SFO to JFK: which side of the plane should you sit on?
San Francisco (SFO) to New York (JFK) is a 4,152 km (2,580 mi), roughly 5h 23m 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 JFK 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
Your best views are on the right, and that is also the sunny side. If you fly later in the day, the sun moves to the left, which takes some of the edge off.
Sit on the right for the best views. That side also gets the sun, so you trade glare for the stronger scenery. On an evening departure, the light shifts left and the right side gets easier on the eyes.
Takeoff
After departure, the left side gets the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Oakland, and Alcatraz Island, depending on the runway in use. The right side picks up San Jose a couple of minutes in, so that side starts with the broader inland view.
En route
- 18m inRight →Yosemite Falls
About 20 minutes in, the right side gets Yosemite Falls and the Sierra Nevada. It is a quick high-angle look, not a long linger.
- 19m inRight →Yosemite National Park
A minute later, Yosemite National Park stays on the right. You are seeing the park from far enough up to catch the scale, not the details.
- 1h 54m inRight →Rocky Mountain National Park
Around two hours in, Rocky Mountain National Park sits on the right. It is one of the cleaner big-landscape views on the route.
- 4h 43m inRight →Pittsburgh
Near the last hour, Pittsburgh comes up on the right. It is a city view that feels tucked into the landscape from this height.
Landing
On descent, the left side gets Long Island, the Harlem River, and the Brooklyn Bridge, depending on the runway in use. Brooklyn Bridge comes up almost under you, so it is a fast, steep look on that side before New York City itself slides by.
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 JFK?
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 JFK 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 JFK?
The great-circle distance is 4,152 km (2,580 mi), which works out to roughly 5h 23m 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 from SFO to JFK?
Sit on the right. It has the stronger views on this route, though it is also the sunny side.
What will I see on the SFO to JFK flight?
On the right, you get Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Pittsburgh. Near landing, the left side gets Long Island, the Harlem River, Brooklyn Bridge, and New York City.