About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Portland International (PDX) to Mc Carran International (LAS)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Portland to Las Vegas. The left side delivers the most dramatic single moment of the flight — Mount Hood and the Cascade volcanoes during climb-out from Portland. The right side wins at landing for the Strip view, but the Cascade scenery early in the flight is more geographically spectacular and less commonly seen than the Las Vegas approach.
What can I see during takeoff from Portland International in Portland?
During takeoff from Portland International (PDX), sit on the Left side for the best views. PDX primarily uses runways 28L/28R for westbound departures, then turns south. The left side gives you a direct view of the Columbia River and then Mount Hood as you climb out heading south. Right side faces west toward the Tualatin Valley with less dramatic scenery. Notable sights include: Columbia River, Mount Hood (11,249 ft), Mount St. Helens to the northwest, Portland city grid.
What can I see when landing at Mc Carran International in Las Vegas?
When landing at Mc Carran International (LAS), sit on the Right side for the best views. Las Vegas McCarran typically uses runways 26L/26R or 19R for arrivals from the north, meaning the aircraft approaches from the north or northeast. The right side gives you the Las Vegas Strip lit up against the desert floor, with the Spring Mountains and Red Rock Canyon visible to the west. Left side looks out over the flat Mojave desert with less visual interest. Notable sights include: Las Vegas Strip, Hoover Dam and Lake Mead to the southeast, Spring Mountains and Red Rock Canyon escarpment, Lake Las Vegas.
How long is the flight from Portland to Las Vegas?
The flight from Portland International (PDX) to Mc Carran International (LAS) takes Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes.
What does the Portland to Las Vegas flight path pass over?
The flight tracks roughly south-southeast over the Oregon Cascades, crossing the high desert of central Oregon with the Deschutes River canyon visible, then over the Great Basin desert of Nevada — flat, arid basin-and-range terrain with isolated mountain ranges like the Steens Mountain and the Humboldt Range appearing as dark ridgelines across the tan desert floor. The Mojave Desert transition begins in southern Nevada before the Las Vegas Valley comes into view.