About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from La Guardia (LGA) to The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Atlanta. The left side delivers the dramatic Manhattan departure view which is one of the most iconic urban aerial scenes in the world. The landing view on the right at ATL is good but less spectacular. If forced to pick one side for the whole flight, left wins on the strength of the New York departure alone.
What can I see during takeoff from La Guardia in New York?
During takeoff from La Guardia (LGA), sit on the Left side for the best views. LGA typically departs southwest on runway 13/31 or east on runway 04/22. On a southwest departure, the left side gets Manhattan's skyline, the Hudson River, and Upper New York Bay before the aircraft turns south. The right side faces Queens and Long Island with far less visual interest. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, Hudson River, Upper New York Bay, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
What can I see when landing at The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International in Atlanta?
When landing at The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL), sit on the Right side for the best views. ATL primarily uses its north complex runways (8L/8R or 26L/26R) and south complex. On approaches from the northeast, the right side faces downtown Atlanta's skyline as the aircraft descends over the northern suburbs. The left side looks south toward less distinctive suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Downtown Atlanta skyline, Stone Mountain (to the northeast), Lake Allatoona (northwest), Chattahoochee River corridor.
How long is the flight from New York to Atlanta?
The flight from La Guardia (LGA) to The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL) takes Approximately 2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes.
What does the New York to Atlanta flight path pass over?
The flight tracks roughly southwest over New Jersey, then through eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland before crossing into Virginia and the Carolinas. The Blue Ridge Mountains are visible as a distinct northeast-southwest ridgeline through Virginia and North Carolina, appearing as parallel forested ridges. The Piedmont plateau stretches south of the Blue Ridge into Georgia. No major bodies of water cross the route at altitude, though the Chesapeake Bay may be briefly visible to the left early in the flight.