About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Salt Lake City International (SLC) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Salt Lake City to Seattle. The right side delivers the better overall experience: you get a partial view of the Great Salt Lake during the climbing right turn after departure, then the Snake River Plain and Columbia River Basin through cruise, and the spectacular Puget Sound and Seattle approach on landing. The left side wins at takeoff but the right side's landing views over Puget Sound are the highlight of this route.
What can I see during takeoff from Salt Lake City International in Salt Lake City?
During takeoff from Salt Lake City International (SLC), sit on the Left side for the best views. SLC typically departs northwest on runway 34L/34R, so the left (west/southwest) side gives you a direct view of the Great Salt Lake as you climb out. The lake's shallow, mineral-rich waters create striking color contrasts visible immediately after rotation. Notable sights include: Great Salt Lake, Oquirrh Mountains, Stansbury Island causeway, Bonneville Salt Flats to the west.
What can I see when landing at Seattle Tacoma International in Seattle?
When landing at Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Right side for the best views. SeaTac primarily lands from the north on runways 16L/16R heading south, so the right (west) side gives you Puget Sound, the Seattle skyline, and Elliott Bay on final approach. The left side faces inland toward the Cascade foothills with less dramatic scenery on descent. Notable sights include: Puget Sound, Elliott Bay and Seattle skyline, Vashon Island, Mount Rainier to the southeast.
How long is the flight from Salt Lake City to Seattle?
The flight from Salt Lake City International (SLC) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) takes Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.
What does the Salt Lake City to Seattle flight path pass over?
The flight tracks northwest over southern Idaho's Snake River Plain — a broad flat lava plateau with the Snake River visible as a winding silver line. The Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon appear as a modest wrinkled range. Crossing into Washington, the Columbia River is clearly visible as a wide dark ribbon. The flight then crosses the Yakima Valley agricultural patchwork before the Cascade Range appears, with Mount Adams and Mount Rainier as prominent snow-capped volcanic cones visible from both sides depending on routing.