SLC to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Salt Lake City (SLC) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 949 km (590 mi), roughly 1h 37m southbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SLC to LAX 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 | Left | Left | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views do not pick a winner here. The right side is the shade side, so that is the safer pick if you want less sun.
This route is split for views. You get a few good looks on both sides, so the shade side matters more than the scenery call.
Takeoff
Right after takeoff, depending on the runway in use, you may catch the Great Salt Lake on the right as you climb out.
En route
- 28m inRight →Great Basin National Park
About half an hour in, Great Basin National Park sits on the right. It is a brief look, but the mountain shape stands out over the desert.
- 28m inRight →Great Basin Desert
At the same time, the Great Basin Desert is also on the right. Expect a wide tan sweep with very little detail.
- 58m in← LeftHoover Dam
Around an hour in, Hoover Dam passes on the left. It is a small, hard-edged structure in a dry landscape, so you need a clear window.
- 59m in← LeftLas Vegas
Just after that, Las Vegas is on the left. You are not getting a map-like tour, just a quick city grid against the surrounding desert.
- 1h 05m inRight →Death Valley
A few minutes later, Death Valley is on the right. From this height it reads more like a broad basin than a single feature.
Landing
On descent, depending on the runway in use, the last views come from both sides: San Fernando Valley on the right, then Anaheim, Irvine, Long Beach, and Oxnard split left and right as you come in.
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 SLC to LAX?
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 SLC 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 SLC to LAX?
The great-circle distance is 949 km (590 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 37m 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 SLC to LAX?
Sit on the right if you want the shade side. Views are mixed, so shade is the cleaner rule on this route.
What will I see on the SLC to LAX flight?
You get the Great Salt Lake after takeoff, then desert and park views en route, plus a mix of city and valley views near landing.