Sacramento to Phoenix flight path: SAC to PHX

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Sacramento to Phoenix. The left side offers the Sierra Nevada on departure, glimpses of the Mojave Desert's mountain ranges during cruise, and the Superstition Mountains on arrival, while the right side stays largely flat and featureless throughout the flight.

During takeoff from Sacramento Executive (SAC), sit on the Left side for the best views. Climbing out southeast from Sacramento, the left side faces east toward the Sierra Nevada, which rises dramatically as the Central Valley falls away. The right side shows only the flat, hazy farmland of the Sacramento Valley and Coast Range foothills. Notable sights include: Sierra Nevada crest, Central Valley farmland, American River delta, distant Sutter Buttes.

When landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Left side for the best views. On approach into Phoenix from the northwest, the left side of the aircraft faces southeast toward the rugged Superstition Mountains and Four Peaks, giving passengers a dramatic desert mountain backdrop as the plane descends over the Sonoran Desert. The right side mostly shows flat suburban sprawl with less topographic interest. Notable sights include: Superstition Mountains, Four Peaks, Salt River Valley, Phoenix suburban grid.

The flight from Sacramento Executive (SAC) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) takes about 1 hour 50 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 635 miles (1,023 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

The route crosses the southern Sierra Nevada foothills, the Mojave Desert with ranges like the Panamint and Providence Mountains, and the lower Colorado River basin before descending into the Sonoran Desert near Phoenix.