SFO to LAS: which side of the plane should you sit on?
San Francisco (SFO) to Las Vegas (LAS) is a 665 km (413 mi), roughly 1h 17m 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 LAS 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 | Both | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Left |
| September equinox | Both | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left side wins here on both views and shade.
Sit left. The route favors the left side for both views and shade, so you get the better sights without paying for them in glare.
Takeoff
On departure from SFO, sit left for the first views, depending on the runway in use. You can pick out the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Alcatraz Island, and then Oakland as you climb away.
En route
- 10m in← LeftStockton
About 10 minutes in, Stockton sits off the left side.
- 27m in← LeftSierra Nevada
The Sierra Nevada stays on the left around the same stretch, giving you the broad mountain backdrop.
- 28m in← LeftYosemite National Park
Around 28 minutes in, Yosemite National Park appears on the left, with Half Dome and Yosemite Falls nearby in the same view.
- 39m inRight →Kings Canyon National Park · passes underneath
Near 39 minutes in, Kings Canyon National Park is almost under you on the right, so it flashes by fast.
- 59m inRight →Death Valley · passes underneath
About 59 minutes in, Death Valley is nearly beneath the plane on the right, so expect a quick look down instead of a long sweep.
Landing
On approach to LAS, the left side stays useful, depending on the runway in use. Hoover Dam and Las Vegas come into view late, with Las Vegas nearly under you as you descend.
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 LAS?
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 LAS flights?
For sunrise or sunset views, sit on the side the table marks as the sun side for your departure time — that is where the light is.
How long is the flight from SFO to LAS?
The great-circle distance is 665 km (413 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 17m 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 LAS?
Sit on the left. It has the better views, and it is also the shade side.
What will I see on this flight?
You get the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco after takeoff, then Yosemite, the Sierra Nevada, and later Hoover Dam and Las Vegas on approach.