About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL) to Salt Lake City International (SLC)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Atlanta to Salt Lake City. The left side wins overall. While you sacrifice the Atlanta skyline view on takeoff, the left side tracks the Colorado Rockies through the middle of the flight and delivers the spectacular Wasatch Front on approach into SLC. The right side has better takeoff views but faces west into the Great Basin desert for most of the descent.
What can I see during takeoff from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International in Atlanta?
During takeoff from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL), sit on the Right side for the best views. ATL typically departs westbound on runways 26L/26R or northwestbound on 28. A right-side seat gives you a view back over downtown Atlanta's skyline as you climb out, then the Chattahoochee River valley becomes visible. The left side faces south toward largely featureless suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Downtown Atlanta skyline, Chattahoochee River, Stone Mountain (distinctive granite dome to the northeast), Lake Allatoona.
What can I see when landing at Salt Lake City International in Salt Lake City?
When landing at Salt Lake City International (SLC), sit on the Left side for the best views. SLC typically lands eastbound on runways 16L/16R or 17, approaching from the north or west. A left-side seat gives you a prolonged view of the Wasatch Front — the dramatic east wall of the Salt Lake Valley — including the peaks above Salt Lake City. The right side looks west over the flat, featureless Great Salt Lake Desert. Notable sights include: Wasatch Range (Mount Olympus, Twin Peaks), Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City grid, Utah Lake to the south.
How long is the flight from Atlanta to Salt Lake City?
The flight from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL) to Salt Lake City International (SLC) takes Approximately 3 hours 15 minutes.
What does the Atlanta to Salt Lake City flight path pass over?
The flight crosses the southern Appalachians over Tennessee, then tracks over the Cumberland Plateau and Mississippi River near Memphis. Over Arkansas and Oklahoma the terrain flattens into the Great Plains. The route then crosses the southern Rockies over Colorado — the San Juan Mountains and the Sawatch Range are visible — before crossing the Wasatch Plateau and descending into the Salt Lake Valley. The Four Corners region and canyon country of southeastern Utah may be visible depending on exact routing.