Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Seattle to Missoula. Right-side seats win overall due to the exceptional takeoff views of the Cascade Range and Mount Rainier, which dominate the first 20 minutes of flight. While landing views favor the left, the dramatic mountain scenery during departure outweighs the approach experience.

During takeoff from Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats offer the best views during Seattle departure. The aircraft typically climbs eastbound over the Cascade Range, and right-side windows face directly toward the dramatic peaks and foothills as you gain altitude. Notable sights include: Cascade Range (Mount Rainier visible on clear days to the south), Puget Sound (receding westward), Lake Union and Lake Washington (visible briefly during initial climb), foothills east of Seattle.

When landing at Missoula Montana Airport (MSO), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats provide superior views on approach to Missoula. The aircraft descends from the west over the Flathead Valley and Missoula Valley, and left windows face the Clark Fork River drainage and the surrounding mountain ranges that frame the approach corridor. Notable sights include: Flathead Valley (agricultural and forested terrain), Clark Fork River (visible as a meandering waterway), Missoula Valley and city of Missoula, surrounding mountain ranges (Sapphire Range to the south, Mission Mountains to the north).

The flight from Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) to Missoula Montana Airport (MSO) takes Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.

The flight path crosses the Cascade Range crest near Snoqualmie Pass (elevation 3,022 feet), then descends into the interior plateau. Notable midpoint features include the eastern Cascades foothills, the transition zone into drier ponderosa pine forest, and the Flathead Valley approaching Missoula. The Wenatchee National Forest and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest occupy much of the terrain between the Cascades and Missoula. The Columbia Plateau's northern edge is visible to the south on clear days.