About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Nashville International (BNA) to Salt Lake City International (SLC)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Nashville to Salt Lake City. While takeoff favors the right, the landing view into Salt Lake City is significantly more dramatic and geographically distinctive. The Wasatch Range and Great Salt Lake provide far more compelling visuals than the Nashville departure, making left-side seats the better overall choice for 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 grid expanding eastward. Departures typically use runways 20L/20R (southbound), so right seats get the best angle on the river and urban core as you climb out. Notable sights include: Cumberland River (distinctive S-curve through downtown), Nashville's downtown skyline, Percy Priest Lake (reservoir southeast of the airport), Tennessee hills rolling eastward.
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. Left seats provide the best view during approach into Salt Lake City. Typical landing runways are 16L/16R (northbound) or 34L/34R (southbound). For northbound approaches, left seats face the Wasatch Range directly, and you'll see the Great Salt Lake off the left wing as you descend into the valley. Notable sights include: Wasatch Range (jagged peaks immediately adjacent to the airport), Great Salt Lake (large body of water west of the airport), Salt Lake Valley floor (urban grid of Salt Lake City), Oquirrh Mountains (western rim of the valley).
How long is the flight from Nashville to Salt Lake City?
The flight from Nashville International (BNA) to Salt Lake City International (SLC) takes Approximately 3 hours 15 minutes.
What does the Nashville to Salt Lake City flight path pass over?
The flight path crosses the Cumberland Plateau (eastern Tennessee), then the Appalachian foothills, transitioning into the flat Mississippi River valley near Memphis. Over Arkansas and Missouri, you'll see the Mississippi River itself (visible as a dark, winding line at altitude). Continuing northwest, the landscape becomes increasingly arid as you approach the Rocky Mountain region. The Wasatch Range becomes visible roughly 100 miles east of Salt Lake City, appearing as a distinct north-south trending mountain wall on the horizon. The Great Basin's high desert terrain dominates the final approach segment.