DFW to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 1,983 km (1,232 mi), roughly 2h 50m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime DFW to LAX 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 | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side gets the better views, and it is also the sun side. If you want the scenery, sit left. If you want less glare, sit right.
Fly left for the views, right for the shade. This westbound trip gives the better window to the left, but that also puts you on the sun side for most of the day.
Takeoff
After departure from DFW, depending on the runway in use, the left side can pick up Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington almost immediately. Garland and Plano sit to the right, so the first few minutes already split the cabin.
En route
- 39m inRight →Lubbock · passes underneath
About 40 minutes in, Lubbock comes up on the right and nearly under you. It is a brief, steep look, so it flashes by fast.
- 1h 12m in← LeftWhite Sands National Park
Around an hour and 10 minutes in, White Sands National Park sits to the left. You get a broad, pale patch against the darker ground.
- 2h in← LeftPhoenix
Near two hours in, Phoenix and nearby Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Glendale spread along the left side. It is the clearest city run on the route.
- 2h 07m in← LeftSonoran Desert
A few minutes later, the Sonoran Desert stays on the left and gives you the dry, open country in one wide sweep.
- 2h 30m in← LeftSalton Sea
On descent, the Salton Sea appears to the left about two and a half hours in. It stands out as a flat, bright lake shape before California gets busy.
Landing
On arrival into LAX, depending on the runway in use, the right side can catch the San Fernando Valley. The left side can then pick up Irvine, Santa Ana, and Long Beach as you come 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 DFW to LAX?
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 DFW to LAX 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 LAX?
The great-circle distance is 1,983 km (1,232 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 50m 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 DFW to LAX for views?
Sit left. That side gets the stronger views overall on this route.
Which side is better for shade on DFW to LAX?
Sit right. The sun is on the left side for this westbound flight.