IAD to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Dulles (IAD) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 3,674 km (2,283 mi), roughly 4h 49m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime IAD 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 | Both |
| June solstice | Both | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are fairly even here, so the panorama does not decide the seat. Follow the shade side for the better call.
This route does not really pick a side on views. The windows split the action, so use the shade side advice instead.
Takeoff
On climbout from IAD, depending on the runway in use, Washington, D.C. sits off the left side, then Shenandoah National Park comes into view a few minutes later. After that, the Appalachian Mountains stay on the left as you settle in.
En route
- 38m inRight →Columbus
About 40 minutes in, Columbus is off the right side. It reads as a large city shape, not a close-up tour.
- 1h 27m in← LeftSt. Louis
Around an hour and a half in, St. Louis appears on the left. It is a brief city-side sighting before the route moves on.
- 1h 56m inRight →Kansas City
About two hours in, Kansas City sits off the right. You get a mid-cruise urban marker rather than a close pass.
- 3h 33m inRight →Mesa Verde National Park
About three and a half hours in, Mesa Verde National Park is on the right. It is a far-off park view, not a flyover.
- 4h inRight →Grand Canyon
Just over four hours in, the Grand Canyon is off the right side. You catch the scale from above, with the canyon edge far below.
- 4h 18m inRight →Hoover Dam
Near the last half hour, Hoover Dam is on the right. It is a quick landmark pass before the coastal descent begins.
Landing
On descent into LAX, depending on the runway in use, the final views split again. Anaheim, Irvine, and Long Beach pass on the left, while the San Fernando Valley and Oxnard sit to the right.
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 IAD 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 IAD 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 IAD to LAX?
The great-circle distance is 3,674 km (2,283 mi), which works out to roughly 4h 49m 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 has the better views on IAD to LAX?
Neither side clearly wins. The route is balanced, so pick the shade side instead.
What do you see after takeoff from IAD?
Depending on the runway in use, you first get Washington, D.C. on the left, then Shenandoah National Park and the Appalachian Mountains on the left as you climb.