Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Phoenix to Madison. While the right seat wins at takeoff for the Superstition Mountains and Phoenix basin views, the left side captures the most dramatic and memorable moment of the flight — the Madison lakes and isthmus on approach, which is genuinely striking. The left side also tracks the Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountain foothills in New Mexico and Colorado during cruise, offering better mid-flight terrain views.

During takeoff from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Right side for the best views. PHX typically departs east on runway 26R/25R or west on 8L/7L. For eastbound departures toward MSN, the aircraft turns northeast, putting the South Mountain Park and the Phoenix metro grid on the right side. The right seat also captures the Salt River valley and the Superstition Mountains to the east as the plane climbs out. Notable sights include: South Mountain Park, Superstition Mountains, Salt River bed, Phoenix metro grid.

When landing at Dane Co Rgnl Truax Fld (MSN), sit on the Left side for the best views. MSN approaches typically come from the southwest on runway 36 or 31, meaning the aircraft tracks over southern Wisconsin farmland. The left side picks up Lake Mendota and Lake Monona — the two lakes that bracket downtown Madison — as the plane descends, giving a clear view of the isthmus and the State Capitol dome. Notable sights include: Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Madison isthmus with State Capitol, Lake Wingra.

The flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) to Dane Co Rgnl Truax Fld (MSN) takes Approximately 3 hours 15 minutes.

The flight crosses northeastern Arizona over the Painted Desert and Navajo Nation, then the Rocky Mountain foothills of New Mexico and Colorado near Albuquerque and Raton Pass, followed by the flat High Plains of Kansas and Nebraska, and finally the glacially-shaped farmland of Iowa and southern Wisconsin.