DFW to ATL: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Atlanta (ATL) is a 1,175 km (730 mi), roughly 1h 53m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime DFW to ATL 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 | Right | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Both |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views do not pick a winner on this route, so go with the left for shade.
Views do not really decide this one. You get a better shade seat on the left, and the scenery is a mixed bag. Most of the useful sights sit to the left in cruise, with a few right-side city passes near departure and arrival.
Takeoff
After departure from DFW, depending on the runway in use, you can catch Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington off the right side as you climb. Garland and Irving also sit right beside the climb path, and both pass very close, so they flash by quickly.
En route
- 37m in← LeftHot Springs National Park
About 40 minutes in, Hot Springs National Park is off the left side. It is a brief park view, not a long look.
- 44m in← LeftLittle Rock
A few minutes later, Little Rock is also on the left. You are high enough for the city to read as a compact urban shape rather than details on the ground.
- 1h 04m in← LeftMemphis
Around an hour in, Memphis stays on the left. From cruise altitude, it comes through as a broad city spread rather than a single landmark.
- 1h 32m inRight →Birmingham · passes underneath
Near descent, Birmingham comes up on the right and nearly under the aircraft. It is a quick, steep pass, so you notice it and then it is gone.
Landing
On approach to ATL, depending on the runway in use, Atlanta is on the left and nearly overhead. You get a short, close look as you come down, then the city drops away under the nose.
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 DFW to ATL?
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 DFW to ATL flights?
For sunrise or sunset views, sit on the side the table marks as the sun side for your departure time — that is where the light is.
How long is the flight from DFW to ATL?
The great-circle distance is 1,175 km (730 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 53m in the air on this eastbound 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 from DFW to ATL?
Left side for shade. The views are mixed, so the shade call is the cleaner choice.
What can I see on this DFW to ATL flight?
Dallas-area cities appear soon after takeoff on the right. In cruise, Hot Springs National Park, Little Rock, and Memphis are on the left, then Birmingham and Atlanta come in near descent and landing.