The left side wins on both ends of the flight: a scenic left-turning departure over Washington D.C.'s monuments and river, and a descent into Seattle that keeps Mount Rainier and the Cascades in view before landing. The right side mostly offers flat Midwestern plains during cruise with no comparable bookend views.
Flight Path
Appalachian ridges over West Virginia, the Great Lakes region near Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, the Northern Great Plains of North Dakota, and the Rocky Mountain Front near Glacier National Park in Montana
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from DCA
LEFTDeparting DCA on Runway 01, the aircraft climbs north over the Potomac and then banks left to turn west toward Seattle, tilting the left side of the cabin down toward downtown Washington. This gives left-side passengers a clear, close view of the National Mall and river landmarks right as the plane levels off.
Landing at SEA
LEFTOn the descent into SEA from the east, the flight path crosses the Cascade Range and turns to align with the runway, keeping the volcanic bulk of Mount Rainier and the forested Cascade foothills on the left side of the cabin. Puget Sound opens up just before touchdown, adding a strong final visual on the same side.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Washington to Seattle. The left side wins on both ends of the flight: a scenic left-turning departure over Washington D.C.'s monuments and river, and a descent into Seattle that keeps Mount Rainier and the Cascades in view before landing. The right side mostly offers flat Midwestern plains during cruise with no comparable bookend views.
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. Departing DCA on Runway 01, the aircraft climbs north over the Potomac and then banks left to turn west toward Seattle, tilting the left side of the cabin down toward downtown Washington. This gives left-side passengers a clear, close view of the National Mall and river landmarks right as the plane levels off. Notable sights include: Washington Monument, U.S. Capitol, Potomac River, Pentagon.
What can I see when landing at Seattle Tacoma International in Seattle?
When landing at Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Left side for the best views. On the descent into SEA from the east, the flight path crosses the Cascade Range and turns to align with the runway, keeping the volcanic bulk of Mount Rainier and the forested Cascade foothills on the left side of the cabin. Puget Sound opens up just before touchdown, adding a strong final visual on the same side. Notable sights include: Mount Rainier, Cascade Range foothills, Puget Sound, Green River Valley.
How long is the flight from Washington to Seattle?
The flight from Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) takes 5h 45m.
What does the Washington to Seattle flight path pass over?
Appalachian ridges over West Virginia, the Great Lakes region near Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, the Northern Great Plains of North Dakota, and the Rocky Mountain Front near Glacier National Park in Montana