Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Denver to Bakersfield. The left seat wins overall because the Rocky Mountain Front Range departure view is genuinely spectacular and hard to beat. The landing views into Bakersfield are modest regardless of side, so the takeoff experience from the left seat carries the flight.

During takeoff from Denver International (DEN), sit on the Left side for the best views. DEN typically departs westbound on runway 16R/34L or uses east-west runways. On a westbound departure toward California, the left (south) side gives you the best view of the Front Range of the Rockies, including Pikes Peak and the Denver metro sprawl. The right side faces north toward open plains with little of interest. Notable sights include: Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Pikes Peak (14,115 ft), Denver city grid, Cherry Creek Reservoir.

When landing at Meadows Fld (BFL), sit on the Right side for the best views. BFL typically lands on runway 30L/30R (heading roughly northwest) or runway 12 (southeast). On approach from the east over the San Joaquin Valley, the right side faces south toward the Tehachapi Mountains and the visible transition from the valley floor to the ranges. The left side looks north over flat agricultural valley with less visual interest. Notable sights include: San Joaquin Valley agricultural patchwork, Tehachapi Mountains, Kern River oil fields, Bakersfield city grid.

The flight from Denver International (DEN) to Meadows Fld (BFL) takes Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.

After clearing the Rockies, the flight crosses the Great Basin over southern Utah and Nevada — expect the pale salt flats and eroded canyon terrain of the Colorado Plateau transitioning to the Basin and Range province. The Sierra Nevada appears on the western horizon before descent, and the Mojave Desert transitions into the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley near Tehachapi Pass.