Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Detroit to Los Angeles. The right side wins overall because the LAX arrival view of the San Gabriel Mountains and the full LA Basin on descent is one of the most dramatic urban approaches in the US. The right side also tracks the southern edge of the Rockies and sees the Mojave Desert terrain during cruise, making it consistently interesting across the full flight.

During takeoff from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW), sit on the Left side for the best views. DTW primarily departs westbound on runways 21L/21R or 22L/22R, meaning the left side faces south toward Lake Erie and the Toledo area. You get a clear view of the western Lake Erie shoreline and the Detroit River as the aircraft climbs and banks southwest. Notable sights include: Detroit River, western Lake Erie shoreline, Toledo urban sprawl, Windsor Ontario across the river.

When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX arrivals from the east typically use runways 24L/24R or 25L/25R, approaching from the east over the Los Angeles Basin. The right side faces north, giving you a panoramic view of the San Gabriel Mountains, the LA Basin grid, and the Hollywood Hills as you descend over the city. Notable sights include: San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles Basin urban grid, Hollywood Hills, Santa Monica Bay.

The flight from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours.

The flight path crosses southern Michigan and Indiana, then tracks over Illinois and Missouri before crossing Kansas and Oklahoma. Over Colorado and New Mexico the southern Rocky Mountain ranges are visible, including the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The route then crosses Arizona's high desert plateau and the Mojave Desert before descending into the LA Basin. The Colorado River crossing near the Arizona-California border is a notable landmark mid-descent.