LGA to MIA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
New York (LGA) to Miami (MIA) is a 1,768 km (1,099 mi), roughly 2h 35m southbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LGA to MIA 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 | Both | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins on views and shade, so that’s the easy pick.
Sit on the right. It’s the view side and the shade side on this southbound run, so one seat choice covers both.
Takeoff
On departure from LGA, the right side is the one to have, depending on the runway in use. Very early on, you get New York City and the Brooklyn Bridge nearly under you, then Newark off to the right as you climb out.
En route
- 19m inRight →Delaware Bay
About 20 minutes in, Delaware Bay sits off the right. It reads as a broad patch of water, not a tiny sliver.
- 25m inRight →Washington, D.C.
Around 25 minutes in, Washington, D.C. stays on the right. You’re looking for the city spread, not a single landmark.
- 38m inRight →Chesapeake Bay
By about 40 minutes in, Chesapeake Bay is on the right. It’s another wide water shape that anchors the route.
- 41m inRight →Virginia Beach · passes underneath
About 41 minutes in, Virginia Beach comes very close on the right, almost under you. It’s a quick, steep look rather than a long pass.
- 58m inRight →Raleigh
Roughly an hour in, Raleigh is still off the right side. It’s a farther city view, so expect a brief one.
Landing
On arrival into MIA, keep the right side, depending on the runway in use. Hialeah comes up almost under you near the end, with Everglades National Park on the right and Biscayne National Park on the left 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 LGA to MIA?
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 LGA to MIA 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 LGA to MIA?
The great-circle distance is 1,768 km (1,099 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 35m in the air on this southbound 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 should I sit on from LGA to MIA?
Sit on the right. It gets the best views and the shade on this route.
What will I see near landing into Miami?
Near landing, Hialeah is close on the right. You also get Everglades National Park on the right and Biscayne National Park on the left.