Left side wins both ends of the flight. The San Jacinto escarpment at departure is one of the most dramatic mountain faces in North America, and the Toronto skyline and Lake Ontario approach at landing are genuinely spectacular. The left side also tracks closer to the Great Salt Lake region and Lake Michigan during cruise.
Flown PSP to YYZ? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Palm Springs to Toronto is 2,080 miles (3,348 km), a flight of about 4 hours 30 minutes.
The flight tracks northeast over the Mojave Desert, crosses the Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountain foothills over Utah and Colorado, then passes over the Great Plains of Nebraska and Iowa before crossing Lake Michigan and entering Ontario. Notable en-route features visible from altitude include the Great Salt Lake (left side, distant), the Rocky Mountain Front Range near Denver, the Mississippi River valley, and the southern shoreline of Lake Michigan near Chicago.
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from PSP
LEFTPSP typically departs runway 31 (northwest), putting the left side facing northeast toward the San Jacinto Mountains. Mount San Jacinto rises dramatically to over 10,800 feet just east of the airport, and the left seat captures the full escarpment as you climb out over the Coachella Valley floor.
Landing at YYZ
LEFTYYZ typically lands on runway 23 or 24L/24R (southwest approach), meaning the aircraft approaches from the northeast over Lake Ontario. The left side faces southeast, giving a clear view of downtown Toronto's skyline, the CN Tower, and the lake shoreline as you descend.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Palm Springs International (PSP) to Lester B Pearson International (YYZ)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Palm Springs to Toronto. Left side wins both ends of the flight. The San Jacinto escarpment at departure is one of the most dramatic mountain faces in North America, and the Toronto skyline and Lake Ontario approach at landing are genuinely spectacular. The left side also tracks closer to the Great Salt Lake region and Lake Michigan during cruise.
What can I see during takeoff from Palm Springs International in Palm Springs?
During takeoff from Palm Springs International (PSP), sit on the Left side for the best views. PSP typically departs runway 31 (northwest), putting the left side facing northeast toward the San Jacinto Mountains. Mount San Jacinto rises dramatically to over 10,800 feet just east of the airport, and the left seat captures the full escarpment as you climb out over the Coachella Valley floor. Notable sights include: Mount San Jacinto (10,834 ft), Coachella Valley floor and date palm groves, San Gorgonio Mountain to the north, Palm Springs urban grid against the desert.
What can I see when landing at Lester B Pearson International in Toronto?
When landing at Lester B Pearson International (YYZ), sit on the Left side for the best views. YYZ typically lands on runway 23 or 24L/24R (southwest approach), meaning the aircraft approaches from the northeast over Lake Ontario. The left side faces southeast, giving a clear view of downtown Toronto's skyline, the CN Tower, and the lake shoreline as you descend. Notable sights include: CN Tower and downtown Toronto skyline, Lake Ontario shoreline, Toronto Islands, Highway 401 corridor.
How long is the flight from Palm Springs to Toronto?
The flight from Palm Springs International (PSP) to Lester B Pearson International (YYZ) takes about 4 hours 30 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 2,080 miles (3,348 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Palm Springs to Toronto flight path pass over?
The flight tracks northeast over the Mojave Desert, crosses the Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountain foothills over Utah and Colorado, then passes over the Great Plains of Nebraska and Iowa before crossing Lake Michigan and entering Ontario. Notable en-route features visible from altitude include the Great Salt Lake (left side, distant), the Rocky Mountain Front Range near Denver, the Mississippi River valley, and the southern shoreline of Lake Michigan near Chicago.