Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Newark to San Jose. While landing views on the right are excellent, the takeoff scenery from the left—featuring the Hudson River, Manhattan skyline, and Palisades—is more iconic and visually dramatic. The left side captures the most memorable portion of this cross-country flight.

During takeoff from Newark Liberty International (EWR), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left seats offer views of the Hudson River, Manhattan skyline, and the New Jersey Palisades as the aircraft climbs westbound. Right seats face inland toward New Jersey suburbs with less dramatic scenery. Notable sights include: Hudson River, Manhattan skyline (Empire State Building, One World Trade Center visible on clear days), New Jersey Palisades, George Washington Bridge.

When landing at Norman Y Mineta San Jose International (SJC), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right seats provide views of the San Francisco Bay, the Diablo Range, and the Santa Cruz Mountains as the aircraft descends toward San Jose from the northwest. Left seats face inland toward the Central Valley with minimal visual interest. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay (southern arm), Diablo Range, Santa Cruz Mountains, San Jose urban grid.

The flight from Newark Liberty International (EWR) to Norman Y Mineta San Jose International (SJC) takes Approximately 5 hours 15 minutes.

The flight path crosses the Appalachian Mountains (visible around 1.5 hours out, appearing as a series of parallel ridges running northeast-southwest), the Ohio River valley, the Mississippi River (a major landmark around 2.5 hours, appearing as a wide, meandering waterway), the Great Plains (flat, agricultural landscape with visible field patterns), and finally the Rocky Mountains' western edge near the Colorado-Utah border before descending into California's Central Valley and approaching the Bay Area.