Orlando to Phoenix flight path: MCO to PHX

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Orlando to Phoenix. The right side wins primarily on the approach into Phoenix, where the Superstition Mountains and surrounding desert ranges create a dramatic final descent, while the takeoff side from Orlando offers a mild edge with lake scenery.

During takeoff from Orlando International (MCO), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing MCO to the south or north, the right side offers glimpses of Orlando's lake-dotted landscape and the theme park complexes near Kissimmee, giving a bit more visual interest than the flatter scrubland to the left. Notable sights include: Lake Tohopekaliga, Orlando's urban lake cluster, Walt Disney World's Bay Lake area.

When landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Right side for the best views. On the descent into PHX from the east, the right side faces north and offers a clear view of the jagged Superstition Mountains and the Salt River Valley's reddish desert terrain, while the left side mostly shows flatter suburban sprawl toward South Mountain. Notable sights include: Superstition Mountains, Salt River, McDowell Mountains, Phoenix's Salt River Valley desert floor.

The flight from Orlando International (MCO) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) takes about 4 hours 5 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 1,845 miles (2,969 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

The flight path crosses the Gulf Coast near the Florida Panhandle, spans the flat plains of southern Louisiana and Texas, then crosses into the arid basins of southern New Mexico before descending into Arizona's Salt River Valley.