About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) to Los Angeles International (LAX)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Washington to Los Angeles. The left side wins overall because the DCA departure view of the National Mall and monuments is one of the most iconic urban aerial views in American aviation, and during the cruise the left side also faces south toward the Appalachians, the Mississippi River crossing, and the Mojave Desert terrain. The LAX arrival advantage on the right is real but shorter in duration.
What can I see during takeoff from Ronald Reagan Washington National in Washington?
During takeoff from Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), sit on the Left side for the best views. DCA's primary departure runway 01 heads north, then aircraft bank left (west) over the Potomac. The left side gets a direct view down the National Mall, the Capitol, and the monuments before the aircraft turns westward. Right side faces Virginia suburbs with no comparable landmarks. Notable sights include: National Mall and Lincoln Memorial, U.S. Capitol building, Potomac River, Arlington Memorial Bridge.
What can I see when landing at Los Angeles International in Los Angeles?
When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX's primary arrival runways 24L/24R have aircraft approaching from the east over the Los Angeles Basin. The right side faces south toward the Santa Monica Bay coastline, the South Bay cities, and the Pacific Ocean shoreline as you descend. Left side looks north into the San Fernando Valley and urban sprawl with less dramatic geography. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Bay, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Pacific Ocean coastline, LAX airport complex.
How long is the flight from Washington to Los Angeles?
The flight from Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 5 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 45 minutes westbound.
What does the Washington to Los Angeles flight path pass over?
After departing D.C., the flight crosses the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and West Virginia, then the flat agricultural plains of Kentucky and Missouri. The Mississippi River is visible near St. Louis roughly 90 minutes in. The flight then crosses the Ozark Plateau, Oklahoma and Texas panhandle grasslands, the Sangre de Cristo and southern Rocky Mountain ranges over New Mexico, the Mojave Desert, and the San Bernardino Mountains before descending into the Los Angeles Basin.