Right side wins at both ends of the flight. On departure you catch the Des Moines city core and river confluence; on arrival you get the Atlanta skyline and Stone Mountain. The right side also tracks closer to the Mississippi River crossing in Missouri and the Tennessee River valley in northern Alabama during the cruise portion.
Flown DSM to ATL? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Des Moines to Atlanta is 743 miles (1,195 km), a flight of about 2 hours 10 minutes.
The flight crosses the Mississippi River near the Missouri-Illinois border, then tracks over the Ozark Plateau in southern Missouri, crosses the Tennessee River valley in northern Alabama, and passes over the southern Appalachian foothills before descending into Atlanta across the Georgia Piedmont
Great circle distance and headings ›
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from DSM
RIGHTDSM's primary departure runway is 31 (heading northwest), so a right-side seat faces northeast toward downtown Des Moines and the Des Moines River valley. You get a clear look at the city grid and the confluence of the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers before the aircraft turns southeast toward Atlanta.
Landing at ATL
RIGHTHartsfield-Jackson's primary arrival from the north typically uses runways 26L/26R or 28, with the aircraft approaching from the northeast. A right-side seat faces southeast and south, giving views over the Atlanta skyline and the forested Piedmont terrain south of the city as you descend.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Des Moines International (DSM) to The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Des Moines to Atlanta. Right side wins at both ends of the flight. On departure you catch the Des Moines city core and river confluence; on arrival you get the Atlanta skyline and Stone Mountain. The right side also tracks closer to the Mississippi River crossing in Missouri and the Tennessee River valley in northern Alabama during the cruise portion.
What can I see during takeoff from Des Moines International in Des Moines?
During takeoff from Des Moines International (DSM), sit on the Right side for the best views. DSM's primary departure runway is 31 (heading northwest), so a right-side seat faces northeast toward downtown Des Moines and the Des Moines River valley. You get a clear look at the city grid and the confluence of the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers before the aircraft turns southeast toward Atlanta. Notable sights include: Downtown Des Moines skyline, Des Moines River and Raccoon River confluence, Iowa State Capitol dome, Saylorville Lake to the north.
What can I see when landing at The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International in Atlanta?
When landing at The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Hartsfield-Jackson's primary arrival from the north typically uses runways 26L/26R or 28, with the aircraft approaching from the northeast. A right-side seat faces southeast and south, giving views over the Atlanta skyline and the forested Piedmont terrain south of the city as you descend. Notable sights include: Atlanta downtown skyline and Midtown towers, Stone Mountain (distinctive granite dome 16 miles east of downtown), Lake Lanier visible to the northeast on approach, Chattahoochee River corridor.
How long is the flight from Des Moines to Atlanta?
The flight from Des Moines International (DSM) to The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL) takes about 2 hours 10 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 743 miles (1,195 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Des Moines to Atlanta flight path pass over?
The flight crosses the Mississippi River near the Missouri-Illinois border, then tracks over the Ozark Plateau in southern Missouri, crosses the Tennessee River valley in northern Alabama, and passes over the southern Appalachian foothills before descending into Atlanta across the Georgia Piedmont