IAD to SFO: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Dulles (IAD) to San Francisco (SFO) is a 3,883 km (2,413 mi), roughly 5h 4m 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 SFO 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
Your best views are on the left, but that is also the sunny side. If you want the scenery, sit left and accept some glare. If you want less sun, the right side is easier on the eyes.
IAD to SFO gives you strong left-side views, but the sun is also on the left. You get the better scenery there, with glare to match.
Takeoff
After takeoff from IAD, depending on the runway in use, look left for Shenandoah National Park about 5 minutes in. A few minutes later, the Appalachian Mountains stay on that side too.
En route
- 47m in← LeftCincinnati
About 45 minutes in, Cincinnati appears on the left.
- 59m in← LeftIndianapolis
Around an hour after departure, Indianapolis stays on the left side of the cabin.
- 3h 05m in← LeftDenver
Near three hours in, Denver sits off the left side.
- 4h 45m in← LeftYosemite National Park
On descent, about 4 hours 45 minutes in, Yosemite National Park comes up on the left.
- 4h 45m in← LeftYosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls is also on the left at the same point, and it passes fairly close.
Landing
On approach to SFO, depending on the runway in use, the right side gets the better close-in sights. Oakland, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and San Francisco all sit to the right 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 IAD to SFO?
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 SFO 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 SFO?
The great-circle distance is 3,883 km (2,413 mi), which works out to roughly 5h 4m 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 for IAD to SFO?
Sit on the left for the best views. The tradeoff is sun on the same side for most daytime departures.
What will I see near landing at SFO?
The right side gets Oakland, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and San Francisco on approach. San Jose is on the left earlier in the descent.