About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Detroit to Phoenix. The right side wins overall. While left is better at takeoff for the Detroit River and city views, the right side delivers the more dramatic payoff on approach into Phoenix with Camelback Mountain and the McDowell range clearly visible. Mid-flight over the Rockies and Colorado Plateau, the right side also faces slightly more northward toward the more rugged canyon terrain of southern Utah and northern Arizona.
What can I see during takeoff from Detroit Metro Wayne Co in Detroit?
During takeoff from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW), sit on the Left side for the best views. DTW's primary departure runway 21L/21R sends aircraft southwest, putting the left side facing southeast toward Detroit city proper, the Detroit River, and Windsor, Ontario across the border. You get a clear look at the urban grid and the river separating two countries. Notable sights include: Detroit River and Windsor Ontario, downtown Detroit skyline, Lake Erie shoreline to the southeast, Ford River Rouge complex.
What can I see when landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International in Phoenix?
When landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Right side for the best views. PHX typically uses runways 26 or 25R for westward landings, meaning the approach comes from the east. The right side faces north, giving clear views of the McDowell Mountains, Camelback Mountain, and the dense Phoenix metro grid. The left side faces south toward less distinctive terrain. Notable sights include: Camelback Mountain, McDowell Mountains, Salt River and Tempe Town Lake, Phoenix downtown grid.
How long is the flight from Detroit to Phoenix?
The flight from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) takes Approximately 4 hours 15 minutes.
What does the Detroit to Phoenix flight path pass over?
The flight crosses southern Illinois and Missouri flatlands, then the Ozark Plateau, before tracking over Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. Over New Mexico the terrain rises into the southern Rocky Mountain foothills and the high desert of the Colorado Plateau. The Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque are visible to the right, and the Painted Desert and high mesa country of northeastern Arizona appear before descent into Phoenix.