SFO to SEA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
San Francisco (SFO) to Seattle (SEA) is a 1,093 km (679 mi), roughly 1h 47m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SFO to SEA departures the sun favors the left side — sit on the right (a window on the right) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins on both views and shade.
Sit on the right for the best scenery and the shade side. The left side has the sun, but the right side gets the stronger route views too.
Takeoff
After departure from SFO, depending on the runway in use, the right side gets the first good look. San Jose and Fremont sit off that side right away, then Stockton follows a few minutes in. Golden Gate Bridge is on the left and can pass steeply below you, while Oakland is also on the right and may feel close as you climb.
En route
- 10m inRight →Sacramento
About 10 minutes in, Sacramento sits on the right.
- 41m inRight →Mount Shasta · passes underneath
Around 40 minutes in, Mount Shasta is on the right and nearly under you, so it comes into view fast.
- 58m inRight →Crater Lake
Near the hour mark, Crater Lake is on the right.
- 1h 24m inRight →Mount Hood
About 1 hour 25 minutes in, Mount Hood is on the right as you start down.
- 1h 33m inRight →Mount St. Helens · passes underneath
A little after that, Mount St. Helens is on the right and nearly overhead, so it flashes by quickly.
Landing
On approach to SEA, depending on the runway in use, the right side keeps the stronger mountain views. The Cascade Range and Mount Rainier sit off to that side about 10 minutes before landing. Tacoma is briefly on the left near 5 minutes out, then Seattle and Lake Washington appear close to 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 SEA?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the left side of the aircraft, so the right side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose the highest window letter (F on narrowbodies, K on many widebodies).
Which side has the sunset views on SFO to SEA 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 SEA?
The great-circle distance is 1,093 km (679 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 47m in the air on this northbound 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 SEA?
Sit on the right. It has the better views, and it is also the shade side.
What will I see on the SFO to SEA flight?
You get city views after departure, then a run of volcanoes and one lake on the right, with the strongest approach views near Seattle.