About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from La Guardia (LGA) to Meadows Fld (BFL)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Bakersfield. Right seats dominate both segments—the westbound departure offers less dramatic views, but the landing approach into Bakersfield with the Sierra Nevada foothills and valley floor visible is the stronger visual payoff for the entire flight.
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 eastbound (Runway 04 or 22 depending on wind), but when departing westbound toward California, you'll use Runway 31. Left seats capture the initial climb over the East River, Manhattan skyline receding behind, and the Hudson River valley opening westward. Right seats face the populated areas of Queens and Nassau County. Notable sights include: East River, Manhattan skyline (Empire State Building and Chrysler Building visible as distant spires), Hudson River, George Washington Bridge.
What can I see when landing at Meadows Fld in Bakersfield?
When landing at Meadows Fld (BFL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Bakersfield's Meadows Field uses Runway 31 for most arrivals from the east. Right-seat passengers descending from the northeast will see the southern Sierra Nevada foothills, the Kern River valley, and the approach into the San Joaquin Valley floor. Left seats face the flat agricultural expanse to the north. Notable sights include: Southern Sierra Nevada (Kern Plateau), Kern River valley, San Joaquin Valley agricultural grid, Bakersfield urban area.
How long is the flight from New York to Bakersfield?
The flight from La Guardia (LGA) to Meadows Fld (BFL) takes Approximately 5 hours 15 minutes.
What does the New York to Bakersfield flight path pass over?
The flight path crosses Pennsylvania (Appalachian ridges visible around 2 hours out), Ohio and Indiana (flat agricultural landscape), crosses the Mississippi River valley near St. Louis, then enters the Great Plains of Kansas and Oklahoma (vast flat terrain with scattered lakes and rivers). Around 4 hours into the flight, the Rocky Mountain front becomes visible on the left (north) side—the Colorado Front Range and peaks near Denver. The aircraft then crosses the high desert plateau of New Mexico and Arizona (sparse vegetation, dramatic canyon systems including portions of the Colorado Plateau visible to the north), before descending into California's Sierra Nevada foothills and the San Joaquin Valley approach.