SLC to SEA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Salt Lake City (SLC) to Seattle (SEA) is a 1,107 km (688 mi), roughly 1h 48m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SLC 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 left side has the better views, but it is also the sunny side. If you want the clearest look outside, sit left. If you want less glare, sit right.
You want the left side for this one. It gets the best views, but it also takes the sun, so you choose between scenery and shade. On a daytime flight, that tradeoff matters.
Takeoff
Depending on the runway in use, look left soon after departure. About 6 minutes in, the Great Salt Lake sits almost under you, so it flashes by fast and steeply.
En route
- 36m inRight →Rocky Mountains
Around 36 minutes in, the Rocky Mountains stay off to the right. You see a broad mountain wall rather than a close pass.
- 46m in← LeftBoise
About 46 minutes in, Boise comes up on the left. You get a clean city outline, not a long linger.
- 1h 35m in← LeftMount Adams
Near 95 minutes in, Mount Adams appears on the left during descent. It is a clear volcano shape, and it does not sit far off your side.
- 1h 39m in← LeftMount St. Helens
A few minutes later, Mount St. Helens also falls to the left. It is another sharp volcanic peak as you start down.
Landing
Depending on the runway in use, the last stretch stays left-heavy for views. Around 101 minutes in, the Cascade Range and Mount Rainier both line up on that side, while Tacoma is left and Seattle and Lake Washington sit to the right near 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 SLC 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 SLC 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 SLC to SEA?
The great-circle distance is 1,107 km (688 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 48m 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 SLC to SEA?
Sit on the left for the better views. It also gets the sun, so the right side is the shadier choice.
What will I see on the way into Seattle?
Late in the flight, the left side gets the Cascade Range, Mount Rainier, and Tacoma. Seattle and Lake Washington are on the right near landing.