MCO to EWR: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Orlando (MCO) to Newark (EWR) is a 1,511 km (939 mi), roughly 2h 17m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime MCO to EWR 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 | Both | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left side wins on both views and shade.
Fly left for the best views, and left is also the shade side. You get the better window and less glare on this route.
Takeoff
After takeoff from MCO, depending on the runway in use, Orlando can sit almost under your wing on the left. A few minutes later, Cape Canaveral is off to the right.
En route
- 16m in← LeftJacksonville
About 15 minutes in, Jacksonville stays on the left. It is a distant city shape, not a close-up skyline.
- 51m in← LeftCongaree National Park
Around 50 minutes in, Congaree National Park is also on the left. You see a broad green patch, not a single landmark.
- 1h 17m in← LeftRaleigh
Near 75 minutes in, Raleigh is on the left. It reads as a large urban area from cruising height.
- 1h 33m in← LeftEast Coast of the United States
About an hour and a half in, the East Coast of the United States runs along the left side before the route starts bending north again.
- 1h 52m in← LeftDelmarva Peninsula · passes underneath
On descent, the Delmarva Peninsula comes very close on the left. It passes almost under the aircraft, so the view is brief and steep.
Landing
On approach to EWR, depending on the runway in use, the right side gets the New York-area finale. Long Island, the East River, the George Washington Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, and the Harlem River all line up on that side.
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 MCO to EWR?
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 MCO to EWR 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 MCO to EWR?
The great-circle distance is 1,511 km (939 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 17m 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 for MCO to EWR?
Sit on the left. It has the better views, and it is also the shade side.
What do you see near Newark on this flight?
Near landing, the right side gets Long Island, the East River, the George Washington Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, and the Harlem River.