Depending on the runway in use, keep an eye on the left side after departure. Denver and Aurora sit off that side early in the climb, and Rocky Mountain National Park can flash by steeply about 10 minutes in.
En route
- 59m inRight →Grand Teton National Park
About an hour in, the right side gets Grand Teton National Park. It is a clean mountain view, with the park sitting well off your wing.
- 1h 02m inRight →Yellowstone National Park
A few minutes later, Yellowstone National Park stays on the right. You get a broad look at a huge park footprint, but not a close pass.
- 1h 19m in← LeftRocky Mountains
Around 80 minutes in, the left side holds the Rocky Mountains. This is the long mountain backbone of the route, not a single peak.
- 1h 32m in← LeftBoise
Near the halfway-to-late stretch, Boise is on the left. It reads as a city shape below, set far off in the distance.
- 1h 58m inRight →Spokane
Closer to descent, Spokane sits to the right. It is another city glimpse rather than a full overflight.
Landing
Depending on the runway in use, the left side gets the stronger final approach views. The Cascade Range and Mount Rainier sit off that side about 20 minutes before landing, then Seattle and Lake Washington come into view near touchdown, with Seattle to the right and Tacoma to the left.
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 SEA?
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 DEN to SEA flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the left side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from DEN to SEA?
The great-circle distance is 1,645 km (1,022 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 26m 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 has the best views from DEN to SEA?
The views are split, so there is no single winner on scenery. The left side gets the Rockies and the Denver area early, while the right side gets Grand Teton and Yellowstone.
Which side should I sit on for shade from DEN to SEA?
Sit on the right side. The sun is on the left for this westbound flight, so the right side is the shade side.