Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Raleigh-durham to Denver. The right side wins overall because the Front Range arrival view into Denver is one of the most dramatic airport approaches in the continental US. While the left side offers a decent Raleigh departure view, the right side also picks up the Appalachian ridgelines of western Virginia and eastern Tennessee in the early-to-mid flight, and then the defining Rocky Mountain arrival makes it the clear winner for the full journey.

During takeoff from Raleigh Durham International (RDU), sit on the Left side for the best views. RDU's primary departure runway 23L sends aircraft southwest, then routing northwest toward DEN. The left side faces south toward downtown Raleigh and the Research Triangle urban core as the plane climbs out. You get a clear look at the city grid and Jordan Lake to the southwest. Notable sights include: Downtown Raleigh skyline, Jordan Lake, Research Triangle Park campus clusters, Falls Lake reservoir to the north visible on left during turn.

When landing at Denver International (DEN), sit on the Right side for the best views. DEN's primary arrival from the east typically uses runways 34R or 35L, bringing aircraft in from the east heading northwest. The right side faces north and west, giving a direct view of the Front Range — the Rocky Mountains including Longs Peak and the Denver skyline backed by the mountains. Left side faces east over the flat plains with little of interest. Notable sights include: Front Range Rocky Mountains, Longs Peak, Denver downtown skyline, Cherry Creek Reservoir.

The flight from Raleigh Durham International (RDU) to Denver International (DEN) takes Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes.

The flight crosses the southern Appalachians over western Virginia and Tennessee, where parallel ridgelines of the Blue Ridge and Valley and Ridge province are visible. Over Kentucky and southern Illinois the terrain flattens into the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys — the Mississippi River crossing near St. Louis is a notable landmark. Western Missouri and Kansas are flat agricultural plains with center-pivot irrigation circles becoming prominent. Eastern Colorado brings the high plains before the sudden rise of the Front Range.