SFO to IAD: which side of the plane should you sit on?
San Francisco (SFO) to Dulles (IAD) is a 3,883 km (2,413 mi), roughly 5h 4m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SFO to IAD 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 | Right | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins on views, but it is also the sunny side on typical daytime departures. If you want the clearest look at the route, pick right. If you want less glare, pick left.
Sit on the right for the better views. Just know that side also takes the sun for most of the day, so you trade glare for scenery.
Takeoff
Depending on the runway in use, the opening climb can show Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Alcatraz Island, and Oakland off the left side. A few minutes later, San Jose sits to the right.
En route
- 19m inRight →Sierra Nevada
About 20 minutes in, the Sierra Nevada sits off the right side as a long mountain wall.
- 19m inRight →Yosemite Falls
Right after that, Yosemite Falls flashes by on the right. It is brief, but it stands out as a thin drop against the rock.
- 19m inRight →Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is also on the right around the same time, spread out below as a large stretch of rugged terrain.
- 1h 59m inRight →Denver
About two hours in, Denver appears on the right as a dense city shape.
- 4h 55m inRight →Appalachian Mountains
Near the end of cruise, the Appalachian Mountains come up on the right before descent.
Landing
Depending on the runway in use, the descent can bring Shenandoah National Park into view on the right about five minutes before landing. Washington, D.C. then sits to the left near touchdown.
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 SFO to IAD?
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 SFO to IAD 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 SFO to IAD?
The great-circle distance is 3,883 km (2,413 mi), which works out to roughly 5h 4m 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 SFO to IAD views?
Sit on the right. That side has the stronger route views on this flight.
Which side is the shady side on SFO to IAD?
The left side is the shady side on typical daytime departures.