LAX to ATL: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Los Angeles (LAX) to Atlanta (ATL) is a 3,126 km (1,942 mi), roughly 4h 11m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LAX to ATL 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 | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins on both views and shade.
Sit on the left for the best mix of views and shade. The west-facing climb gives you the better window side, and the left stays quieter from the sun too.
Takeoff
On departure from LAX, depending on the runway in use, the left side can show the San Fernando Valley early in the climb. The first minutes are busy on both sides, with Long Beach, Anaheim, and Irvine off to the right.
En route
- 23m in← LeftMojave Desert
About 20 minutes in, the Mojave Desert spreads out on the left as a wide tan stretch.
- 48m in← LeftGrand Canyon
Roughly 50 minutes in, the Grand Canyon sits far off the left side. It is a steep cut in the land, so you catch the shape more than the detail.
- 1h 04m in← LeftPetrified Forest National Park
Around an hour in, Petrified Forest National Park stays on the left. You are looking for broad, dry country rather than a single feature.
- 1h 27m in← LeftAlbuquerque
About an hour and a half in, Albuquerque is off the left side as the route keeps pushing east.
- 3h 28m in← LeftMemphis
Near three and a half hours in, Memphis comes into view on the left before descent starts.
Landing
On arrival into ATL, depending on the runway in use, the left side has the better look at Atlanta, and it comes almost under the aircraft near touchdown. Expect a brief, steep view rather than a long pass.
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 LAX to ATL?
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 LAX to ATL 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 LAX to ATL?
The great-circle distance is 3,126 km (1,942 mi), which works out to roughly 4h 11m 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 of the plane is best from LAX to ATL?
Sit on the left. It is the view side, and it is also the shade side.
What can I see on this flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta?
You get the San Fernando Valley after takeoff, then desert and Southwest landmarks like the Mojave Desert, the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest National Park, Albuquerque, and Memphis on the left.