LAS to SFO: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Las Vegas (LAS) to San Francisco (SFO) is a 665 km (413 mi), roughly 1h 17m 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 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 | Both | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Right side wins on both views and shade.
Sit on the right. You get the view side and the shade side on the same wing, so this one is simple.
Takeoff
On departure from LAS, depending on the runway in use, the right side can pick up Hoover Dam and a near-overhead look at Las Vegas and North Las Vegas as you climb out.
En route
- 18m in← LeftDeath Valley · passes underneath
About 18 minutes in, Death Valley sits close and briefly under the left side. It is a sharp look at a broad desert basin.
- 38m in← LeftKings Canyon National Park · passes underneath
Around 38 minutes in, Kings Canyon National Park comes up close on the left. It passes nearly under you, so the view is quick but steep.
- 49m inRight →Half Dome
Near the 49-minute mark, Half Dome is off the right side. You see the granite shape from a distance, with Yosemite National Park beside it.
- 50m inRight →Yosemite Falls
About 50 minutes in, Yosemite Falls also sits on the right. From cruise height it is a small but clear landmark in the park below.
- 1h 04m inRight →Central Valley
Around 64 minutes in, the Central Valley stretches along the right side. It reads as a wide, flat expanse rather than a single point of interest.
Landing
On approach to SFO, depending on the runway in use, the right side keeps the good stuff: Oakland first, then San Francisco, Alcatraz Island, and the Golden Gate Bridge near touchdown. San Jose stays on the left, so this is the side to have 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 LAS 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 LAS 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 LAS to SFO?
The great-circle distance is 665 km (413 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 17m 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 Vegas to San Francisco?
Sit on the right. It is the view side and the shade side on this route.
What can I see on the LAS to SFO flight?
You can catch Hoover Dam after takeoff, then desert and Sierra Nevada landmarks, and finally San Francisco-area sights on arrival.