St. Louis to Washington flight path: STL to DCA

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from St. Louis to Washington. While takeoff offers a quick glimpse of the Gateway Arch on the right, the left side's Potomac River Visual approach into DCA delivers a sustained, landmark-dense view of downtown Washington that outweighs the brief St. Louis skyline moment.

During takeoff from Lambert St Louis International (STL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing STL on the southeast-oriented runway, the initial climb passes near downtown St. Louis, giving right-side passengers a brief but clear view of the Gateway Arch and the Mississippi riverfront before the aircraft turns east toward Illinois. Notable sights include: Gateway Arch, Mississippi River, downtown St. Louis skyline.

When landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), sit on the Left side for the best views. If DCA uses the River Visual approach to Runway 19, the aircraft tracks south along the Potomac, and left-side passengers get a direct view of the National Mall, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Capitol dome as the plane descends. This is one of the most famous scenic approaches in U.S. commercial aviation. Notable sights include: Washington Monument, U.S. Capitol dome, Lincoln Memorial, Potomac River.

The flight from Lambert St Louis International (STL) to Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) takes about 1 hour 55 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 717 miles (1,154 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

Flat farmland of Illinois and Indiana, the Ohio River valley, and the low Appalachian foothills of West Virginia along the eastern portion of the route