Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Raleigh-durham. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. During the transcontinental cruise at 35,000 feet the views are largely featureless high desert and plains, but the left side also picks up better views of the Sierra Nevada during initial climb-out over California and the Appalachians during descent into RDU.

During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO typically departs on runways 28L/28R heading west over the Bay, then turns southeast. Left side gives you San Francisco Bay, the city skyline, and the Bay Bridge as you climb out. The Peninsula and downtown SF are clearly visible on the left during the initial climb and turn. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay, Bay Bridge, downtown SF skyline, San Mateo Bridge.

When landing at Raleigh Durham International (RDU), sit on the Left side for the best views. RDU typically lands on runway 23L/23R approaching from the northeast, or runway 5L/5R from the southwest. On the common runway 23 approach, the left side faces southeast toward downtown Raleigh, which is clearly visible about 10 miles out. The Research Triangle Park campus and Jordan Lake are also on the left during final approach. Notable sights include: Downtown Raleigh skyline, Jordan Lake, Research Triangle Park, Falls Lake.

The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Raleigh Durham International (RDU) takes Approximately 5 hours 15 minutes.

The flight tracks roughly southeast across the Sierra Nevada (visible during initial climb), then over the Great Basin desert of Nevada and Utah, the southern Rockies or high plains of Colorado and Kansas depending on routing, the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas, the Mississippi River valley, Tennessee, and the western Appalachian ridges of North Carolina before descending into the Piedmont.