LAS to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Las Vegas (LAS) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 380 km (236 mi), roughly 0h 57m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LAS 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 | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side has the better views, but the right side is the shade side. If you want the scenery, sit left. If you want less sun, sit right.
On this westbound hop, the left side gets the better views, while the right side gets the shade. That puts you in a tradeoff seat: scenery on the left, glare on the right, especially with a mostly daytime schedule.
Takeoff
Soon after departure, and depending on the runway in use, you can catch Hoover Dam off the left side as you climb out. Las Vegas and North Las Vegas sit very close to the aircraft on the right, nearly under you, so that first minute is more about a quick overhead look than a wide view.
En route
- 14m in← LeftMojave Desert
About 14 minutes in, the Mojave Desert stretches out on the left. It reads as a broad tan expanse from cruise altitude.
- 28m inRight →Mount Whitney
Around 28 minutes in, Mount Whitney appears on the right. It stands out as a single high peak, but it is not the main view from the better side.
- 43m in← LeftSan Bernardino
About 43 minutes in, San Bernardino comes up on the left during descent. By then you are low enough for the urban grid to be easier to pick out.
- 44m in← LeftMoreno Valley
Just after that, around 44 minutes in, Moreno Valley is also on the left. It is part of the same built-up stretch, so the view feels continuous.
- 45m in← LeftFontana
At about 45 minutes in, Fontana follows on the left. The city sits close enough that the pattern of streets and blocks starts to matter more than distance.
- 46m in← LeftRiverside
Around 46 minutes in, Riverside stays on the left as you keep descending. It gives the route a run of city views on the better side.
Landing
On approach, and depending on the runway in use, the left side stays busy with Anaheim, Irvine, and Long Beach. The right side shifts to the San Fernando Valley and then Oxnard, so the final minutes are more about where you sit than about one single landmark.
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 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 LAS to LAX flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from LAS to LAX?
The great-circle distance is 380 km (236 mi), which works out to roughly 0h 57m 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 from LAS to LAX?
Sit on the left for the better views. Sit on the right if you want the shade side.
What will I see on the LAS to LAX flight?
You get Hoover Dam after takeoff, the Mojave Desert midflight, and then a string of Southern California cities on descent.