LAS to SEA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Las Vegas (LAS) to Seattle (SEA) is a 1,395 km (867 mi), roughly 2h 8m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LAS to SEA 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 | Right | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left wins for views, but right wins for shade. It is a real tradeoff on this route: the best scenery comes with more sun on the same side.
Sit left for the views. You get the strongest mountain side, but that is also the sunny side on this northbound daytime flight. If you want shade, pick right. If you want the better window, pick left.
Takeoff
After takeoff from LAS, keep your eyes right, depending on the runway in use. Hoover Dam is off that side first, then Las Vegas and North Las Vegas pass very close and almost under you on the same side as you climb.
En route
- 1h 47m in← LeftMount Hood
About 107 minutes in, Mount Hood sits off the left side. It is a sharp, snowcapped volcano shape on the horizon.
- 1h 54m in← LeftMount Adams · passes underneath
A few minutes later, Mount Adams comes very close on the left, nearly under the aircraft. It is a fast, steep look at another Cascade volcano.
- 1h 56m in← LeftMount St. Helens
Just after that, Mount St. Helens stays left. It is farther out, so you get a cleaner profile than a close pass.
Landing
On descent, stay left for the stronger mountain-side sequence, depending on the runway in use. The Cascade Range and Mount Rainier come in on the right and Mount Rainier is nearly overhead, while Tacoma is left and Seattle and Lake Washington sit to the right near the end.
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 SEA?
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 SEA 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 SEA?
The great-circle distance is 1,395 km (867 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 8m in the air on this northbound 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 SEA?
Sit on the left for the best views. Sit on the right if you want the shaded side instead.
What will I see near Seattle on this flight?
Near landing, the right side gets the Cascade Range, Mount Rainier, Seattle, and Lake Washington. Tacoma is on the left.