The right side tracks the north edge of the flight path for most of the crossing — brushing the southern Rockies and Grand Canyon country in Arizona, catching Sierra Nevada peaks near Yosemite, and finishing with the iconic San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge on approach — while the left side mostly overlooks empty desert and the flat Central Valley.
Flight Path
Colorado Plateau and Painted Desert of northern Arizona, the Little Colorado River canyon, and the southern rim country near the Grand Canyon, giving way westward to the Mojave Desert basin and the eastern Sierra Nevada front.
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from DFW
RIGHTDFW's south-flow departures climb out over flat North Texas prairie on both sides, but the right side gets a brief look at the Fort Worth skyline and the lakes northwest of the metroplex as the aircraft turns onto its westbound heading.
Landing at SFO
RIGHTArrivals into SFO from the east cross the Diablo Range and San Francisco Bay, and the north-facing side offers the money shot: the San Francisco skyline, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge as the plane lines up for the runway.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) to San Francisco International (SFO)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Dallas-Fort Worth to San Francisco. The right side tracks the north edge of the flight path for most of the crossing — brushing the southern Rockies and Grand Canyon country in Arizona, catching Sierra Nevada peaks near Yosemite, and finishing with the iconic San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge on approach — while the left side mostly overlooks empty desert and the flat Central Valley.
What can I see during takeoff from Dallas Fort Worth International in Dallas-Fort Worth?
During takeoff from Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW), sit on the Right side for the best views. DFW's south-flow departures climb out over flat North Texas prairie on both sides, but the right side gets a brief look at the Fort Worth skyline and the lakes northwest of the metroplex as the aircraft turns onto its westbound heading. Notable sights include: Fort Worth skyline, Lake Worth, Trinity River, North Texas farmland.
What can I see when landing at San Francisco International in San Francisco?
When landing at San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Right side for the best views. Arrivals into SFO from the east cross the Diablo Range and San Francisco Bay, and the north-facing side offers the money shot: the San Francisco skyline, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge as the plane lines up for the runway. Notable sights include: San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay.
How long is the flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to San Francisco?
The flight from Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) to San Francisco International (SFO) takes 3h 45m.
What does the Dallas-Fort Worth to San Francisco flight path pass over?
Colorado Plateau and Painted Desert of northern Arizona, the Little Colorado River canyon, and the southern rim country near the Grand Canyon, giving way westward to the Mojave Desert basin and the eastern Sierra Nevada front.