About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Nashville International (BNA) to Southwest Florida International (RSW)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Nashville to Fort Myers. While takeoff offers good Nashville views on the right, the landing approach provides more dramatic and sustained coastal scenery on the left—the Gulf, barrier islands, and estuaries are visually distinctive and occupy a larger portion of the flight. Left-side seats capture the most memorable segment of this route.
What can I see during takeoff from Nashville International in Nashville?
During takeoff from Nashville International (BNA), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats capture the Cumberland River winding through downtown Nashville and the city's skyline during initial climb. BNA typically departs runways 20L/20R or 02L/02R; southbound departures on 20L/20R provide the best angle of the river and urban core to the right. Notable sights include: Cumberland River (distinctive meander through downtown), Nashville skyline and Broadway district, Percy Priest Lake (reservoir southeast of airport), rolling terrain of Middle Tennessee.
What can I see when landing at Southwest Florida International in Fort Myers?
When landing at Southwest Florida International (RSW), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats offer views of the Gulf of Mexico coastline, Sanibel Island, and Estero Bay during approach to RSW. Typical approach vectors from the north bring aircraft over these features on the left side during descent into runways 06 or 24. Notable sights include: Gulf of Mexico (open water), Sanibel Island and Captiva Island (barrier islands with distinctive shape), Estero Bay (shallow water body), Caloosahatchee River estuary.
How long is the flight from Nashville to Fort Myers?
The flight from Nashville International (BNA) to Southwest Florida International (RSW) takes Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.
What does the Nashville to Fort Myers flight path pass over?
The flight path crosses central Tennessee and Georgia, passing east of Chattanooga and the southern Appalachian foothills. Over northern Georgia and Alabama, the terrain transitions from rolling hills to flatter landscape. The flight then crosses into Florida, passing over the northern portion of the state with scattered lakes and cypress swamps visible. The Suwannee River basin and various lakes dot the landscape in north-central Florida. As the aircraft descends toward southwest Florida, the terrain becomes increasingly flat and wetland-dominated, with the Big Cypress Swamp and various coastal marshes becoming visible before reaching the Gulf coast near Fort Myers.