Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Detroit to San Francisco. The right side wins overall because the SFO approach on the right delivers a prolonged and visually rich sequence over San Francisco Bay that is hard to beat. The takeoff left-side advantage at DTW is real but shorter-lived. Across the mid-flight, the right side also gives better views of the Rockies and Sierra Nevada as the route tracks slightly south of due west.

During takeoff from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW), sit on the Left side for the best views. DTW typically departs westbound on runway 21L/22L or eastbound on 4R/3R. On a westbound departure toward SFO, the left side gives you a clear view south over the Detroit River and Lake Erie stretching to the horizon. You'll also see the Windsor, Ontario skyline across the river and the dense urban grid of Detroit itself falling away below. Notable sights include: Detroit River, Lake Erie (southern horizon), Windsor Ontario urban area, Detroit downtown skyline.

When landing at San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Right side for the best views. SFO sits on the west shore of San Francisco Bay, and aircraft typically approach from the east on runway 28L/28R heading west. The right side on final approach gives you a sustained view of the South Bay, the San Mateo Bridge, and the Santa Cruz Mountains beyond. As you cross the bay threshold you'll see the San Francisco Peninsula and downtown SF to the north. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay (South Bay), San Mateo Bridge, Santa Cruz Mountains, San Francisco Peninsula.

The flight from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW) to San Francisco International (SFO) takes Approximately 4 hours 45 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes westbound.

The flight path crosses southern Lake Michigan briefly, then tracks over the flat agricultural plains of Iowa and Nebraska. The Rocky Mountains appear over Colorado and Wyoming with the Wasatch Range visible near Salt Lake City. The Great Salt Lake is a distinctive pale flat feature visible from both sides. The Sierra Nevada forms the final major terrain barrier before descending into the Central Valley and crossing the Coast Ranges into SFO.