LAX to SFO: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Los Angeles (LAX) to San Francisco (SFO) is a 543 km (338 mi), roughly 1h 8m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LAX 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 | 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
The right side wins on both views and shade.
On this LAX to SFO hop, the right side gets the better views and the shade. Sit there if you want the strongest scenery without the sun in your eyes.
Takeoff
After takeoff from LAX, depending on the runway in use, the right side is the one to watch. In the climb, you can spot Anaheim, Irvine, Long Beach, and Santa Ana off that side, then Santa Clarita about 6 minutes in.
En route
- 20m inRight →Bakersfield
About 20 minutes in, Bakersfield sits on the right, a clear city landmark as you climb north.
- 27m inRight →Mount Whitney
Around 27 minutes in, Mount Whitney is off the right. It is a distant high peak, so you see a sharp mountain shape rather than a close-up view.
- 31m inRight →Sequoia National Park
At about 31 minutes, Sequoia National Park stays on the right. From cruise height, that means a wide mountain corridor, not a single feature.
- 40m inRight →Fresno
Near 40 minutes in, Fresno is on the right again, another city marker in the central valley stretch.
- 47m in← LeftPinnacles National Park · passes underneath
Around 47 minutes in, Pinnacles National Park passes almost under you on the left. It is brief and steep in the window, so it is more a quick glance than a long look.
Landing
On descent into SFO, depending on the runway in use, keep the right side for the best finishing views. That side picks up the Golden Gate Bridge, Oakland, San Francisco, Alcatraz Island, and the Golden Gate 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 LAX 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 LAX to SFO 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 SFO?
The great-circle distance is 543 km (338 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 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 of the plane is best from LAX to SFO?
The right side. It has the stronger views and it is also the shade side.
What can you see after takeoff from LAX?
Depending on the runway in use, the right side picks up Anaheim, Irvine, Long Beach, Santa Ana, and then Santa Clarita a few minutes later.