LAS to DEN: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Las Vegas (LAS) to Denver (DEN) is a 1,009 km (627 mi), roughly 1h 41m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LAS to DEN 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 | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Both | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are split on this flight, so they do not pick a winner. The left side gives you the shade.
This route is a tradeoff. The views are spread across both sides, so the deciding factor is shade: sit left for the calmer cabin side.
Takeoff
After takeoff, and depending on the runway in use, the climb gives you a quick look at Las Vegas and North Las Vegas on the left. Hoover Dam and Lake Mead sit to the right a few minutes later.
En route
- 23m in← LeftZion National Park
About 20 minutes in, Zion National Park is off the left side.
- 25m inRight →Grand Canyon
A few minutes later, the Grand Canyon is off the right side.
- 53m inRight →Canyonlands National Park · passes underneath
Around the halfway point, Canyonlands National Park comes very close on the right. It passes almost under you, so the view is brief.
- 57m in← LeftArches National Park
Not long after, Arches National Park is on the left.
- 1h 24m inRight →Mount Elbert
On descent, Mount Elbert is on the right as you head into Colorado.
Landing
On approach, and depending on the runway in use, Rocky Mountain National Park is off the left side. Denver and Aurora then come in close on the right, with Denver nearly under the aircraft near touchdown.
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 LAS to DEN?
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 LAS to DEN flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the left side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from LAS to DEN?
The great-circle distance is 1,009 km (627 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 41m 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 LAS to DEN for views?
Views are split, so they do not choose the seat. Sit left if you want the shade side.
What will I see on the LAS to DEN flight?
You get a mix of desert and canyon country: Hoover Dam and Lake Mead after departure, then Zion, the Grand Canyon, Canyonlands, Arches, and mountains near Denver.