Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Seattle to Portland. The left side delivers the best views at both ends of this short flight — Mount Rainier on departure and Mount Hood plus the Columbia River on approach. During the brief cruise, the left side also tracks closer to the Cascade Range running down the spine of Washington and Oregon, with occasional glimpses of volcanic peaks and forested ridgelines.

During takeoff from Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Left side for the best views. SEA primarily uses runways 16L/16R for southbound departures, meaning the aircraft heads south-southeast. The left (east) side gets a clear view of Lake Washington, the Bellevue skyline, and the Cascade Range including Mount Rainier rising prominently to the southeast. The right side faces west toward Puget Sound but the Cascades dominate the visual interest on this route. Notable sights include: Mount Rainier (14,411 ft, unmistakable snow cone to the southeast), Lake Washington (large urban lake east of Seattle), Bellevue and Eastside suburbs, Cascade Range foothills.

When landing at Portland International (PDX), sit on the Left side for the best views. PDX typically uses runways 28L/28R for westbound landings or 10L/10R for eastbound approaches depending on wind. On the common westbound approach over the Columbia River, the left (south) side looks directly down the Columbia River gorge toward the Cascade foothills and Mount Hood looming to the east-southeast. This is one of the most dramatic approach views in the Pacific Northwest. Notable sights include: Mount Hood (11,249 ft volcanic peak to the east), Columbia River (wide river corridor below on final approach), Portland city grid and downtown, Mount St. Helens visible to the north on clear days.

The flight from Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) to Portland International (PDX) takes Approximately 45-55 minutes.

The flight path runs roughly south along the I-5 corridor through Washington state. Visible features include the Chehalis River valley, the broad agricultural lowlands of the Willamette Valley beginning as you cross into Oregon, and the continuous dark green wall of the Cascades to the east. On clear days, Mount St. Helens with its distinctive blown-out crater is visible to the left side during the mid-flight portion over southwest Washington.