The left side bookends the flight with two strong landmarks — the Blue Ridge Mountains at takeoff and Mount Rainier at landing — while the right side's Great Lakes and Montana Rockies views during cruise are good but less consistently dramatic across the whole flight.
Flown IAD to SEA? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Washington to Seattle is 2,300 miles (3,702 km), a flight of about 5 hours 30 minutes.
The route's midpoint crosses the northern Great Plains near the Montana-North Dakota border, passing over the Missouri River basin and the eastern front of the Rocky Mountains, with the peaks near Glacier National Park visible to the north before the plane continues toward the Cascades.
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from IAD
LEFTDeparting IAD to the west, the climb-out and turn toward Seattle put the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley in view to the south, giving passengers a ridge-and-valley Appalachian panorama almost immediately after takeoff. The right side mostly shows flatter Piedmont terrain north of the flight path.
Landing at SEA
LEFTOn the descent into SEA from the east, arrivals commonly pass south of Seattle before aligning with the runway, putting the massive snow-capped cone of Mount Rainier squarely on the left side. Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains also come into view as the plane drops toward Sea-Tac.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Washington Dulles International (IAD) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Washington to Seattle. The left side bookends the flight with two strong landmarks — the Blue Ridge Mountains at takeoff and Mount Rainier at landing — while the right side's Great Lakes and Montana Rockies views during cruise are good but less consistently dramatic across the whole flight.
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. Departing IAD to the west, the climb-out and turn toward Seattle put the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley in view to the south, giving passengers a ridge-and-valley Appalachian panorama almost immediately after takeoff. The right side mostly shows flatter Piedmont terrain north of the flight path. Notable sights include: Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah Valley, Massanutten Mountain, Potomac River.
What can I see when landing at Seattle Tacoma International in Seattle?
When landing at Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Left side for the best views. On the descent into SEA from the east, arrivals commonly pass south of Seattle before aligning with the runway, putting the massive snow-capped cone of Mount Rainier squarely on the left side. Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains also come into view as the plane drops toward Sea-Tac. Notable sights include: Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, Olympic Mountains, Tacoma waterfront.
How long is the flight from Washington to Seattle?
The flight from Washington Dulles International (IAD) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) takes about 5 hours 30 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 2,300 miles (3,702 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Washington to Seattle flight path pass over?
The route's midpoint crosses the northern Great Plains near the Montana-North Dakota border, passing over the Missouri River basin and the eastern front of the Rocky Mountains, with the peaks near Glacier National Park visible to the north before the plane continues toward the Cascades.