SEA to SLC: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Seattle (SEA) to Salt Lake City (SLC) is a 1,107 km (688 mi), roughly 1h 48m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SEA to SLC 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 | Left | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side is the better pick for views, and the right side is also the sun side. So you are choosing scenery with some glare. If you want the strongest look outside, sit right. If you want less sun, the left side is the cooler choice.
The right side wins the views, but it also gets the sun. You get the best look at the mountains and the lake on the right, while the left stays quieter and more shaded.
Takeoff
After takeoff from SEA, depending on the runway in use, the right side gets the quick payoff. About 7 minutes in, you can see the Cascade Range and Mount Rainier off to the right. Tacoma follows on the right about a minute after that.
En route
- 9m inRight →Mount St. Helens
About 9 minutes in, Mount St. Helens sits off the right side. It is a sharp volcanic peak, so it reads cleanly from the window.
- 13m inRight →Mount Adams
A few minutes later, Mount Adams stays on the right too. You get another volcanic summit, lower on the horizon but still easy to pick out.
- 1h 02m inRight →Boise
Around an hour in, Boise is off the right side. From cruise height, it shows up as a compact city shape rather than a full sprawl.
- 1h 12m in← LeftRocky Mountains
About 72 minutes in, the Rocky Mountains are off the left side. They are the counterview here, but they are not the better side on this route.
Landing
On descent into SLC, depending on the runway in use, the right side gets one last feature: the Great Salt Lake. About 102 minutes in, it passes very close and nearly under the aircraft, so it is a brief, steep look down to the right.
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 SEA to SLC?
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 SEA to SLC 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 SEA to SLC?
The great-circle distance is 1,107 km (688 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 48m 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 should I sit on for SEA to SLC?
Sit on the right. It gives you the stronger views on this route, including the volcanoes and the Great Salt Lake.
Will the sun be on my side from SEA to SLC?
Yes, the right side gets the sun on typical departures, so the view side also comes with more light.