About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Washington Dulles International (IAD) to San Diego International Lindbergh Fld (SAN)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Washington to San Diego. The right side wins overall. While the left side has a good DC departure view, the right side delivers the spectacular San Diego approach over the bay with the Coronado Bridge and Point Loma, plus better views of the Colorado Rockies and Mojave Desert during the cruise portion of the flight as the route tracks southwest.
What can I see during takeoff from Washington Dulles International in Washington?
During takeoff from Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Left side for the best views. IAD primarily departs on runways 01L/01R or 19L/19R depending on winds. On a northbound departure (runway 01), a left turn westbound puts the Washington DC skyline and the Potomac River on the left side. You get a clear view of the Capitol dome, the National Mall, and the Lincoln Memorial as the aircraft banks southwest toward the route. Notable sights include: Washington DC National Mall and Capitol dome, Potomac River, Tysons Corner urban cluster, Blue Ridge Mountains foothills to the west.
What can I see when landing at San Diego International Lindbergh Fld in San Diego?
When landing at San Diego International Lindbergh Fld (SAN), sit on the Right side for the best views. SAN runway 27 is the primary arrival, with aircraft approaching from the east over Mission Valley and downtown San Diego before touching down heading west toward the bay. The right side gives you Mission Bay, the Pacific Ocean, Point Loma, and the Coronado Bridge as you descend over the city. This is one of the most dramatic urban approaches in the US. Notable sights include: San Diego Bay and Coronado Bridge, Point Loma peninsula, Mission Bay, Pacific Ocean coastline.
How long is the flight from Washington to San Diego?
The flight from Washington Dulles International (IAD) to San Diego International Lindbergh Fld (SAN) takes Approximately 5 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 45 minutes westbound.
What does the Washington to San Diego flight path pass over?
The flight tracks southwest over the Appalachians in Virginia and Tennessee, then crosses the Mississippi River near Memphis or St. Louis, continues over the flat plains of Oklahoma and Texas, crosses the southern Rockies and Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico, passes over the Sonoran Desert and Arizona basin-and-range terrain, and descends over the Salton Sea and the Anza-Borrego Desert before reaching coastal San Diego.