Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Raleigh-durham to Washington. The right side offers the better overall experience. While left is marginally better at takeoff for Raleigh city views, the right side during the cruise and descent provides the Piedmont-to-Appalachian foothills transition view and the far superior arrival sequence over the Potomac corridor and greater Washington area.

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 before turning north, putting the left side over downtown Raleigh and the Research Triangle urban core. You get a clear look at the city grid and Jordan Lake to the southwest before the aircraft banks northward. Notable sights include: Downtown Raleigh skyline, Jordan Lake reservoir, Falls Lake reservoir to the north, Research Triangle Park campus sprawl.

When landing at Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Right side for the best views. IAD typically receives arrivals from the south on runways 01L/01R or 19L/19R depending on winds. On a southerly approach to runway 01, the right side faces east toward the Potomac River corridor, the Virginia suburbs, and on clear days the distant Washington DC monuments. The left side faces west into rural Loudoun County farmland. Notable sights include: Potomac River corridor, Dulles Toll Road and Route 28 interchange below, Tysons Corner office cluster to the east, distant Washington DC skyline on the horizon.

The flight from Raleigh Durham International (RDU) to Washington Dulles International (IAD) takes Approximately 55 to 70 minutes.

The flight tracks roughly north-northeast over the Virginia Piedmont. Notable features include the Dan River basin in southern Virginia, the rolling terrain of the Virginia Piedmont transitioning from flat Carolinas, the Rappahannock River crossing in central Virginia, and the broad agricultural and forested landscape of Culpeper and Fauquier counties before descending into the Northern Virginia suburbs.