Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Washington to Indianapolis. The left side captures the Blue Ridge Mountains on departure and tracks the Ohio River valley corridor during cruise, offering more varied terrain than the right. The right side wins on landing, but the departure and en-route scenery on the left is more visually interesting overall on this otherwise flat Midwest route.

During takeoff from Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Dulles typically departs east on runway 01R/19L or west on 30, and when departing eastward the left side gets a clear view of the Dulles main terminal and the sprawling suburban grid of Loudoun County before the aircraft turns west. On westbound departures, the left side picks up the Blue Ridge Mountains as the aircraft climbs out over the Virginia Piedmont. Notable sights include: Dulles main terminal (Saarinen's distinctive curved roof visible from low altitude), Blue Ridge Mountains to the west, Loudoun County suburban grid, Potomac River valley to the southeast.

When landing at Indianapolis International (IND), sit on the Right side for the best views. Indianapolis International typically lands on runway 05L/23R or 14/32. On the common approach from the east on runway 23R, the right side looks south over downtown Indianapolis, giving a clear view of the city skyline and the White River corridor. The right side also picks up Eagle Creek Reservoir on final approach. Notable sights include: Downtown Indianapolis skyline, White River corridor, Eagle Creek Reservoir, Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval (visible from low altitude on approach).

The flight from Washington Dulles International (IAD) to Indianapolis International (IND) takes Approximately 1 hour 10 minutes.

The flight crosses the Virginia Piedmont, then the Appalachian ridges of the eastern West Virginia panhandle, before flattening out over the Ohio River valley near Wheeling, WV. Central and western Ohio is predominantly flat agricultural land — corn and soybean fields in a regular grid pattern. The terrain remains essentially flat from the Ohio border through to Indianapolis with no significant topographic relief.