Phoenix to Seattle flight path: PHX to SEA

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Phoenix to Seattle. The right side wins both the departure sequence, with Phoenix's skyline and Camelback Mountain, and the arrival sequence, with a clear view of Mount Rainier and the Cascade foothills — giving it the more consistently scenic and landmark-rich experience across the flight.

During takeoff from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing PHX and turning north toward Seattle, the right side faces east through the turn, giving a good look at downtown Phoenix, Camelback Mountain, and Papago Park before the Superstition Mountains recede into the haze. The left side mostly shows flatter west-valley desert and the White Tank Mountains. Notable sights include: Downtown Phoenix skyline, Camelback Mountain, Papago Park (Hole-in-the-Rock), Superstition Mountains.

When landing at Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Right side for the best views. On the descent into SEA from the south, the flight path passes west of Mount Rainier, putting the volcano squarely in view on the right side along with the forested Cascade foothills. The left side shows Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, which are nice but less singularly dramatic than a close pass of Rainier. Notable sights include: Mount Rainier, Cascade foothills, Puget Sound shoreline, Tacoma.

The flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) takes about 2 hours 50 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 1,107 miles (1,782 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

The route crosses Nevada's Basin and Range country, passing over a series of north-south trending desert mountain ranges and dry basins near the Ruby Mountains and Humboldt River valley, before the terrain transitions into Oregon's high desert as the flight continues north toward the Cascades.