Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Austin to Washington. The left side delivers the best views at both ends of the flight — downtown Austin and Lady Bird Lake on departure, and the Potomac River corridor with the DC skyline on approach. During the cruise portion heading northeast, the left side also faces generally north-northwest, giving better views of the Tennessee River valley and Appalachian ridgelines as the flight crosses into the mid-Atlantic states.

During takeoff from Austin Bergstrom International (AUS), sit on the Left side for the best views. AUS typically departs northeast on runway 17L/35R or 18L/36R. A northeast departure climbing left gives you a view back over downtown Austin and Lady Bird Lake. The Colorado River corridor and the Texas Hill Country to the west are clearly visible on the left side during the climbing turn. Notable sights include: Lady Bird Lake and downtown Austin skyline, Colorado River corridor heading west, Texas Hill Country terrain to the west, Lake Travis reservoir visible in the distance.

When landing at Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Dulles typically receives arrivals from the west or southwest on runways 01L/19R or 01C/19C. An approach from the southwest on a northeasterly heading puts the left side facing northwest toward the Potomac River and the Washington DC monuments. The National Mall, the Potomac, and the Virginia suburbs are clearly laid out on the left during final approach. Notable sights include: Potomac River and its wide bends through the DC metro area, Washington Monument and National Mall visible on the left horizon, Tysons Corner urban cluster in the middle distance, Dulles Access Road corridor leading straight to the airport.

The flight from Austin Bergstrom International (AUS) to Washington Dulles International (IAD) takes Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours.

The flight crosses the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, the Mississippi River near Memphis (a major visual landmark — wide, brown, and unmistakable), the Tennessee River valley, the Cumberland Plateau, and the western ridges of the Appalachians in Virginia before descending into the DC metro area. The Mississippi crossing is typically the single most dramatic geographic feature of the flight.