SFO to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
San Francisco (SFO) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 543 km (338 mi), roughly 1h 8m southbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SFO to LAX 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 | Left | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins on both views and shade.
Sit on the left side for this southbound hop. The left side gets the better views and the shade, so it wins twice.
Takeoff
On departure from SFO, depending on the runway in use, the left side gives you the quick payoff: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Oakland, Alcatraz Island, and the Golden Gate, all in the climb.
En route
- 10m in← LeftModesto
About 10 minutes in, Modesto sits off the left side as a city patchwork below.
- 21m inRight →Pinnacles National Park · passes underneath
Around 20 minutes in, Pinnacles National Park comes almost under you on the right, so it flashes by fast and steep.
- 28m in← LeftFresno
About 30 minutes in, Fresno stays on the left, a broad city shape in the valley.
- 37m in← LeftSequoia National Park
Roughly 40 minutes in, Sequoia National Park is also on the left. You see the mountain park spread out below, not up close.
- 48m in← LeftBakersfield
About 50 minutes in, Bakersfield holds the left side during descent.
- 1h inRight →Oxnard
Near 60 minutes in, Oxnard appears on the right, a brief counterpoint before landing.
Landing
On approach to LAX, depending on the runway in use, keep the left side. The final stretch brings Anaheim, Irvine, Long Beach, Santa Ana, and Santa Clarita into view on that side.
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 LAX?
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 LAX 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 SFO to LAX?
The great-circle distance is 543 km (338 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 8m in the air on this southbound 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 LAX?
Sit on the left. It gets the stronger views and the shade on this route.
What will I see on the SFO to LAX flight?
Early on, you can see Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Oakland, Alcatraz Island, and the Golden Gate on the left. Later you get Modesto, Fresno, Sequoia National Park, and Bakersfield, with Pinnacles National Park briefly near the right side.