Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Indianapolis. The left side wins at both ends of this flight. During departure you get San Francisco Bay and the city skyline, and on arrival you get the Indianapolis downtown approach. Over the Sierra Nevada and Rockies in cruise, the left side also tends to offer slightly better mountain views on this northeast-tracking routing.

During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO's primary departure runways (28L/28R) head west over the Bay before turning, and a left-side seat gives you a clear view back over San Francisco Bay, the city skyline, and the Bay Bridge as you climb out. The left side also captures the Peninsula and downtown San Francisco as the aircraft banks northeast. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay, Bay Bridge, downtown San Francisco skyline, San Mateo Bridge.

When landing at Indianapolis International (IND), sit on the Left side for the best views. IND's primary arrival runways (23L/23R) bring aircraft in from the northeast, meaning a left-side seat looks southeast toward downtown Indianapolis during the approach. You get a clear view of the downtown skyline and the White River corridor as the aircraft descends over the western suburbs. Notable sights include: Downtown Indianapolis skyline, White River, Eagle Creek Reservoir, Lucas Oil Stadium.

The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Indianapolis International (IND) takes Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes.

After departing the Bay Area the route crosses the Sierra Nevada range over the Lake Tahoe region, then tracks across the Great Basin desert of Nevada and Utah. The Bonneville Salt Flats near Salt Lake City are visible as a brilliant white expanse. The Rockies appear in Colorado, with the Wasatch Front and Colorado Plateau visible depending on exact routing. The flight then crosses the flat agricultural plains of Kansas and Missouri before descending into Indiana.