DFW to PHX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Phoenix (PHX) is a 1,393 km (866 mi), roughly 2h 8m 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 PHX 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
Views are split on this route, so they do not decide the seat. The right side is the shade side, and that is the cleaner choice if you want less glare.
DFW to PHX is a mixed-view westbound run. The sky does not give one side the edge, so shade matters more here: the right side is the darker pick.
Takeoff
After departure from DFW, depending on the runway in use, the left side gets Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington early in the climb. The right side starts with Garland and Plano.
En route
- 42m inRight →Lubbock
About 40 minutes in, Lubbock sits off the right side. It is a simple city shape on the plains, with no big landmark drama — just a useful mid-route sightline.
- 1h 03m in← LeftCarlsbad Caverns National Park
Around an hour into the flight, Carlsbad Caverns National Park passes on the left. You do not see the caves from here, just the broad park area below in southeastern New Mexico.
- 1h 18m in← LeftWhite Sands National Park
A few minutes later, White Sands National Park is also on the left. From cruise height, it reads as a pale patch on the ground, not a close-up detail show.
- 1h 21m in← LeftEl Paso
About 80 minutes in, El Paso stays on the left side. It is a large city pass, best treated as a broad urban view rather than a single standout shape.
- 1h 23m inRight →Albuquerque
Just after that, Albuquerque is off the right side. It gives you the other half of the corridor, with the city spread out below rather than directly beneath you.
Landing
On descent into PHX, depending on the runway in use, Chandler comes in on the left side first. Near touchdown, Mesa slips very close under the left side, while Phoenix and Scottsdale are nearly beneath you on the right; Glendale stays to the right as well.
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 PHX?
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 PHX 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 PHX?
The great-circle distance is 1,393 km (866 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 8m 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 is best from DFW to PHX?
The right side is the shade side, and views are too even to override that. Pick right if you want less glare.
What will I see on the DFW to PHX flight?
You get Dallas-area cities on departure, then a run past Lubbock, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, White Sands National Park, El Paso, and Albuquerque.