The right side delivers the flight's best moments bookended together: a Manhattan skyline departure and a San Francisco Bay arrival, plus better sightlines to the Rockies and Great Salt Lake during cruise on this north-bulging transcontinental route. The left side is dominated by featureless plains for most of the flight.
Flown EWR to SFO? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Newark to San Francisco is 2,559 miles (4,118 km), a flight of about 6 hours 15 minutes.
The great-circle route bulges north through the Great Lakes region, then crosses the Great Plains of Nebraska, the Rocky Mountains near southern Wyoming, the Great Salt Lake basin, and the Nevada desert before crossing the Sierra Nevada into California.
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from EWR
RIGHTDeparting EWR on runway 22, aircraft typically climb southwest before banking right onto a westward heading, putting Manhattan and New York Harbor squarely in view on the right side. This brief but iconic skyline glimpse is the best scenery of the entire departure.
Landing at SFO
RIGHTArriving from the east, flights descending into SFO's runway 28 cross the East Bay hills and then the Bay itself, putting the San Francisco skyline, the Bay Bridge, and the Golden Gate on the right side of the aircraft during final approach. This is one of the most recognizable urban approach views in the country.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Newark Liberty International (EWR) to San Francisco International (SFO)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Newark to San Francisco. The right side delivers the flight's best moments bookended together: a Manhattan skyline departure and a San Francisco Bay arrival, plus better sightlines to the Rockies and Great Salt Lake during cruise on this north-bulging transcontinental route. The left side is dominated by featureless plains for most of the flight.
What can I see during takeoff from Newark Liberty International in Newark?
During takeoff from Newark Liberty International (EWR), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing EWR on runway 22, aircraft typically climb southwest before banking right onto a westward heading, putting Manhattan and New York Harbor squarely in view on the right side. This brief but iconic skyline glimpse is the best scenery of the entire departure. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, Hudson River, Statue of Liberty and Upper New York Bay, Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
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. Arriving from the east, flights descending into SFO's runway 28 cross the East Bay hills and then the Bay itself, putting the San Francisco skyline, the Bay Bridge, and the Golden Gate on the right side of the aircraft during final approach. This is one of the most recognizable urban approach views in the country. Notable sights include: San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, Bay Bridge and Oakland waterfront.
How long is the flight from Newark to San Francisco?
The flight from Newark Liberty International (EWR) to San Francisco International (SFO) takes about 6 hours 15 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 2,559 miles (4,118 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Newark to San Francisco flight path pass over?
The great-circle route bulges north through the Great Lakes region, then crosses the Great Plains of Nebraska, the Rocky Mountains near southern Wyoming, the Great Salt Lake basin, and the Nevada desert before crossing the Sierra Nevada into California.