Houston to New Orleans flight path: HOU to MSY

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Houston to New Orleans. While takeoff offers coastal bay views, the landing approach into New Orleans provides more dramatic and geographically distinctive scenery—the Mississippi River delta and Lake Pontchartrain are far more visually striking than the Houston departure area.

During takeoff from William P Hobby (HOU), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right side offers views of Galveston Bay and the Texas Gulf Coast as you climb out eastbound. The bay's distinctive shape and coastal barrier islands are clearly visible from 5,000–15,000 feet during the initial climb. Notable sights include: Galveston Bay, Galveston Island, Trinity Bay, coastal wetlands and marsh systems.

When landing at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left side provides excellent views of the Mississippi River delta and Lake Pontchartrain during descent into New Orleans. The river's distinctive meandering channels and the lake's broad expanse are striking from 10,000–3,000 feet on approach from the west. Notable sights include: Mississippi River delta, Lake Pontchartrain, the river's crescent bend through New Orleans, coastal bayou systems.

The flight from William P Hobby (HOU) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) takes about 1 hour 5 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 301 miles (485 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

Atchafalaya River basin and swamplands (Louisiana's largest river delta system), coastal marshes and bayou networks of southeast Louisiana, flat Gulf Coast plain with minimal elevation change throughout the flight