About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Denver International (DEN) to La Guardia (LGA)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Denver to New York. Left side wins both ends of the flight — the Rocky Mountain Front Range on departure and the Manhattan skyline on approach. Over the Great Plains the views are similar on both sides, but the left side delivers the two most dramatic moments of the route.
What can I see during takeoff from Denver International in Denver?
During takeoff from Denver International (DEN), sit on the Left side for the best views. DEN typically departs eastward on runways 25L/25R (heading ~250) or northward, but the most common eastbound departures swing south then east, giving the left (south) side a clear view of the Front Range. The Rocky Mountains including Pikes Peak and the entire Front Range are dramatically visible on the left as the aircraft climbs and turns eastbound. Notable sights include: Front Range of the Rockies, Pikes Peak (14,115 ft), Denver city grid below, Rocky Mountain foothills.
What can I see when landing at La Guardia in New York?
When landing at La Guardia (LGA), sit on the Left side for the best views. LGA sits on the north shore of Queens, and aircraft typically approach from the west or southwest over New Jersey on the ILS to runway 13 or from the north on runway 31. A southwest approach gives the left side a direct view over Manhattan, the Hudson River, and the East River bridges before crossing into Queens. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, East River, Hudson River, Rikers Island.
How long is the flight from Denver to New York?
The flight from Denver International (DEN) to La Guardia (LGA) takes Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes.
What does the Denver to New York flight path pass over?
The flight tracks roughly along the 40th parallel eastbound across the Great Plains. Notable features include the Platte River valley visible shortly after departure, the flat agricultural checkerboard of Nebraska and Iowa, the Missouri River marking the Nebraska-Iowa border, the Mississippi River near the Iowa-Illinois border, and the urban sprawl of Chicago visible to the north if routing takes a northern arc. Over Indiana and Ohio the terrain remains flat with extensive farmland before the Appalachian foothills appear subtly in Pennsylvania on approach to New York.