About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from San Diego International Lindbergh Fld (SAN) to The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Diego to Atlanta. The right side delivers the spectacular San Diego Bay and Coronado departure, and along the flight path over New Mexico and Texas offers better views of the southern Rockies foothills and desert terrain. The Atlanta arrival advantage on the left is real but modest compared to the drama of the SAN takeoff.
What can I see during takeoff from San Diego International Lindbergh Fld in San Diego?
During takeoff from San Diego International Lindbergh Fld (SAN), sit on the Right side for the best views. SAN departures typically use runway 27 heading west over the bay, then turning east. The right side gets San Diego Bay, Coronado Island, and the downtown skyline as the aircraft banks eastbound. Left side faces inland hills during the initial climb. Notable sights include: San Diego Bay, Coronado Island and the Hotel Del Coronado, downtown San Diego skyline, Point Loma peninsula.
What can I see when landing at The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International in Atlanta?
When landing at The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL), sit on the Left side for the best views. Hartsfield typically uses runways 26L/26R or 27L/27R for westerly approaches, or 08L/08R for easterly arrivals. On the common westbound approach from the east, the left side faces north over downtown Atlanta, Midtown, and Buckhead as the aircraft descends over the southern suburbs. Right side looks south over largely featureless suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Downtown Atlanta skyline, Midtown Atlanta towers, Stone Mountain (visible to the northeast on clear days), Chattahoochee River corridor.
How long is the flight from San Diego to Atlanta?
The flight from San Diego International Lindbergh Fld (SAN) to The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL) takes Approximately 4 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 45 minutes.
What does the San Diego to Atlanta flight path pass over?
The route crosses the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona, the Rio Grande valley near El Paso, the Chihuahuan Desert of west Texas, the Edwards Plateau, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex visible as a vast urban grid, the Piney Woods of east Texas and Louisiana, the Mississippi River crossing near Vicksburg or Jackson, and the red clay hills of central Alabama and Georgia before descending into Atlanta