About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Sacramento International (SMF)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Los Angeles to Sacramento. The right side wins overall because the takeoff view of Santa Monica Bay and the Malibu coast is genuinely spectacular and unique to this route. During cruise the Central Valley is flat on both sides, but the right side also picks up views of the Coast Ranges and occasionally the Diablo Range. The left side's Sierra Nevada view on landing is excellent but brief, whereas the right side's coastal departure is the most memorable single moment of the flight.
What can I see during takeoff from Los Angeles International in Los Angeles?
During takeoff from Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX typically departs westward over the ocean on runways 24L/24R, then turns north. The right side gives you the Santa Monica Bay coastline, Malibu, and the Santa Monica Mountains as the aircraft banks north. Left side faces inland toward the urban sprawl of Inglewood and Hawthorne. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Bay, Malibu coastline, Santa Monica Mountains, Palos Verdes Peninsula.
What can I see when landing at Sacramento International in Sacramento?
When landing at Sacramento International (SMF), sit on the Left side for the best views. SMF typically lands on runways 34L/34R, approaching from the south over the Sacramento Valley. The left side faces east toward the Sierra Nevada, which dominates the horizon as a dramatic snow-capped wall. The right side looks west toward flat delta farmland and the Coast Ranges in the far distance. Notable sights include: Sierra Nevada mountain range, Sacramento River, Sacramento city grid, American River.
How long is the flight from Los Angeles to Sacramento?
The flight from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Sacramento International (SMF) takes Approximately 55-70 minutes.
What does the Los Angeles to Sacramento flight path pass over?
The route tracks north-northwest over the San Fernando Valley, crosses the Tehachapi Mountains near their western end, then enters the flat southern San Joaquin Valley. The aircraft passes over or near Bakersfield, then continues up the Central Valley over the Kings River and San Joaquin River floodplains. The valley is agricultural flatland with irrigation canals and dry riverbeds visible. The Coast Ranges are a low ridge to the west throughout the Central Valley portion, and the Sierra Nevada foothills are visible to the east. Near the end of the flight the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta's complex waterway network becomes visible before the descent into SMF.