MIA to LGA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Miami (MIA) to New York (LGA) is a 1,768 km (1,099 mi), roughly 2h 35m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime MIA to LGA 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
Left side gives you the views, but it also gets the sun. If you want the scenery, sit left and expect some glare. If you want the shade, the right side is calmer.
You want the left side for the views. You also get the sun on that side, so expect glare on a daytime trip. The tradeoff is simple: better scenery, brighter window.
Takeoff
On departure from MIA, the left side starts working fast, depending on the runway in use. You can see Everglades National Park off to the left at liftoff, then Hialeah comes very close on the left about a minute in.
En route
- 14m in← LeftPort St. Lucie
About 15 minutes in, Port St. Lucie sits on the left. It is a distant city shape, not a close-up.
- 23m in← LeftOrlando
Around 20 to 25 minutes in, Orlando stays on the left as a broad urban patch.
- 24m in← LeftCape Canaveral
A minute later, Cape Canaveral is also on the left. You are looking for a thin coastal edge more than detail.
- 1h 37m in← LeftRaleigh
Near the halfway point, Raleigh appears far to the left. It is more of a large city marker than a close view.
- 1h 54m in← LeftVirginia Beach · passes underneath
Virginia Beach passes almost under you on the left around 114 minutes in, so it flashes by quickly and steeply.
- 1h 57m in← LeftChesapeake Bay
Just after that, Chesapeake Bay spreads out on the left as a wide water shape.
Landing
On descent into LGA, the left side still carries the action, depending on the runway in use. Newark, Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, and the East River all stack up late in the flight, with those last three nearly under you on the left.
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 MIA to LGA?
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 MIA to LGA 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 MIA to LGA?
The great-circle distance is 1,768 km (1,099 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 35m 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 MIA to LGA?
Sit on the left. That is the views side for this route, though it also gets the sun.
Will I see anything near New York on arrival?
Yes. On the left, you can catch Newark, then Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, and the East River very late in the descent.