While takeoff offers good Connecticut River views, the landing approach into BWI provides more dramatic and varied scenery—the Chesapeake Bay system, estuaries, and the transition into a major metropolitan area make the descent more visually rewarding than the climb-out.
Flown BDL to BWI? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Windsor Locks to Baltimore is 283 miles (455 km), a flight of about 1 hour 15 minutes.
The flight path crosses the Hudson River valley (visible from altitude as a north-south linear feature), passes over the Appalachian ridge-and-valley province of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, crosses the Delaware River (marking the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border), and then transitions into the Piedmont region of Maryland before descending toward the Chesapeake Bay coastal plain. The Appalachian ridges create a series of parallel linear shadows across the landscape during midpoint of the flight.
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from BDL
RIGHTRight-side seats capture the Connecticut River valley and the transition from central Connecticut's forested terrain toward the Hudson River valley. You'll see the river's distinctive meandering path and the surrounding ridge-and-valley topography that defines this region.
Landing at BWI
LEFTLeft-side seats offer views of the Patuxent River, Chesapeake Bay's northern reaches, and the Patapsco River estuary as you descend into BWI. These water features and the transition from rural Maryland to the Baltimore metropolitan area provide strong visual interest during final approach.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Bradley International (BDL) to Baltimore Washington International (BWI)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Windsor Locks to Baltimore. While takeoff offers good Connecticut River views, the landing approach into BWI provides more dramatic and varied scenery—the Chesapeake Bay system, estuaries, and the transition into a major metropolitan area make the descent more visually rewarding than the climb-out.
What can I see during takeoff from Bradley International in Windsor Locks?
During takeoff from Bradley International (BDL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats capture the Connecticut River valley and the transition from central Connecticut's forested terrain toward the Hudson River valley. You'll see the river's distinctive meandering path and the surrounding ridge-and-valley topography that defines this region. Notable sights include: Connecticut River (flowing south below the airport), Metacomet Ridge (elevated terrain to the west), Hartford metropolitan area (visible to the south-southwest), and the forested lowlands of central Connecticut.
What can I see when landing at Baltimore Washington International in Baltimore?
When landing at Baltimore Washington International (BWI), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats offer views of the Patuxent River, Chesapeake Bay's northern reaches, and the Patapsco River estuary as you descend into BWI. These water features and the transition from rural Maryland to the Baltimore metropolitan area provide strong visual interest during final approach. Notable sights include: Patapsco River estuary (visible near the airport), Chesapeake Bay's northern arm (to the east and northeast), Patuxent River (to the south), and Baltimore's urban grid and Inner Harbor.
How long is the flight from Windsor Locks to Baltimore?
The flight from Bradley International (BDL) to Baltimore Washington International (BWI) takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 283 miles (455 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Windsor Locks to Baltimore flight path pass over?
The flight path crosses the Hudson River valley (visible from altitude as a north-south linear feature), passes over the Appalachian ridge-and-valley province of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, crosses the Delaware River (marking the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border), and then transitions into the Piedmont region of Maryland before descending toward the Chesapeake Bay coastal plain. The Appalachian ridges create a series of parallel linear shadows across the landscape during midpoint of the flight.