New York to St. Louis flight path: LGA to STL

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to St. Louis. The right side wins narrowly because the Manhattan skyline during climb-out is a more sustained and visually dominant scene than the brief Arch view on landing, even though both sides offer one strong highlight bracketing an otherwise flat Midwest cruise.

During takeoff from La Guardia (LGA), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing LGA to the west, the right-side (north-facing) windows catch the Manhattan skyline and the East River as the aircraft climbs and banks, before the terrain gives way to the Pocono ridges of eastern Pennsylvania. It's the most dramatic few minutes of the whole flight. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, East River, Long Island Sound, Pocono Mountains ridgelines.

When landing at Lambert St Louis International (STL), sit on the Left side for the best views. On approach into STL, the left-side (south-facing) windows line up with downtown St. Louis and the Mississippi River, giving a clear view of the Gateway Arch as the aircraft turns onto final. It's the one standout landmark on an otherwise flat Midwest approach. Notable sights include: Gateway Arch, Mississippi River, downtown St. Louis skyline, river bridges.

The flight from La Guardia (LGA) to Lambert St Louis International (STL) takes about 2 hours 20 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 886 miles (1,426 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

Allegheny Plateau ridgelines in Pennsylvania, the Ohio River valley near the Ohio-West Virginia border, and the flat farmland of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois leading into the Mississippi River valley at St. Louis