While the left side wins the takeoff with Mt. Hood, the right side dominates the much longer cruise and landing phases with the Three Sisters volcanic peaks, Crater Lake's caldera rim, Nevada's Basin and Range desert, Lake Mead/Hoover Dam, and finally the White Tank Mountains on approach — giving it far more sustained scenic variety over the flight.
Flown PDX to LUF? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Portland to Phoenix is 993 miles (1,598 km), a flight of about 2 hours 20 minutes.
The route crosses central Oregon's high desert near Bend, then the Basin and Range country of northern and central Nevada, with distant Sierra Nevada peaks visible far to the west before the terrain gives way to the Mojave-Sonoran desert near the Nevada-Arizona border and Lake Mead.
Great circle distance and headings ›Phase by phase
Takeoff from PDX
LEFTJust after departure from PDX, the climb path passes close to Mt. Hood, whose snow-capped cone sits east of the airport and is the dominant feature on the left side. The right side only shows the flatter Tualatin Valley and low Coast Range foothills.
Landing at LUF
RIGHTOn final approach into Luke AFB from the north, the aircraft typically aligns southwest onto runway 21, putting the rugged White Tank Mountains and Sun City's desert-suburb sprawl directly off the right side at close range. The left side only offers a distant, hazy view of downtown Phoenix's skyline roughly 20 miles away.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Portland International (PDX) to Luke Afb (LUF)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Portland to Phoenix. While the left side wins the takeoff with Mt. Hood, the right side dominates the much longer cruise and landing phases with the Three Sisters volcanic peaks, Crater Lake's caldera rim, Nevada's Basin and Range desert, Lake Mead/Hoover Dam, and finally the White Tank Mountains on approach — giving it far more sustained scenic variety over the flight.
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. Just after departure from PDX, the climb path passes close to Mt. Hood, whose snow-capped cone sits east of the airport and is the dominant feature on the left side. The right side only shows the flatter Tualatin Valley and low Coast Range foothills. Notable sights include: Mt. Hood, Willamette Valley farmland, Cascade Range foothills.
What can I see when landing at Luke Afb in Phoenix?
When landing at Luke Afb (LUF), sit on the Right side for the best views. On final approach into Luke AFB from the north, the aircraft typically aligns southwest onto runway 21, putting the rugged White Tank Mountains and Sun City's desert-suburb sprawl directly off the right side at close range. The left side only offers a distant, hazy view of downtown Phoenix's skyline roughly 20 miles away. Notable sights include: White Tank Mountains, Sun City suburban sprawl, Sonoran desert scrubland.
How long is the flight from Portland to Phoenix?
The flight from Portland International (PDX) to Luke Afb (LUF) takes about 2 hours 20 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 993 miles (1,598 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Portland to Phoenix flight path pass over?
The route crosses central Oregon's high desert near Bend, then the Basin and Range country of northern and central Nevada, with distant Sierra Nevada peaks visible far to the west before the terrain gives way to the Mojave-Sonoran desert near the Nevada-Arizona border and Lake Mead.