Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Raleigh-durham to Phoenix. The Phoenix arrival on the right side is the visual highlight of this route — South Mountain, the Estrella Mountains, and the sheer scale of the Phoenix grid on descent are genuinely spectacular. The RDU departure on the left is pleasant but the Piedmont landscape is subtle. Right side also picks up the Mississippi River crossing and glimpses of the Texas Hill Country and New Mexico high desert during cruise.

During takeoff from Raleigh Durham International (RDU), sit on the Left side for the best views. RDU typically departs westbound on runway 23L/23R, so a left (south-facing) window gives you a clear look back over the Research Triangle urban area and Jordan Lake as you climb out. The right side faces north toward less distinctive suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Jordan Lake reservoir to the southwest, downtown Raleigh skyline to the east, Research Triangle Park campus grid, Falls Lake reservoir to the north visible from right side only.

When landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Right side for the best views. PHX predominantly lands eastbound on runways 7L/7R/8, meaning the aircraft approaches from the west over the desert. A right (south-facing) window gives you the best view of South Mountain Park, the Estrella Mountains, and the sprawling Phoenix metro grid as you descend. The left side faces north toward Camelback Mountain and Scottsdale but the approach angle makes the south side more consistently rewarding. Notable sights include: South Mountain Park and preserve, Estrella Mountains to the southwest, the dense Phoenix street grid and downtown skyline, Salt River bed cutting east-west across the valley floor.

The flight from Raleigh Durham International (RDU) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) takes Approximately 4 hours 15 minutes.

The flight tracks southwest over the Appalachian foothills briefly, then crosses the Tennessee River valley, the Mississippi River near Memphis (a wide, brown, meandering river clearly visible from altitude), the Arkansas and Oklahoma plains, the Texas Panhandle flatlands, the Llano Estacado escarpment, the Rio Grande valley near Albuquerque, the high desert plateau of eastern Arizona including the White Mountains, and finally descends into the Salt River Valley.